On Writing Romance: How to Craft a Novel That Sells »

Leigh Michaels is the author of more than 80 contemporary romance novels published by Harlequin Books and has received Reviewer's Choice awards from Romantic Times. She teaches romance writing at in-person seminars and on the Internet at Gotham Writer's Workshop and at Barnes & Noble University, and has written articles for Writer's Digest, The Writer, and the RWA journal.

www.leighmichaels.com

*Comprehensive how-to information for beginning romance writers

*The romance genre is the most frequent break-in route for unpublished novelists

According to the Romance Writers Association, more than 50 percent of paperback fiction read and sold in the United States is romance, and more romance titles are published every year than in any other genre. Many writers try writing romance first because demand for the genre is so much greater than any other. For those new to the genre and/or to writing, this book provides a starting point for developing the skill set essential to writing a best-selling romance novel.

On Writing Romance is a thorough reference that will provide readers with detailed descriptions of more than 20 subcategories within the romance genre, tips for avoiding clichés, specific instruction for creating the perfect romantic couple, guidelines for drafting those all-important love scenes, submission information for breaking into the genre, and much, much more.

Preface     viii
Getting Ready to Write     1
Studying the Romance Novel     2
Selecting and Researching Your Story     21
Establishing Your Framework     38
Essential Elements     39
Hero and Heroine     45
Conflict     62
Relationships and Resolutions     73
Writing Your Romance Novel     81
Starting to Write Your Story     82
Putting Your Story on Paper     94
Populating Your Romance Novel     113
Creating Sexual Tension and Love Scenes     130
Using Point of View     147
Writing Dialogue and Introspection     162
Building a Believable Plot     181
Bringing It All Together     198
Submitting Your Romance Novel     209
Revising Your Manuscript     210
Marketing Your Romance Novel     225
Appendices and References     247
The Query Letter     248
The Cover Letter     251
The Synopsis     253
The Cover Page     255
Romance Publishers     256
Consolidated Reading List     258
Index     261