The Art of Romance Writing: Practical Advice from an International Bestselling Romance Writer

by Valerie Parv

Aspiring romance writers will appreciate the industry-insider tips and practical advice offered in this fully revised and updated guide written by a top romance novelist. Step-by-step explanations to creating believable characters, handling dialogue, choosing settings, developing workable conflicts, and crafting effective plots are provided. Writers will stay on track and motivated with checklists that are included throughout. In addition to creative advice, a marketing section educates would-be authors on the major publishing houses and how to match their manuscripts to the publishers' romance lines. Writers will also learn how to pitch and hopefully sell their book in 10 minutes to an editor at a writers' conference, where to find such opportunities, and how to make the most of them. An insider's look at the kinds of manuscripts that editors are seeking in genre romance, including paranormal themes, action-adventure, inspirational, and chick lit, provides valuable insight into achieving success in a competitive marketplace.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Romance, Crafts, Reference

232 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

Valerie Christine Parv was a popular Australian writer of over 70 romance novels, with more than 34 million sales. She published her novels in Mills & Boon's since 1982.

Reviews

[M. Jane Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a little more basic than what I was looking for, but it covers the ground fairly well and would be useful for a writer at an early stage of craft and career.

It does occasionally read as if it were written for someone who hasn't ever read a romance (or a book) but wants to write one... which is, to a reader like me, annoying.

But there are some great craft exercises and break downs of techniques. Worth mining for the good bits.

First written in 1993 and last re-issued in 2004, so virtually all of the "business" side of the information offered is hopelessly out of date--just skim through it.

[Birsilah Bakar · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extremely good book for beginners. I've learned a lot of good tips with the flow charts :)
Thank you, Valerie!

[Emily Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since it was written in 2004, it's not as current as I wish it was. But it did give some solid advice on the genre and the varying requirements of various publishing houses. I would love to see an updated version that includes information on e-publishing. All in all, a solid book for beginner writers.

[Micah · Rating 3 out of 5]

+1 star for explaining a genre I am trying to understand. I also left this completely sure that I could write a traditional romance novel, should the need arise.

[Maryanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to read guide with heaps of great advice. An updated version relevant to 2019 and beyond would be wonderful.

[mkmk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knows.

[Iola · Rating 2 out of 5]

First published in 1994 and it shows (even though I read the "fully revised and updated" 2004 version). The basic writing advice is sound (although there were a couple of examples of writing that is now considered overused cliche, but which may well have been fresh and original in 1994). Also, there are a lot of references to now-defunct publishers and even the revised version is too old to mention ebooks or self-publishing. As such, I wouldn't recommend to new writers as they won't know enough to know when they are reading stale or dated advice.

[Elizabeth Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good little advice book with good suggestions on getting started- the version I read was a bit dated in it's advice as it was published in the 90s and the world of research is vastly different now! But worth a read when just starting out and would like some tips.

[Renée Dahlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant beginners guide to writing a romance.

[Tiberius McCoy]

This book is definitely outdated now but it gave some interesting perspective about an industry I had zero knowledge about. I was never interested in romance before so it was very interesting to read about the sophisticated systems that romance publishers have to rate romance content and give their readers a fairly sophisticated system in which to be able to choose the level of romance/intimacy they're comfortable with.

There's a number of things I didn't like in this book, like the casual tokenization of minorities and the encouragement to use POC to give your BOOK 'colour' and to make it 'exciting' to readers. Sounds like encouraging fetishization to me, but, as I said, this book is pretty old now and I imagine the insensitivity probably wouldn't pass an editor these days. (I hope)??

[Meryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful book for anyone thinking of writing romance. Solid advice from an Australian romance writer.

[Beatrice Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly about her books, what she does, how she does things, with basic advice on characterization and viewpoint.

[Sarah Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful and informative. I refer back frequently.

[Jo Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

currently reading and rereading. So far so good

[M.A. Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - A great introduction to the craft for those who haven't read romance or who haven't written romance before. It had some good reminders in it, but I would definitely suggest this as an introductory book, rather than a craft book for experienced writers. Very readable, open, and approachable with the topic though.