WorkshopsRomance Writing 101By Nicci Yang, WIW Membership and Program Manager According to the panelists at the June 22 WIW "Romance Writing 101 Workshop,” where romance novelists Karen Anders, Candice Poarch, Linda Morelli and Sophia Nash shared their writing experience, "persistence is the key to romance-writing success.” Poarch, an African-American romance novelist, read her first romance novel after her sister left one at Poarch’s house. The intriguing novel convinced her to read others. Soon she found herself writing her own stories, thus beginning her romance-writing career. Like most authors’ paths, Poarch’s was a long, winding road with many bumps along the way. In the 1980’s African-American romance novels didn’t exist. The audience was there, but the publishing house interest wasn't. Poarch worked on her first novel for four years before Kensington House agreed in 1995 to publish it. Two years later it was published. Today, the African-American romance novel is one of the fastest growing genres. Poarch has published 10 books with her soon to be released Family Bonds (2005 BET/Arabesque) due out in October. Poarch’s tips for becoming a published author:
10. Always finish what you start. Nash had an established career writing for television broadcasting long before she began her romance-writing career. Her love for romance novels began in 2000 when her father introduced her to authors such as Jane Austen, Henry James and Emily Bronte. Nash soon began writing her own novel. About 100 pages into it, she hit the infamous writer’s block and desperately sought feedback. She joined Washington Romance Writers, the Washington, D.C., chapter of Romance Writers of America. There she found a welcoming group of writers who helped her shape her novel and provided her with a support system. On their advice, Nash submitted her first novel to several contests nationwide. She didn’t win, but one of the judges, an editor for Signet Regency Romance, was interested in her novel and helped Nash smooth it out. Regency eventually published it. Nash writes Regency romance novels to include Best Regency’s 2004 Reviewers’ Choice Award finalist A Passionate Endeavor, RRA Best Debut of the Year A Secret Passion and Lord Will and Her Grace, due out later this year. Nash urged writers to submit their work to writing contests. “It provides a forum to get lots of feedback, especially anonymous feedback.” It opens you up to criticism and is a great way to build a thick skin said Nash. Anders began her writing career in a vacuum, writing alone without a support group, while sending her manuscripts to a string of agents. After numerous rejections, positive feedback from an agent arrived. When Anders contacted him, the agent spent much of the conversation criticizing her writing and hammering her. Eventually, the agent praised her work and encouraged Anders to continue writing. She wrote four books before her first one sold in 1995 and was published three years later. From 1997 to 2000, Anders stopped writing novels. During that dry spell, she joined Washington Romance Writers where she found a supportive critique group. With their encouragement, Anders submitted one of her novels to a Harlequin Blaze contest, won the contest and received a Blaze publishing contract. To date, she's written 10 novels for Blaze with three being published this year. “Persistence is everything,” advised Anders. Know your market. Don’t just set out to write a romance novel without first finding out what the elements are to such a novel. There is no set formula to a successful romance novel, but be aware that romance novels should include certain elements like a first kiss and a bleak moment with internal and external conflict between the hero and heroine and others. One of the most important things she has learned, said Anders, is the importance of editing and accepting edits. If an editor asks you to make an edit, do it and do it well. If not, have a good reason and stand behind it unwaveringly. Like Anders, Morelli also wrote her first novel in a vacuum and in first person—a big “no-no” in the romance-writing business. Morelli reiterated Anders advice, “know your market.” Unlike Anders, Morelli didn't shop for an agent immediately. Morelli was reviewing books when a publishing house asked her to review its books. She researched its Web site and learned that it was looking for historical romance novels, the same type Morelli was writing. She reviewed their novels and sent them her own, leading to the publication of her first novel, Fiery Surrender. Her next novel, Shadow of Doubt, won three contests. Small presses have published Morelli's books. “The good thing about small presses,” said Morelli, who is also a professional artist, “is that I got to design the cover for Fiery Surrender.” Self-doubt will set in after your first novel, advised Morelli, but just keep writing and seek out support groups. There, you’ll learn the valuable trait of defending your book, which you’ll eventually have to do with your editors. Her advice for getting published: If you're writing a specific type of romance, look at the authors’ line of work and see if they write for a specific publisher. Check out that publisher’s guidelines and proceed accordingly. For additional reading: Goal, Motivation and Conflict: The Building Blocks of GoodFiction by Debra Dixon Sign up for the next Workshop online.
|