Quickies: Writing Short Fiction for the Romance Market

by Nancy Cassidy

So you have a great idea for a romance, but you want to keep it short? There’s a large market today for short romantic fiction, especially in the virtual, electronic marketplace. People want to read something while they sit on the bus or ride the train to work. Something that is short, easy to read, but will make them feel good, the way romance novels do. Keeping it brief without losing that level of emotional connection can be hard, but there are ways to make sure your book is a satisfying romance read, even with a limited number of words. You can learn to plan and write a story that will make your readers look for more. Here are some of the things you’ll learn in Writing Short Fiction for the Romance The History of the Short Story; Understanding Your Niche; The Craft of Writing Short Romance; Use Writing Exercises Layering; Precision Writing Written by Freelance Editor and Writing Coach, Nancy Cassidy

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2015

Reviews

[LynneV · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic

I bought this based on the ToC only, because the sample didn't cover more than that but the ToC looked promising. I was very disappointed. This book touched on subjects but it lacked any depth and it could've done with more examples. The SnowWhite example at the end just felt flat.

There are some nuggets of wisdom, but none that can't be found elsewhere. If you're looking for books on how to plot and write short romance fiction, I recommend the craft books by Gwen Hayes, Nina Harrington and Rachelle Ayala. I will be returning this book.

[Eli Taff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for anyone interested in writing short stories as well as romance. Without getting too deeply into the specific sub genres of romance, this book does a great job of setting up what you need to follow, the memes and archetypes that romance readers expect. Some of it is very basic introduction level writing advice, but still good to go over even if you’re experienced with writing. I found it very helpful and it has started me into considering writing short fiction with a more romance style. The writing voice was easy to follow and engaging and I had a great time reading this.