Writing a romance novel can be a rewarding experience, especially as you explore the different facets of human dynamics. You could write romance novels for a tween audience if you prefer not to deal with the question of whether sex-less romance novels would sell to adults. ", "It's helped me to understand how to write a romance novel as an aspiring writer. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. Infuse unique elements to add intrigue/suspense, or just for pure entertainment! The right piece of book writing software can make all the difference. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. There might be a local haunt where the main characters frequently meet (such as a diner or bookstore), and where gossiping friends and neighbors hang around to add a bit of comedy. The mentality of your protagonist. After all, when the heroine’s agonizing over her hot-and-cold text conversation with the hero, who’s she going to ask for advice? This might be the biggest, most overlooked issue in books. (The heroine can, too, but it’s more common among heroes.) One of the best tactics for writing intimate scenes is to simply study those that you think are written well. You can also use romantic books and songs as inspiration for your romance novel. Plus, I think if I’m gonna write a book, I want it to be more of a challenge.” Said by someone who has never finished writing a If they like it, then they will ask for you to send them the book, through mail or email. And the best way to do that is by reading romance yourself! In any case, the hero meets the heroine, and she draws him in somehow. Learn more…, Find the perfect editor for your next book. > Perfecting your Craft Whether she’s a bright-eyed ingénue, a spirited single mother, or a sex worker with a heart of gold, something about her breaks through the hero’s shell. This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA. Even if the heroine starts out timid and self-conscious, she should gain the courage to stand up for herself over the course of the story! Thanks!". Don't forget to wrap up your novel with a satisfying conclusion, since romance readers tend to prefer "happily ever after" endings. It’s the perfect combination of fiery tension and genuine connection, and if you can pull it off, the payoff is incredibly satisfying. Having a solid secondary character presence is especially important if you want to turn your novel into a series. The romance genre contains numerous subgenres. Think about the characters, their personalities, and how they related to each other throughout the story. Romance novels are a very popular genre in publishing. As one of the biggest sub-genres in fiction, romance has a magical appeal to it which earns it a large number of readers. There are websites for that, such as PublishersMarketplace.com, or AgentQuery.com. As for where these scenes should occur in your story, this really depends on your story’s length. Or you may have a conflict where the main character’s illness gets in the way of uniting with her true love. One of the implicit promises of the romance genre is that of the happy ending. And of course, there’s always enemies to friends to lovers — arguably the most effective and realistic iteration of this trope, as evidenced by Pride and Prejudice and When Harry Met Sally. Maybe you have a friend who is in a stormy romance. Luckily, though love itself may be hard to explain, the process of writing about it isn’t. After you have revised the novel, you may consider sending it out to publishers so it can be read by a wider audience. Which means that writing blurbs for my books was a piece of cake, right? We’re not going to give out any spoilers, but it’s safe to say that he’s much better off for having met her, and both agree that their time together was invaluable. Be open to constructive criticism from others. They’re often a little bit quirky, but that’s why the main characters love them… and why readers do too! But maybe it was a little easier and less scary to learn. There are a few ways to create a series from a standalone romance, but one of the easiest (and most enticing to readers!) Craft all descriptions of physical intimacy with a light touch, and only after sufficient buildup — make your readers eagerly anticipate each encounter. In romance, there is a tried and true formula: girl meets boy, girl loses... 2. Still, this is a pretty difficult resolution to pull off — so if it’s your first romance novel, stick to the traditional happy ending. Write a romance novel with the help of an experienced editor. Know the romance genre (and your own subgenre) inside out 2. Setting is a key element in a successful romance novel. Can I write a novel in Spanish and become published in the United States? Then they have to choose each other all over again, hence proving that they’re well and truly soulmates. Use … You must go beyond physical attraction and cute romantic gestures. Nevertheless, it works for the story because threats from the outside ultimately bring the main couple closer together. Trust us: your readers will thank you. For tips on revising your first draft, read on! Can I write a romance novel without lovemaking even if it is for adults? Also, we’ll refer to them as the “hero” and “heroine” from here on out, but these suggestions can work for M/M and F/F couples as well — and the traditional dynamics can always be reversed such that the “hero” is a man and the “heroine” a woman! This article has been viewed 325,418 times. Best of luck and have fun romancing your readers! Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. Or you may have a main character who is left by her husband and copes by going back to her hometown. While the main couple is obviously where most of your characterization focus should be, secondary characters are critical to a well-rounded romance. You can also use the real life romances of others around you as inspiration. For example, if you are writing a romance set in 1930s West Virginia or during WWI, you are writing historical romance. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. When Kathryn Falk's How to Write a Romance and Get It Published was updated in 1990, sales of romance novels comprised 25 percent of all paperback book sales in the U.S. This article has been viewed 325,418 times. Indeed, the heroine should be just as strong a figure as the hero, if not more so. To capture your readers' imaginations, be sure to create a strong setting and strive to write unique content that doesn't repeat typical romance novel cliches. Learning how to write a romantic book also means learning to avoid common romance writing mistakes. Have you ever wanted to write that New York Times best-selling, blockbuster movie-contracting, romance-for-the-ages novel? References When you think about the “hero” of a romance, you’re probably imagining a swarthy, muscular Romeo who sweeps the heroine off her feet. A common plot finds the hero helping the heroine (for instance, she’s struggling financially, so he gives her a job), only for the heroine to turn around and help him solve one of his problems (like getting over his ex-wife). Consider drawing a map of your setting so you can keep the geography consistent while taking details from real life to enhance authenticity. You can also read the novel aloud to catch spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Plus, it sets you up for a cycle that you could theoretically repeat ad infinitum: each new sequel simply centers around characters who were secondary in the previous book. If you've never even tried to write romance before, don’t worry — we’ll start you off easy. Romance might give the impression that it is an easier genre to write, however, the truth is that romance can be the most difficult genre. You could also have the girl be of a certain race or background that clashes with the boy she falls for. is to write the next novel about one (or two) of the secondary characters — especially best friends, siblings, or romantic competitors of the main characters. Your heroine and the reader should share some sympathetic characters. And those expectations, most of the time, revolve around the (most often) unlikely romance between two characters, in a … Or perhaps your main character recovers from her illness long enough to see her love interest one last time. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 325,418 times. To write a winning romance, you have to meet these expectations each and every time: A sympathetic heroine. I can get emotionally involved in the romance of characters without actually getting emotionally involved! Again, romance readers want to be fully immersed in the story, and that immersion suffers if they’re left wondering about questions you posed but never answered. In any novel, you need to touch the readers’ emotions, but in a romance novel, you need not only to touch their emotions – you also need to make an impact. There are special cases that don’t adhere to this rule, such as the endings of Me Before You and Dear John (which indeed, raises the question of whether or not they’re "true" romances). After all, if they meet and fall in love immediately with no issues to work through at all, it’s not much of a story. The author you emulate will depend on your subgenre and personal taste, but some mainstream authors who write good, nuanced love and sex scenes are Curtis Sittenfeld, Sally Rooney, and yes, Nicholas Sparks. To write romance novels, create an engaging main character and develop a central conflict for your protagonist to navigate. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Here are some Reedsy Discovery lists of romance books to get you started (and possibly find your niche): loveliest article I've ever read....swoon like a corseted victorian ;D. Find out how long a novella, novelette, and short story are supposed to be. For example, you may take a passionate but doomed relationship in your past and change around real life names to fictionalize it. Setting is absolutely paramount in romance. You may want to focus on a specific type of story, like historical or paranormal, since the romance genre includes a lot of niche territory. Also try to steer away from overwrought, euphemism-filled romantic language that can border on parody (you probably know the kind we’re talking about). For tips on revising your first draft, read on! The setting should be front and center... 3. For example, you may set the novel in modern-day Savannah, Georgia, where the characters have Southern accents and the heat is unbearable in the summer. Building on that, imagine events that could happen after the story ends, ie: the characters get married. The hero and heroine hate each other at first sight, gradually get to know one another and become friends, and ultimately fall deeply in love. Wrong. The trend these days is to make the heroine resilient with a mind of her own — think Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman. Why? You may also change the setting or small details to make the situation more dramatic. By the end of the story, he should be a changed man, more open and much happier — all because of her. Check out the Crimson Romance line of eBooks that can be downloaded directly to your computer, phone or tablet. Among these 35 popular book genres, there's bound to be one that fits your book like a glove — so let's find it! Is it better to self publish or send your writing to a publisher? But if not, now’s the time to explore the many glorious facets that romance has to offer. Christian Grey is actually a perfect example of this: despite his confident persona, he is scarred from a dysfunctional relationship he had with a much older woman when he was only fifteen. Will is bitter and depressed at first, but eventually he opens up to Lou and becomes much less negative — not to mention he helps her see own potential. The first thing to know is that the genre, like Walt Whitman, is large and contains multitudes. Once you’ve completed your manuscript, it’s time to take the next steps of finding a romance book editor and perhaps an agent to help you get your work published in this bestselling genre! Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. Keep in mind that most agents will not accept a full manuscript unsolicited. “You write romances? Thank you! For example, the historical romance Outlander takes place in a small settlement in the Scottish Highlands, but the constant tension and violence that occurs there doesn’t exactly make for a cutesy, cozy setting. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Write-Romance-Novels-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-Romance-Novels-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Write-Romance-Novels-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid16602-v4-728px-Write-Romance-Novels-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"