Writing Romance Books?

brainstorm77 · Feb 18, 2009

Can anyone suggest some good ones?

DeleyanLee · Feb 18, 2009

Romance is a BIG genre. What kind are you thinking of?

Historical? Paranormal? Contemporary? Erotic? Suspense? Futuristic? Category?

Help us out here, please.

brainstorm77 · Feb 18, 2009

Historical and contemporary.

DeleyanLee · Feb 18, 2009

I honestly don't read many of the new writers, but if you want icons of the genre, look at Laura Kinsale and Amanda Quick for Historical, Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz for Contemporary.

(hint: Jayne & Amanda are the same person, but two different styles for the two different subgenres)

If you want a little Paranormal in either time period, I like Susan Krinard alot.

Jersey Chick · Feb 18, 2009

Wait... I'm confused - do you want suggestions for books to read or how-to-write romance books?

I'm having an uber-blonde day....

Irysangel · Feb 18, 2009

For books on how to write Romance - I really enjoyed Angela Knight's PASSIONATE INK. There is also a Julie Beard WRITING ROMANCE FOR DUMMIES that I liked as well, though it was a little bit more simplistic than I cared for.

Gillhoughly · Feb 18, 2009

Library.

808 section.

Read the whole thing, not just books that have to do with romance.

The knowledge I use to write a good mystery is the same that I use for a romance, the same I use for a fantasy, the same I use for--you get the idea.

The genre doesn't matter, writing is writing.

brainstorm77 · Feb 18, 2009

How to books.

Polly · Feb 18, 2009

Hi Brainstorm,

I second "Passionate Ink". Also, Kate Walker's "12 Point Guide to Writing Romance" seems good, though I haven't finished reading it yet.

What period of historical do you write? I'm a Classical Civ nerd

Best wishes,
Polly

brainstorm77 · Feb 23, 2009

I bought this book after ... Its been helpful

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1741143748/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

One thing I should mention this book is geared more towards thos wanting to submit to the Harlequin lines.

brainstorm77 · Feb 23, 2009

Polly said:
Hi Brainstorm,

I second "Passionate Ink". Also, Kate Walker's "12 Point Guide to Writing Romance" seems good, though I haven't finished reading it yet.

What period of historical do you write? I'm a Classical Civ nerd

Best wishes,
Polly

Actually and sorry it took so long to reply, I prefer westerns

I'm partial to cowboys

firedrake · Feb 23, 2009

brainstorm77 said:
Actually and sorry it took so long to reply, I prefer westerns I'm partial to cowboys

You'd soon lose that notion if you lived where I live.
You'd swear off cowboys for life.

smoothseas · Feb 23, 2009

Not to mention that there’s a plethora of info to be had on the web. Most RWA chapters have websites with articles on or links to writing romance.

Also, google the authors you like. Their websites often have useful info, too.

Just make sure you have a couple of reams of paper handy. Print ‘em out, file ‘em in folders… Characterization; Plotting; Outlining; etc.

sunandshadow · Feb 23, 2009

Hmm. Of the good how-to-write books I've read, none of them have been romance-specific. I've read 3 romance-specific ones but would not recommend those...

brainstorm77 · Feb 24, 2009

firedrake said:
You'd soon lose that notion if you lived where I live.
You'd swear off cowboys for life.

mmmmm I dunno

seaaircarol · Feb 24, 2009

I own this one and I think it's pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1582974365/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

DeleyanLee · Feb 24, 2009

Of course, there's always just checking out the website of a wonderful Romance writer named Alicia Rasley (www.sff.net/people/alicia). She does the best and most informative articles that I ever read in RWR.

If you ever get a chance to go to one of her workshops, I highly recommend it.

AnneMarble · Feb 24, 2009

DeleyanLee said:
Of course, there's always just checking out the website of a wonderful Romance writer named Alicia Rasley (www.sff.net/people/alicia). She does the best and most informative articles that I ever read in RWR.

She has a book on POV that came out a few months ago. Looks good -- I've got it near my bed as a reminder to read it. I'm really into POV, but it still impressed me and looked like it went beyond the usual.

DeleyanLee said:
If you ever get a chance to go to one of her workshops, I highly recommend it.

I listened to one of her workshops on my CD of RWA National 2007 workshops. It must have been a good workshop because I wound up buying her POV book.

smoothseas · Feb 24, 2009

Speaking of Alicia R.

Here's a link to a site that she's co-blogger on...

http://edittorrent.blogspot.com/

job · Feb 24, 2009

Unless you already have a fair number of how-to-write books, don't go chasing after Romance-specific works. Look for general guides.

The one I've found most useful is McKee's Story. McKee teaches screenwriting, of course, but at the heart of it, he's teaching the essence of storytelling. That's what we all want to do.
He's intelligent and insightful and I never open that book without finding something to think about.

Go to here and scroll down to where it says 'Writing Advice From the Experts' and follow some of those links.

Susan Gable · Feb 24, 2009

job said:
The one I've found most useful is McKee's Story. McKee teaches screenwriting, of course, but at the heart of it, he's teaching the essence of storytelling. That's what we all want to do.
He's intelligent and insightful and I never open that book without finding something to think about.

.

I have STORY, but I found it sort of hard to slog through.

My favorite HOW TO remains GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon.

It's not really romance specific, more like genre fiction/commercial fiction specific. (i.e. not so applicable to literary fiction.)

Susan G.

AnneMarble · Feb 24, 2009

job said:
The one I've found most useful is McKee's Story. McKee teaches screenwriting, of course, but at the heart of it, he's teaching the essence of storytelling. That's what we all want to do.
He's intelligent and insightful and I never open that book without finding something to think about.

But it's so looong. Can't I just watch Brian Cox play McKee in Adaptation?
:ROFL:

I have found some of the best advice from non-genre-specific books. However, these days, I'm more picky. Before I buy one, I check the index. If most of the works cited are, say, Updike stories, I put it down because I know it's not for me. If most of the works cited are movies or TV shows, I put it down because it will probably be too basic (unless it's a book on screenplays). If it cites a good balance of genre fiction, Shakespeare, Dickens, etc., then I start to get interested.

nevada · Feb 24, 2009

I have GMC and it never really did much for me. I got it on advice from a friend of mine who tries to write inspirational romances (tries because she can't quite get there. I know why, but it's her personality and I can't figure out how to help her past that. which makes me sad because i see glimpses of real goodness in her writing) and she swears by it. So I got it and meh, for me. but then it advocates outlining and all that stuff and i don't do that. I collect writing books and I love How to Write the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. I've been lucky to take a two day workshop with him and also a one-day workshop and I learned more in those three days than in all my years of book reading. and I just finished "How Not To Write a Novel" which was funnier than hell and did actually have really good advice in it. Basic advice but it's nice to read that sometimes.

When I want the really good stuff I read "A Passion for Narrative" by Jack Hodgins and "The Art of Novel Writing" by Oakley Hall (skipping his examples because they're dated). Basic narrative structure books that talk about the construction of a novel rather than a book by an author who promises that if you do exactly like he/she does, you too will produce a novel. I find, most often, no I don't because their method doesn't work for me. But I still read them because even the smallest tidbit of learning is better than none.

AnneMarble · Feb 24, 2009

Susan Gable said:
I have STORY, but I found it sort of hard to slog through.

My favorite HOW TO remains GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon.

I remember looking for that one when it came out because I'd read a great review, but I never found a copy.

So I looked it up on Amazon and Abebooks, and used copies start at $54.54.
:e2faint:

Something tells me it's time for a reprint.

nevada · Feb 24, 2009

Anne, if you want mine, you can have it. pm me your addie and i'll mail it to you. i bought it directly from the publisher.

Writing Romance Books?

practical experience, FTW

Writing Anarchist

practical experience, FTW

Writing Anarchist

Up all night to get Loki

She of Many Names

Grumpy writer and editor

practical experience, FTW

Back from the Brink

practical experience, FTW

practical experience, FTW

practical experience, FTW

Life sucks... Then ya die...

Impractical Fantasy Animal

practical experience, FTW

Frustrated Pluviophile

Writing Anarchist

Nefarious Ghost Fan

Life sucks... Then ya die...

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Nefarious Ghost Fan

Nefarious Ghost Fan