Tip #1--The Cute Meet--Have your characters meet in a unique way. This initial meeting should set the stage for your story. When you go to the book store and pick up a romance novel, you will inevitably turn to the first page and read a bit to see if you want to purchase the book. Keep in mind that your readers need an opening that grabs their interest and pulls them into the story. Editors will look for this quality in your work, as well.
Tip #2--The Characters--Your characters must be vivid and believable. This means they will have strengths and flaws that will affect the story you are telling. If you make one character too perfect or another very controversial and flawed, the story will be too one sided. It (the story) won't work and the editor will discard it as too confused. Know your characters and make them clear and concise by defining their strengths and their flaws.
Tip #3--Facts Matter--Do your research and know the time period you are writing about. If your story is set in the old west of the 1820's then you can't have someone arriving on a train as the railroads hadn't been built into that area yet. Get your facts straight. Never make the mistake of thinking that an editor won't check them-- they will! Also, don't get carried away with your history and research info in your story. Remember, your writing a romance, not a history lesson. Less is more when it comes to background information on the era you're writing about.
Tip #4--Past, Present, Future--Pay attention to tense when writing for the romance market. Present tense is very hard to stay in and even harder to sell in this genre. Write in past tense for best results with the editors. Later on, when you are more experienced, you can play around with present tense. Just remember that present tense is hard to write and even harder to sell in the romantic fiction market.
Tip #5--Pace--Move your story along without letting it get bogged down in too much detail. The emotions and actions of the main characters should set the pace and move your romance along to it's desired conclusion. Too much description, history, prose or rhetoric slow the pace of your story causing the reader to loose interest. Always remember that the story should be about two people finding each other. And in spite of their differences, they find love with each other. Move your romance novel toward this conclusion. Keep the pace moving in this direction briskly or your editor will discard it as slow and boring.
One last thing to remember is that the desired outcome of a romance novel is the "happily-ever-after". This is what defines a romance and is a requirement for your story. Your readers buy romance novels so they can live vicariously through your characters and experience that happily ever after ending. Give them what they want and they will become faithful readers of your books.
Tips on Romance Stories
Tip #1--The Cute Meet--Have your characters meet in a unique way. This initial meeting should set the stage for your story. When you go to the book store and pick up a romance novel, you will inevitably turn to the first page and read a bit to see if you want to purchase the book. Keep in mind that your readers need an opening that grabs their interest and pulls them into the story. Editors will look for this quality in your work, as well.
Tip #2--The Characters--Your characters must be vivid and believable. This means they will have strengths and flaws that will affect the story you are telling. If you make one character too perfect or another very controversial and flawed, the story will be too one sided. It (the story) won't work and the editor will discard it as too confused. Know your characters and make them clear and concise by defining their strengths and their flaws.
Tip #3--Facts Matter--Do your research and know the time period you are writing about. If your story is set in the old west of the 1820's then you can't have someone arriving on a train as the railroads hadn't been built into that area yet. Get your facts straight. Never make the mistake of thinking that an editor won't check them-- they will! Also, don't get carried away with your history and research info in your story. Remember, your writing a romance, not a history lesson. Less is more when it comes to background information on the era you're writing about.
Tip #4--Past, Present, Future--Pay attention to tense when writing for the romance market. Present tense is very hard to stay in and even harder to sell in this genre. Write in past tense for best results with the editors. Later on, when you are more experienced, you can play around with present tense. Just remember that present tense is hard to write and even harder to sell in the romantic fiction market.
Tip #5--Pace--Move your story along without letting it get bogged down in too much detail. The emotions and actions of the main characters should set the pace and move your romance along to it's desired conclusion. Too much description, history, prose or rhetoric slow the pace of your story causing the reader to loose interest. Always remember that the story should be about two people finding each other. And in spite of their differences, they find love with each other. Move your romance novel toward this conclusion. Keep the pace moving in this direction briskly or your editor will discard it as slow and boring.
One last thing to remember is that the desired outcome of a romance novel is the "happily-ever-after". This is what defines a romance and is a requirement for your story. Your readers buy romance novels so they can live vicariously through your characters and experience that happily ever after ending. Give them what they want and they will become faithful readers of your books.