Secrets to Writing a Romance: Write Novels that Sell Book #5

by K. Stanley, L. O'Donnell

Unlock the secrets to writing a bestselling romance novel. This book reveals the specific structure of the genre and the essential elements that make these stories captivating.

Balance reader expectations with your distinctive voice to create an irresistible story that satisfies romance readers.

Go beyond the "meet-cute" and learn about the scenes readers expect in commercially successful romance novels. Portray character growth and perfect your story's pacing by writing scenes that build tension and demonstrate conflict. Drive your story forward by weaving in external and subplot story arcs.

We analyze six commercially successful romance novels with different subgenres and subplots. It's exciting to see that each novel follows the story arc pattern but is still a unique story.  You'll see the full breakdown of these books:

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Happy Place by Emily Henry

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

As with all the books in the Write Novels that Sell series, you'll learn the theory—the "why" behind our recommendations—and use the actionable advice to outline, write, and edit your novels.

270 pages, ebook

Published August 24, 2025

About the author

DESCENT shortlisted for 2014 Crime Writers of Canada Unhanged Arthur award. BLAZE shortlisted for the 2014 Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger. Short Story "When a Friendship Fails" won 2014 Capital Crime Writers's best short story.

CEO Fictionary.co

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.
I have purchased other books in the series but this is one I have been waiting patiently to devour.
And the wait was worth it. Secrets to Writing a Romance is a must read for any romance writer or wanna be romance writer. It is structured so that the reader can move from one plot point to another with examples and explanations of how to use, answer, and analyze each new section. The six books they use as examples are different in many ways but all share the fundamental structure of a romance book. This book breaks these examples down to the micro level, which makes understanding the concepts spot on.
I found myself 'seeing' my structural problems and slow pacing as I was reading and how I will be able to fix them. I had to stop myself from straying to my manuscript and keep reading forward in this book because I am so excited to implement their expertise. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a book to finish! Thank you K. Stanley and L. O'Donnell

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read other titles in the "Write Novels that Sell" series, I was especially eager to see how Stanley and O'Donnell would approach romance—and they didn’t disappoint. Secrets of Writing a Romance is a thoughtful, well-organized resource that goes beyond surface-level advice. The authors break down the genre’s emotional architecture with clarity and respect, showing how structure can support—not stifle—authentic storytelling.

One of the most valuable insights was the distinction between the internal and external story arcs. Understanding how emotional transformation intersects with plot mechanics helped me see my own work with fresh eyes.

The comparative analysis of six successful novels is a highlight. Seeing how The Bodyguard, Happy Place, and others follow a shared arc while remaining emotionally distinct is both reassuring and inspiring. The authors don’t just teach theory—they demonstrate it, scene by scene.

If you’re looking to write romance that resonates, this book delivers the tools, insight, and encouragement to do both. Highly recommended for writers who want to honor reader expectations while crafting something truly their own.

[B.J. Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a useful craft book for writing romance

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like other books written in this series by K. Stanley, this is an outstanding reference! Not only does it define step-by-step what is needed for outlining a romance book, but it gives detailed examples of each step. I think this was my favorite part, actually--taking actual books with different plots and directions, breaking them down to illustrate the components needed for a successful romance. Each genre is similar but different, and unlike other reference books (of which I have PLENTY), this didn't skim over the specifics for a romance plot in order to say the same thing over and over. I want someone to clearly define and give examples of what I'm supposed to be looking for and Secrets to Writing a Romance does that in spades. I also like how it's broken down, each element of storytelling described in PLAIN ENGLISH so that I know what they are talking about. I hate it when books talk to me as a reader/writer in doctor-ese, using words that they know and understand, but not showing me what they are talking about. I don't need to be impressed with an author's knowledge of big words and technical terms. Speak to me so I can understand--and this book does.

I also want to point out that the format makes it easy to bookmark and come back to those parts that you want to examine later. It's a true reference tool. I can mark a section and flip back and forth as I need to. Chapters are clearly defined. Pages are laid out plainly. And the examples--need I say it again?--perfectly show what the authors want us to learn in several kinds of perspectives.

Like the other "Secrets" books by K. Stanley, I will add this one to my collection of quality reference tools.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

SECRETS TO WRITING A ROMANCE – K Stanley, L O’Donnell*****
More than any other genre, romance has a structure all its own, more rigid than most if you want to satisfy the romance reader.
The basic skeleton of any successful novel is the same, whether action or crime or cozy. But without certain well placed, essential elements, the romance novel will fail.
I had intended just to read through this guide to writing a romance from beginning to end. The authors take your hand, and you follow them, step-by-step, from the opening scene to the mirroring one at the end. They use six well-known romance novels by well-known authors to illustrate every point they make including Emily Henry and Beth O’Leary. Such as their inspiration that I found myself thinking about the novel that I would write, making copious notes, which was at odds with my intention of a simple read through.
This is one of a series of help books that K Stanley has written. They each teach the theory, the ‘why’ behind their recommendations and offer actionable advice of how to outline, write and edit your own novels. Behind this is Fictionary, founded by Kristina Stanley, an award of winning author herself. Fictionary has, over the years, been getting better and better and is used equally by established authors and beginners.
In a highly saturated market, Secrets to Writing a Romance stands tall. Highly recommended.

[Gayla Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attention all romance writers!
Secrets of Romance Writing by Kristina Stanley and Linda O’Donnell
is the highly anticipated Book 5 in the Write Novels that Sell series. It is a valuable resource for all romance writers, from newbies to well-published authors.
This book covers what most writing books do—characters, POV’s, motivations, goals, obstacles, and how to develop them in a romance.
It also explains the external arc, but they focus on the internal and romance arcs and how all three plotlines need to be interwoven to create a structurally sound book.
Stanley and O’Donnell delve into how to create scenes, and then they do something different from other romance writing books in that they reveal how to outline a romance—scene by scene—from the Ordinary world to the Happily Ever After or the Happy for Now.
Another exciting thing they do is pick six commercially successful romances, take them apart and analyze them so the readers can see the patterns in them and how they work. This enables readers to put this knowledge to work in their own books.
Also, they cover tropes and how to use them when constructing a romance.
This book is sure to educate, inspire and energize writers to get busy hitting the keys.

[Carla Rieger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this book and have read other books in this series. All have been valuable. Secrets to Writing a Romance was useful given I’m writing a Romantasy, meaning there’s a romantic subplot to my fantasy series. This book helped me see how I was missing one of the story arcs in my first novel—not fully fleshing out the Middle Plot Point—and how to improve it. That said, I hadn’t read any of the novel examples, making it harder to grasp some of the concepts. So, I recommend reading at least one of those first. What I really appreciated was “Your Guide” at the end of the book, which gives bullet points of the different parts of the story structure. This is so useful especially if you’re outlining your novel using the Fictionary app. All in all, highly recommended not just for romance writers but for those with a romantic subplot within another genre.

[Yvette L · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer of literary fiction who was considering exploring Romance as a genre, I eagerly signed up to receive an ARC copy of “Secrets of Romance Writing” by Kristina Stanley and Linda O’Donnell. I own other volumes of the Write Novels that Sell series and find them to be clearly written, logically organized, and invaluable for creating a solid structural foundation to any novel. Book 5 on Romance does not disappoint.
“Secrets of Romance Writing” coherently outlines and explains in detail the tenets of writing a Romance. Even for a newbie like me, the information made me feel confident that this was something I could tackle. It will serve as a reference guide that I will go back to over and over again. The book also covers the tropes and scenes that make a Romance a romance and explains the whys and wherefores with copious examples from published novels. Concepts such like the use of the “Vault” during the process of writing is an original “secret” that I can see will be useful no matter what genre I write in.
I highly recommend Book 5 in the “Secrets” series.

[Frank Carver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prolific Fictionary team have now turned their gaze onto the top-selling genre of romance. This book picks apart the key scenes and beats which make for a successful romance story and applies the Fictionary approach to guide you into planning and writing your romance.

In common with the other books in this series, the authors study a selection of popular romance books and help you understand what makes them tick, then boils that down into actionable steps and decisions to help with your own vision for your story.

If you have an idea for a romance story, but are not sure how to go about writing it. Give this book a look.

[Aimee Shoaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Secrets to Writing a Romance” has come into my life at the perfect time! After reading several craft books, listening to multiple podcasts and attending a variety of classes as I attempt to write my very first rom-com, this book has been a game changer! The “Fun Tasks” at the end of each chapter have consistently helped me evolve my story in a thoughtful way. I highly recommend!

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in addition to actually purchasing this book. I own two paperbacks and a digital version of the rest in the series. I highly recommend all of these book. I wish I had this book decades ago. I've been a member of RWA and HWA for decades and have taken classes and workshops everywhere. This book discloses most of what took me a lifetime to learn plus more than I've learned in an amazing book, all the important "secrets" of the novel and this genre are revealed. I feel more empowered now as I revise and edit my present manuscripts and I'm enthusiastic to start an outline for a new novel using the new skills I've learned from this book. The knowledge I gained is not outline or rigid cookbook formula to dictate novel creation. Even if one is skeptical about the author's claims, they illustrate what they write by taking actual commercially successful romances to demonstrate what is explained. It is a fascinating read; you won't want to set it down. The format unfolds in such a concise and useful manner by first discussing universal genre concepts, skeletal blurbs, romance story arc and tropes. I even took notes as I read. I can't praise this book enough. I would give it more stars if I could. I definitely recommend this book to anyone thinking of trying to write a romance novel and also to those who have been around the "wanna be a published author" circuit who may have some workshops or other writing educational experiences. This book is a must have for your writing reference library. I'm hopeful with the author's guidance I can get my handful of novel manuscripts to submission ready. I applaud the authors on a true gem of a book!

[E.A. Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. This book is pure writing mojo for romance writers. I am a total zero at writing this genre but have long wanted to learn how other people can do this so well. The wait is over. This book is your all-in-one, everything you ever needed to know to get to grips with writing a romance with confidence. I worked through this book as I read it, to test how well I could apply its guidance to my own woefully lacking skillset.

And can I just say: this book has changed my writing life! Not only is it a fun, warm, and positive read, it also feels like you are sitting down to have a coffee with an awesome writer friend who knows so many secrets! This book shows you how you can build a fabulous romance with confidence straight out of the gate. I'm so excited to write my first romance novel using the know-how shared in this book.

Secrets to Writing a Romance strikes the sweet spot of being completely accessible to anyone who wants to write a romance novel without it being technical. Everything is done step-by-step and you can watch your story build out right before your eyes. The best part is none of this is meant to be followed doggedly - you have so much freedom to create your story using the guidelines without sacrificing a single drop of your creativity.

I cannot recommend this book enough. You want to write romance? You want to know how to craft a story out of an idea into a full-blown page-turner? You need this book. I promise it will be the best Happy Ever After you can give your writing life!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets to Writing a Romance is a clearly written, fun, and actionable writing resource that you'll use again and again!

You'll come away with valuable information whether you're new to writing romance or have written several romance stories. In part one, the authors provide a clear breakdown of romance structure, genre expectations, and incorporating tropes while keeping your story unique and fresh.

Part two walks you through creating your own story, scene by scene. Each chapter explains the scene's purpose, patterns, and multiple examples to help you apply the knowledge. Additionally, the authors provide you with clear steps on how to use the information as you go. If you complete the tasks as you read, you'll have the core outline/structure of your story done, so you're ready to get writing.

The Romance Novel Checklist at the end provides a wonderful summary of the essential scenes in any romance, making it a valuable resource for all your future romance stories.

The information is well organized, easy to understand, and fun to read. The examples further bring the information to life, making it easy to have those 'ah-ha' moments when everything clicks together. This is a valuable resource that I know I'll refer to regularly.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Crystal W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are SO many things I loved about this book: the very design of it, first and foremost. The simplicity, the structure, the clear and concise explanations of what a romance is and isn't (SUPER helpful), as well as multiple examples featuring current novels throughout.

I think one of my most favorite parts of the book is the recap at the end in a visual format-- it summed up the chapter nicely in a bird's eye view and followed the summary with a "Your Fun Task". I appreciated these bite-sized actionable steps you can take to implement these very tools into your novel.

By the end of the book, if you have done your due diligence with the recommended tasks, you will have either a fantastic outline or a first draft, depending on where you take it. If you are already past that point when you begin, then you will have a detailed road map of suggested tools to polish or enhance what you already have.

I haven't read any of the previous books written by these two authors (despite loving the Fictionary community) and it has definitely whet my appetite to read the others. Even though I was provided the opportunity to read the ARC, I am most definitely purchasing this one!

I would like to thank the authors, Kristina Stanley and Linda O'Donnell for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ardith Arnelle-Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Secrets to Writing a Romance” is an essential literary resource that offers aspiring authors practical advice and a detailed checklist to refine their skills in crafting compelling romantic stories. I appreciated the authors keeping up the engaging tone as in earlier works. The authors’ guides readers through each step with examples that show how to merge Story Arcs and Romance Arcs.

Though I don’t focus on romance, my novels often feature romantic elements or love interests that enhance the story. Stanley and O’Donnell highlight how writers from other genres can leverage romantic elements or love stories to increase tension and deepen character development. If you’re a writer, I highly recommend picking up this book along with other resources tailored to your specific genre. These insightful tools have elevated my writing abilities.

[Lisa Moreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book guides writers step-by-step on story basics, like how to choose your protagonist, main plot points, etc., but tailors it to the romance genre. Then it dives deep into specifics only for romance stories, giving you critical information you can use either while writing or editing your first draft.

I think you'll save time if you use it while plotting/writing your first draft, but fear not, if you come across this book while editing, it is still worth your time to read and implement the information. The book is clear and concise, and I highly recommend every writer of stories reads it. Most best-selling books have some element of a romance story in them, even if it's a subplot, so every writer should read this book to make sure their stories work! (I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book with a promise to post an honest review.)

[Elaine Canyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been so excited for this book in the series! K. Stanley and L. O'Donnell do an amazing job at showing not only what authors can do to create a page-turning romance, but give step-by-step instructions on HOW to do it, and make sure your writing stays true to you. What sets this book apart from other romance guides is how the authors break down the difference between the romance in your story and the external plot factors that help drive the romance forward. While this book focuses on contemporary romance, any of the other subgenres can easily apply the same tools outlined by the authors to create their story. I write romantasy, and while there is A LOT more to intertwine than some of the other romance subgenres, the concepts are the same. I love this book, and will definitely buy the paperback as soon as it's available.

[Saf ST · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have all the books in this series, and they are absolutely wonderful. The exercises included are practical and engaging. By the time I finished them, I either have a strong skeleton to build on, so I never feel stuck. Of course, things can always change as the story develops, but these books give me a foundation and direction.

I usually write romance as subplots, and this guide really helped me strengthen those elements. It’s such a valuable resource, especially if you have a great idea but aren’t sure where to start. I can’t recommend K. Stanley’s and L. O’Donnell’s work enough. While you’re at it, check out the other books in the series too: they’re all excellent.

A fantastic addition to my writing and editing shelf!

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, and you will, too!

Start with a solid foundation of romance story theory, then build up the knowledge with examples, and then add a dash of DIY, and you'll have a Happy Ever After with your readers!

[Daannamae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books about how to write romance. The authors go to great depths to help authors know how to write the best story for readers to enjoy. If you write romance then pick up this book!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well done. If you are interested in what it takes to write a romance novel this is the book for you. It has real world examples and actionable steps to make your writing dreams a reality.

[Laura Kunigėlytė · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read all the books in the series “Write Novels that Sell Book” and this one is so helpful for anyone who works on their romance novel. I definitely will re-read it again while working on my books.