SBTB's Guide to Romance Novels on NPR

[Bubastes]

The geek in me loves this flowchart:
http://media.npr.org/documents/2009/feb/smartbitches.pdf

Here's the NPR article:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102999327

Now I have to read the book!

[brainstorm77]

I will definitely be ordering this :)

[Samantha's_Song]

Since I started on AW, I found out that my kind of writing belongs in the romance genre, but my writing doesn't match anything on that chart. I suppose I should be worried about it, but I'm not, I'm quite happy not to write stereotypical stories. I won't actually be wasting my money on the book either. :tongue

[brainstorm77]

Since I started on AW, I found out that my kind of writing belongs in the romance genre, but my writing doesn't match anything on that chart. I suppose I should be worried about it, but I'm not, I'm quite happy not to write stereotypical stories. I won't actually be wasting my money on the book either. :tongue

Well it depends, often you have to modify if you intend to sell. And BTW stereotypical stories can still be fun and interesting if a writer can put a new twist on the theme.

[Samantha's_Song]

I won't be modifying my work just to sell it. I'm not selling my soul, as that's not what a true artist does.

I'm not saying that stereotypical stories can't be fun, they're just not what I tend to write.

ETA. Maybe I'm the Vincent Van Gogh of romance? Except I prefer Monet, and I'm not chopping an ear off, I like my music far too much :D

Well it depends, often you have to modify if you intend to sell. And BTW stereotypical stories can still be fun and interesting if a writer can put a new twist on the theme.

[brainstorm77]

I won't be modifying my work just to sell it. I'm not selling my soul, as that's not what a true artist does.

I'm not saying that stereotypical stories can't be fun, they're just not what I tend to write.

ETA. Maybe I'm the Vincent Van Gogh of romance? Except I prefer Monet, and I'm not chopping an ear off, I like my music far too much :D

So those of us who follow guidelines and most publishers have them are not true artists?
YOu know that irks me a bit. I respect the fact that you may w think you're outside the box of publishing or whatever. But you should also respect those of us who are trying very hard to reach our writing goals of getting published. And I am sure we are just as much artists as you are. Oh let me correct that, a 'true artist'.

[Lainey Bancroft]

Does anyone else have a mad urge to open a shiny new file, start writing about a navel-pondering hero and see just how many non-dude-like things you can make him do?:D

[Samantha's_Song]

Oh please, don't teach your granny to suck eggs. The playing smart with me really doesn't work on me, okay.
I didn't say that you or anyone like you weren't artists, but you'd fiddle with your work just to sell it, whereas I won't. Why should I fiddle with my work to fit into a certain criteria? I would just search for the kinds of agents where I didn't have to make my work fit into certain little boxes. I won't be looking at certain romance publishers, as my work would never satisfy their rigid rules. My goal is to write the kinds of novels that interest me, the kind that I would read; I'm not ever planning on the next Twilight series. Now you do what you feel you have to do to sell your work, and I'll do what's right for me, fair enough?

So those of us who follow guidelines and most publishers have them are not true artists?
YOu know that irks me a bit. I respect the fact that you may w think you're outside the box of publishing or whatever. But you should also respect those of us who are trying very hard to reach our writing goals of getting published. And I am sure we are just as much artists as you are. Oh let me correct that, a 'true artist'.

[mlhernandez]

Ooh! I can't wait to get my hands on this later today! I'm hopping over to my local B&N after my ultrasound. If it's not available, I'll probably throw a preggo lady hissy fit!

[Samantha's_Song]

LOL I'll just write about my husband then; he washes up, goes food shopping on his own, and he shaves my legs etc for me :D

Does anyone else have a mad urge to open a shiny new file, start writing about a navel-pondering hero and see just how many non-dude-like things you can make him do?:D

[mlhernandez]

LOL I'll just write about my husband then; he washes up, goes food shopping on his own, and he shaves my legs etc for me :D


LOL. Your husband's name wouldn't be Dave by any chance? I mean, seriously, that describes the light of my life, fire of my loins to a T.

[Samantha's_Song]

No, no, his name is Chris, and if I ever find out that he's been putting any fire into anyone else's loins, he'll be doing the ironing and clothes washing for the rest of his life too! :D Nah, his other girl is his car.

LOL. Your husband's name wouldn't be Dave by any chance? I mean, seriously, that describes the light of my life, fire of my loins to a T.

[firedrake]

So those of us who follow guidelines and most publishers have them are not true artists?
YOu know that irks me a bit. I respect the fact that you may w think you're outside the box of publishing or whatever. But you should also respect those of us who are trying very hard to reach our writing goals of getting published. And I am sure we are just as much artists as you are. Oh let me correct that, a 'true artist'.

Wow, a bit snipey isn't it?

Different strokes for different folks.

[Soccer Mom]

Easy there, folks. Let's just focus on the important parts here. Beyond Heaving Bosoms is out. Squee!

[Brindle Chase]

This was bad!! I'm at work and read that flow chart and bust up laughing out loud! *lmfao*

...she's so virginal, her hymen squeaks when she walks.


I would call these ... like the pirate said... "guidelines"

[Bubastes]

This was bad!! I'm at work and read that flow chart and bust up laughing out loud! *lmfao*


I have a feeling the whole book is like this, which means I can't drink coffee while I read it.

[brainstorm77]

This was bad!! I'm at work and read that flow chart and bust up laughing out loud! *lmfao*




I would call these ... like the pirate said... "guidelines"

I'm guessing that flow chat is very tongue in cheek :) I think it will be a fun read.

[Brindle Chase]

I'm guessing that flow chat is very tongue in cheek :) I think it will be a fun read.


It is. Very funny, the writing is obvious as sarcasm. Its cute, because it takes light hearted jabs at the genre that anyone who reads or writes it, can appreciate. You know, all the stereotypes, cliches and what not. *beams* At the same time, its message as a guide is still there.

[Bubastes]

I loved the whole "condom (or lack thereof) as a plot point" = new skool romance. LMAO!! So true for the stuff I read/write, but still funny!

[brainstorm77]

I loved the whole "condom (or lack thereof) as a plot point" = new skool romance. LMAO!! So true for the stuff I read/write, but still funny!

It's so true though! Some guidelines mention it!:D

[jodiodi]

Thank you for posting these links. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I've always said my goal was to write books about "surging tides of raging passion and tumultuous waves of ecstacy".

[Lainey Bancroft]

Thank you for posting these links. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I've always said my goal was to write books about "surging tides of raging passion and tumultuous waves of ecstacy".

What, Jodiodi? No turgid man sword? No velvet sheath?

[Deb Kinnard]

No purple prose allowed!

We're romancers, dang it. We write GOOD stuff.

The art versus marketing dichotomy has been going along since the first cave person scratched I Love You on a rock and tried to get someone to give him a fish for it. There is no one "right" way to write a novel, no one way to pitch, sell, market or package it. It all depends on what you want to have happen to your book at the end of its process, and what is achievable. Often, these two do not mesh...LOL

[jodiodi]

What, Jodiodi? No turgid man sword? No velvet sheath?

Oh yes. His valiant rod, her burning loins (I think there's medicine for that); his broad, hard chest, her soft, velvet skin (if his body is that hard all over, wouldn't it hurt to be enveloped in his steel embrace?); her silken hair, his unruly locks (why do heroes always have wild, unruly hair?).

It used to irk me when I read romance even as a kid and the heroine was so 'fiesty', if I'd been the hero, I'd have said, "See ya". Then the heroine could storm out after him (don't they always) and promptly get kidnapped so her tumultuous lover can rescue her and she's once more enfolded in his powerful embrace.