Romance writing isn’t easy

If you’re thinking about writing romance because you’ve scanned the sales charts and you know how big romance is – and that anything that sells must be easy – take a step back. Romance writing is just as tough as any other genre. In fact, because of the competition, it might be harder. But it’s incredibly rewarding when it all works. 

Can you be mean enough?

People think romance writers must be nice, warm and cuddly. But we’re not. Not as writers, anyway. As writers we need to be mean to our main characters. We need to put them through trials and tribulations, to make the reader believe they’ll never get their happily ever after, so when it comes it’s all the better for it.

Compelling versus likeable

You’ll hear a lot of writing advice about making ‘likeable characters’. The problem with this is that likeable characters can be insanely dull. Curious characters are much more interesting. When it comes to romance writing you need to find some equilibrium, after all, you want your reader to want these two to be together by the final page. 

The journey must be hard

A romance is an obstacle course, not a sprint. If your main characters are perfect for each other and nothing is stopping them getting together, you’re done! Put your feet up and relax. The only problem is, your novel is less than 20 pages long. Or it has no drama. Either way, you better start making life tough for your awesome twosome if you want us to follow your writing! 

Find a world you want to be in

If your story holds firm and you make it to the end, and you’re lucky enough to find a publisher, and you’re given edits – you’ll be with your characters and inside your world for a year or more. Make sure it’s somewhere you want to be for that length of time, otherwise the end will be much harder than it needs to be. 

Trendspotting

Don’t go chasing trends because you think that’s what the industry wants. From the start of a novel to publication can take years. What publishers want now, isn’t what audiences might want in twenty-four months’ time. Pick a story that you – and you alone – want to tell.

Know where you’re going!

Unless you’re having a really bad day, you wouldn’t simply get in your car and just drive. Having a destination is crucial for writing any story. And while romance will – 9 times out of 10 – resolve itself by having your perfect characters end up together, you need to figure out how and why before you start on Chapter One.

Detours are OK

Contradiction time! While it’s crucial to know where you’re going, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a detour along the way. Or even a new destination once your characters have started speaking to you. Make yourself a plan, but let yourself have room to manoeuvre within that plan.

Steal like an artist!

If you want to write romance, surround yourself with the genre. Watch TV, films, plays, and, of course, read as many romance novels as you can. With all of these media, enjoy them once to see if they speak to you, then absorb them again with a notepad and pen.

Enjoy yourself

Ultimately, writing anything – regardless of the genre – should be fun. You’ve got to love what you do and go easy on yourself. There will be days when it’s hard, when you want to throw in the towel, but as long as they’re fewer than the days you’re loving writing… keep on going.

How NOT to Write a Novel by Sandra Newman & Howard Mittelmark (Penguin)

If you like your writing guides to inspire a good belly laugh, visit your local library/bookshop for this one. The section on the Deafening Hug (detailing what happens when the wrong phrase suggests more than brotherly love) is a perfect example of why romance writers need to choose their words as carefully as everyone else. 

On Writing by Stephen King (Simon & Schuster)

You may wonder what a horror writer can teach you about romance, but this memoir/autobiography/teaching aid is the quintessential book for anyone who’s ever wanted to tell any kind of compelling story.