One of my Romance writing mentors was a multi-published Harlequin author. She gave me this advice: “You can’t assume you know how to write a novel just because you’ve completed one book. Or 10 books. Or 20 books. The more you write Romance, the more you’ll realize that no two books have the same writing […]
Aspiring authors struggle, wondering how to start a Romance novel. In an effort to improve their manuscripts, newbies often seek feedback from other writers. However, listening to the wrong advice can add years to your pre-published journey. In fact, you may already be turning your manuscript into a stale, homogenized tale that will ultimately kill […]
When writing Romance, have you ever wondered why bestselling authors keep churning out the same hero? Just to be clear: I’m not talking about elevating the sidekick in Book 1, to hero status in Book 2. I’m talking about applying the same basic, male persona to every Romance hero, regardless of his profession or historical era—for […]
Written By Princess Koko, Empress of the Universe (Transcribed by Adrienne deWolfe, aka “Minion”) Greetings, Humans! It is I, Princess Koko Kono, writing on a subject that is near and dear to every Romance writer’s heart: why cats make the funniest sidekicks. Er . . . I mean, why animals make the funniest sidekicks. […]
Covid-19 had me in lockdown, surfing a tidal wave of annoying TV commercials. Suddenly, my trigger-finger paused on the Remote—as if by divine intervention. I’d landed on the Hallmark Movie Channel, which was promoting another “Christmas-when-it’s-not-Christmas” marathon. As a frequent viewer of this channel, I feel safe to conclude that Hallmark’s primary audience is women, […]
A group of professional people posed a question to children, ages four through eight. The answers were broader, deeper, and more profound than the researchers imagined. (Yes, I cried.) See what you think… Question: “What is love?” Answers: “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather […]
You write, and revise, and re-write some more, but you’re still no closer to selling your sexy Romance novel. Sound familiar? I can relate. NEW YORK EDITORS DIDN’T AGREE… When I fell in love with Romance novels, I wanted to write what I was reading. I even had a talent for writing; at least, my […]
(Author’s Note: In this humorous True Tale from my Writer’s Life, all names were changed.) So there we sat, two innocent but extremely vocal writers, brainstorming the plot for my Romantic Suspense. We were meeting for brunch at a restaurant — we’ll call this eatery, “Benny’s.” On this particular day, Patty had graciously agreed to […]
Put more than one fiction writer in a room, and ultimately, somebody poses the question: “Wouldn’t it be great if we could collaborate as a writing team?” But how exactly does a “team” of authors write a book? Ghostwriting for a Publisher Books are often written anonymously for a celebrity or public figure. A […]
