URBAN ROMANCE WRITERS CAFE
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Romance Fantasy and Paranormal Romance has ever been a massive genre. Whether you paranormal romance, erotica fiction or non-fiction, if it's romance, we want to talk about it!
Website: http://romancebookblog.webs.com/
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Latest Activity: Apr 15
WELCOME URBAN ROMANCE WRITERS CAFE
Writing Your Romance Novel
I'd like to tell you that it's easy to write a romance novel, but I'd be lying. It's not easy to write any kind of novel, and romance is no exception. And if you want to write a romance book AND get it published, that's even harder. But publishing is for another how-to article. So is writing the best romance novel ever. This one's simply on how to write a romance novel--the basic steps.
Familiarize yourself with the romance genre. If you've never read a romance--or read less than five romances--you probably don't know the genre. There's a huge variety out there. You need to know what's already been done, what's been overdone, what's worth doing again even if it's been done a million times, and what's never been done and SHOULD be done, as well as what's never been done and SHOULDN'T be done. You need to learn the romance conventions. Contrary to what many think, romances aren't written to a formula any more than mystery novels are, but there are literary conventions you need to be familiar with.
Now that you have a good idea of your competition and the conventions of romance novels, forget everything you just learned! Come at writing a romance novel as if you've never read one.
Think about what you'd want to read if you were reading a romance novel. Do you want to read about a hero who's dark and tormented? Do you want to read about a heroine who has a funny sense of humor? Do you want to read a romance novel about a rancher or cowboy? Do you want to read a historical romance novel set in an underwater fantasy city?
Write what you want to read. The reasons are twofold: 1) You won't get bored writing it, and therefore stop, and 2) You'll be writing from the heart.
Get to know your characters. Romance novels are character-driven. Even if they have strong plots--and many do--romance novels feature well-developed characters.
Identify your conflicts. Think of a strong emotional conflict that drives your lovers apart. The emotional conflict might be, "Mild-mannered George is really a suave international spy, but Eunice thinks he's an incredible geek and would never give her heart to such a dork." The emotional conflict is a strong part of the appeal of many romances. Think of one that would hook your readers as well as yourself.
Now think of a strong plot-based conflict that drives the story. For example, "To foil the international plot against his country, George must infiltrate socialite Eunice's social circle. But Eunice's snobbery stops him cold. What can he do?" It's hard to have too many plot-based conflicts in a romance book. The more the merrier.
Now that you know your main characters and main conflicts, write the novel. There are no simple instructions for doing this. Each writer has a different technique. Learn the best way for you to write the romance novel by doing it, making mistakes, and doing it again. See the Resources section for articles on how to squeeze writing into your day, how to write a novel in a month, how to write a hook in fiction, how to write description in fiction, and how to show and not tell in fiction.
Include love scenes. Most romance novels have love scenes--whether what's happening is a look, a kiss, or lovemaking. So write them. But don't write too many, unless this is an erotic romance, and think quality over quantity. Make sure the love scenes fit into the story, that they happen at the right time and that the characters act consistently. Avoid, in other words, making your love scene gratuitous and generic. Write what you want to read. If they don't thrill you, don't include them.
Put the essentials into your romance novel. A hook that grabs the reader and doesn't let go. A compelling, believable conflict. A building tension that culminates in a heart-shattering climax. A fully-realized resolution to your driving conflicts. A happy ending where the hero and heroine decide to get married or affirm their commitment to each other.
Discussion Forum
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Tags: love, paranormal, novels, books, writing
Started by Urban/Novelist Dec 29, 2011.
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Blogger Comment by BooksAhoy on April 15, 2013 at 11:17pm -
Are you a YA author looking to advertise your book! If so, then check out The Experience Tours! They host virtual book tours that could last from a day to a month! Check them out here! :)
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Author Comment by Jodie Pierce on January 4, 2013 at 11:18pm -
Hi!
I'm having a blog tour on Feb1st-March 31st. Please go to: Facebook and leave a comment with the date that you'd like to host me. I'm willing to host you as well. Hope to see you all there! I'm having a book giveaway as well!
Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce
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Author Comment by Jodie Pierce on January 3, 2013 at 6:06am -
Hi all!
I just wanted to let you know I'm looking for authors to be part of a charity anthology for St.Jude's Children's Research Hospital. All you have to do is write a vampire short story. It's not due until August 1st and there's no minimum or maximum for the length. If you are interested, please go to:
and leave a comment with your email address in it so I can contact you later to send a reminder. Please Please Please participate in this worthwhile event for the children by doing something you already love to do: write! Hope to hear from you all soon!
Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce
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Comment by Rocket Science Productions on December 12, 2012 at 9:35am -
Happy Book Release Day to Author Daniele Lanzarotta - Sins of the Fallen (Academy of the Fallen)
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Author Comment by deborah palumbo on December 4, 2012 at 11:32am -
BRAND NEW RELEASE......
THE BANISHED ONE love, murder, sex and VAMPIRES.
A sleepy little town has a secret: there's a serial killer vampire on the loose.
Lucius, is still wreaking havoc on the sleepy town in Tower City, and since he's supernatural he can't be captured by normal police procedure.
A frustrated Lieutenant Welby refuses to believe that the one responsible for those dead bodies in his town, is a vampire; that defies logic. There's got to be another explanation for those fang marks in the victims' throats.
Welby remains a staunch disbeliever in vampires until a series of preternatural events and the coroner's scientific evidence causes him to change his mind. Welby then follows the old town rumors right to Quentin, the father of all vampires and his gothic castle to enlist Quentin's supernatural aid in capturing Lucius.
Will Quentin, the only one who can stop Lucius' vampire tirades, help the Lieutenant or make him one of The Undeparted?
Will Quentin battle Lucius and send Lucius to the bowels of hell for eternity, finally ensuring that Cassandra is safe from her old beau? Will the old coal mining town be safe at last?
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Author Comment by Jodie Pierce on November 30, 2012 at 3:26pm -
Calling for submissions for vampire anthology self published book to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital! Please let me know if you are interested!
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Author Comment by Jodie Pierce on November 22, 2012 at 12:08am -
Hi all!
Join me on facebook on Dec. 3rd for a paranormal/horror lovers trivia event. There will be contests and giveaways along with tons of authors and lots of fun. Join us at: The Vampire Queen's Blog. Hope to see you there!
Keep Writing & Reading!
Jodie Pierce
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Comment by Kristin Feliz on October 25, 2012 at 9:14am
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Author Comment by Jodie Pierce on October 23, 2012 at 1:28am -
Hi all!
I'm having a Halloween and book release event on facebook on Nov.1 st. Join me:
Also, check out my newest bisexual erotic vampire novella on amazon.
You can purchase it here: Once Sanguist, Twice Bi!
Hope to see you at the facebook event!
Jodie Pierce
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Author Comment by deborah palumbo on October 17, 2012 at 8:38am -
an historical romance
Enya, a country girl from back east. Lootah a Lakota warrior.
Their lives collide on the prairie when Enya and her parents are journeying to California in search of gold.
She's obsessed with returning back east, to Pennsylvania. He's obsessed with finding the white man who fathered him and the woman from his prophetic dreams.
She's captured by him, a love that she doesn't want. He's determined to win her, the woman that he's loved a lifetime.
The Gold Seekers Daughter is about the Sutter family; Buck, Bonnie and especially their daughter Enya. Enya dreads the journey to the west in that old white topped wagon, the journey her father insists she and her mother take with him as he seeks California gold. The women folk know better than to take that trek into Indian land, but Buck Sutter is afraid of no man, red or white and thinks the women are taking Indian tales to be the God awful truth. Fact is, he knew they were probably right, but the gold was too tempting and he was too stubborn, stubborn like an old ornery mule.
He thought he could protect them.
© 2013 Created by Tricia.
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