HaleyDaulton said:
I've seen Susan Gable recommend Debra Dixon's GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict numerous times. I would love to have Susan (or others) weigh in on specifically why this book is so appealing.
Are there any other "must-haves" for the aspiring romance author?
Haley
Great question, Haley. The reason I find Deb's book so appealing is because, in easy-to-understand ways, the book helps you build the essential building blocks to strong fiction. It helps you lay out a solid foundation for a story. That, in my opinion, is what makes the difference between a story that works, and one that doesn't. Which makes it a pretty essential thing to know. I can't work without GMC's for my characters. It helps keep things on track and focused for me.
The other must-have, IMHO, that isn't just for romance writers, but for all writers, is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King. That's all you need to know about craft in a nutshell.
Oh, I should add that GMC isn't just for romance writers, either. It's for any genre/commercial fiction writer.
Thus you have one book that focuses on story (the BIG picture) and one book that focuses on craft (the smaller details that are also important) to give you a complete overview on writing.
Those are the basic essentials, IMHO. I also like Leslie Wanger's Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies. Leslie is an editor at HQ, and has been for years, so she's got a different perspective on things than a writer might. This is good for a look at the market and other aspects of publishing, not just the writing side.
Did I give enough reasons why GMC is so terrific, or are you looking for a more in-depth answer?
Susan G.