Men writing Romance

Writer2011 · Feb 9, 2009

I'm not sure if this is out there BUT---is it "written" anywhere that men can't write romance? I guess what I should say: I'm looking to write a romance (ala Harlequin) from the man's POV or from the woman's POV

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Bubastes · Feb 9, 2009

Men certainly can and do write romance (under female pen names, of course).

scarletpeaches · Feb 9, 2009

I saw a newspaper article a few weeks back about a man who'd just written his 50th Mills and Boon; can't for the life of me remember his pen name.

Point is, it's written nowhere. And even if it was written, it'd be wrong.

Writer2011 · Feb 9, 2009

Bubastes said:
Men certainly can and do write romance (under female pen names, of course).

Thank you

Writer2011 · Feb 9, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
I saw a newspaper article a few weeks back about a man who'd just written his 50th Mills and Boon; can't for the life of me remember his pen name.

Point is, it's written nowhere. And even if it was written, it'd be wrong.

This makes me feel better

Another question..is there some "written" rule that you can't write it in first person? To me it's easier to write first person

scarletpeaches · Feb 9, 2009

If you're talking Harlequin or Mills and Boon, I think they specify third. Also I think thethinker42 had one of her oodles of manuscripts knocked back because it was in first, but you'd have to ask her which publisher it was.

I'd err on the side of third, but don't quote me on that.

veinglory · Feb 9, 2009

It should be written in the style of the house, so it would be wise to become familiar with that through reading examples of the line you want to write for.

MsK · Feb 9, 2009

I don't know about first person. I've read that Harlequin pretty much frowns upon this and it would make it a harder sell from your end of things. But as far as men writing romance, I've heard they are doing it- under a pen name, like someone else mentioned.
Of course, there's always Nicholas Sparks.

DeleyanLee · Feb 9, 2009

MsK said:
Of course, there's always Nicholas Sparks.

But Nicholas Sparks doesn't write Genre Romance. He writes Mainstream love stories. Totally different things.

Gillhoughly · Feb 9, 2009

Here's Tom E. Huff.

And Harold Lowry, to name two.

I think it's ridiculous to draw gender lines for ANY genre writing.

It's just another form of gender bias.

Susan Gable · Feb 9, 2009

Ken Casper writes for Harlequin. For a long time he wrote for Superromance as K.N. Casper. Now he's written several NASCAR books for them under his full name.

Most HQ books contain both male and female POVs.

Susan G.

Noah Body · Feb 9, 2009

DeleyanLee said:
But Nicholas Sparks doesn't write Genre Romance. He writes Mainstream love stories. Totally different things.

Sorry, but what's a "mainstream love story"? I usually read books with lots of attack helicopters firing missiles at enemy armor convoys, so I guess it's easy to see why I'm out of touch.

DeleyanLee · Feb 9, 2009

Genre Romance centers the story on the relationship between the Hero and Heroine and always promises some kind of Happily Ever After. No HEA, it's not a Romance.

Sparks writes stories that are heavily into relationships, however one of the two (or both) tend to die before the end of the book. No HEA. It's not a Romance. His stories are also structured differently from Genre Romances, more geared to the non-genre reader.

It's also obvious by where he's shelved in the bookstores. Not in Genre Romance.

Gutenberg · Feb 9, 2009

As others have said, men certainly do write romance.

I'd like to point out, though, that not all male genre Romance authors write under female pen names.

Ken Casper currently writes for Harlequin under his own name. That said, his earlier titles were published under K.N. Casper, which I don't think sounds very feminine either, but does hide the fact he's male.

Another one is Wayne Jordan who writes for Harlequin's Kimani Press.

I'm sure there are others but those are two who come immediately to mind. Probably because I've seen both of them at RWA conferences. In a sea of women, the poor fellas kinda stood out.

Gutenberg · Feb 9, 2009

Gah! I cross-posted with Susan. Sorry.

Brindle Chase · Feb 9, 2009

There are publishers and agents who will not consider a male author for romance novels, but they are rare. And they go so far as to write on their websites as such. I wish I could remember which ones. Anywho, those that do, for the most part though, use a female alias. There are a few men that have bravely ventured out with their male alias. It is becoming more acceptable, but still has a long ways to go.

Jersey Chick · Feb 9, 2009

Super-agent Donald Maass has written romance novels as well - I believe he used a female pseudonym, and I don't know if anyone knows what it is (anyone, aside from Maass and publisher, that is).

Writer2011 · Feb 9, 2009

Thanks for all the responses

PortableHal · Feb 9, 2009

A little off-track but....

The wonderful "Andre Norton" used that pen name because it was believed that a male audience wouldn't buy s-f stories from a female writer. When I read my first Andre Norton novel, I thought she was a he. Once I discovered how much fun she was to read, I no longer cared.

brainstorm77 · Feb 13, 2009

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... wondering how many romance novels I've read have been written by men?

KTC · Feb 13, 2009

I know a guy who has written for Harlequin under a female name. It's quite common. First person? Meh.

Deb Kinnard · Feb 13, 2009

Original question included male POV: yes, Harlequin has issued books written totally from his POV, but they're rare. The one that stands out for me was MURPHY'S CHILD. Can't put my finger on the author, but it was masterfully done and a read-again sort of book.

I think at this point the story would have to be excellent, and excellently told, to get their attention. I haven't seen a Harlequin male POV since the abovementioned book.

Higgins · Feb 13, 2009

Noah Body said:
Sorry, but what's a "mainstream love story"? I usually read books with lots of attack helicopters firing missiles at enemy armor convoys, so I guess it's easy to see why I'm out of touch.

Me too. Missiles flying all over. Big missiles. Slamming into the moist earth.

I'm starting a romance tomorrow.

Higgins · Feb 13, 2009

PortableHal said:
A little off-track but....

The wonderful "Andre Norton" used that pen name because it was believed that a male audience wouldn't buy s-f stories from a female writer. When I read my first Andre Norton novel, I thought she was a he. Once I discovered how much fun she was to read, I no longer cared.

Andre Norton is an absolute classic.

Writer2011 · Feb 13, 2009

Thanks again for all the responses

I wanted to add to this--I've been thinking of writin a journal-style story or maybe a love story a la Nicholas Sparks, not EXACTLY like him but you get the idea. I've looked and looked but can't seem to find something like Wild Rose Press for journal-style stories!!! Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance.

Men writing Romance

Writer2011

Bubastes

bananaed

scarletpeaches

Writer2011

Writer2011

scarletpeaches

veinglory

volitare nequeo

MsK

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Noah Body

Entertainment Ronin

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

Gutenberg

Time to murder and create

Gutenberg

Time to murder and create

Brindle Chase

Dancing on the edge

Jersey Chick

Up all night to get Loki

Writer2011

PortableHal

Not-so-new

brainstorm77

practical experience, FTW

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Deb Kinnard

Higgins

Higgins

Writer2011