Committing to a Story

Two months ago, I made a stupid promise.  I responded to a query from my publisher to submit an erotic romance story to a recent submission call by saying "yes", I would write a story to fit their guidelines.  That meant agreeing to write at least 10,000 words (and as much as 15,000) in a month.  Was this promise feasible?  Yes.  Was it wise?  Probably not.

You see, having published with this romance publisher many times before, I had already seen this specific submission call, thought about the theme and decided not to submit a story.  You read that right.  I decided against it.

I had many reasons not to write a piece for this call.  First of all, I have published in several of their anthologies and thought it might not be wise to submit to too many, which might lead to a de facto rejection simply based on volume.  Another thing, I wasn't too sure what the theme meant and hadn't written a lot of stories in this vein.  So, unfamiliar territory.

Of course, as always, there are other calls on my time.  I am currently in the middle of about a dozen erotic romance stories, many of which are clamouring to be finished.  (Yes, I can hear them clamour).  Plus, between work, family, and school, I already have plenty of deadlines I may or may not meet.  I didn't need another one to add to my list.

So why did I agree to write this story?

The personal query flattered me.  I write ménage erotic romances (among other kinds) and the idea that my editor would have thought of my other stories while reviewing this submission call made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  Pandering to my ego works, people!

I agreed to submit a story, worked my ass off for weeks to draft and edit it, and finally submitted it in early October.  A few weeks later, I got the news that my story was accepted for the anthology!  Yay!

Bottom line: I stretched myself thin to write this story.  I think it's a pretty good one, with a non-hero character I might end up using in a future tale.  Because I tend to write according to mood, I often didn't feel like writing this story, but in the end I finished it and it turned out well.

Don't believe what people tell you.  Writing is hard work.  It isn't always up to your inclination what you write about.  It was worth more to me to please my publisher, to push aside my other projects, and to finish this story.  I gave up something to gain something.

When you commit to a story, what do you give up?  What do you gain?

How Many Books Do I Sell?

Okay, first of all, I'm not going to answer that question.  Second of all, you can find out for yourself.

The number of books I sell every month has been steadily growing over the past year or two and rapidly growing over the last few months, due in large part because of the great reviews and general lovely reception received by my latest erotic romance novella, Hard Luck Ranch.

But where have I been cyber-stalking myself, you may ask?  In case you don't already know about it, writers can keep track of their sales on Amazon (which handles a large percent of my e-book sales from my three publishers, Ellora's Cave, Crimson Romance and Totally Bound) through Novel Rank.  This site's Track Novel feature allows you to copy and paste in the link to your Amazon e-book and start keeping track of how many books you sell.  It also has cool tricks that let you see graphs of how many sales you've had in the past month or the last year and see how your book sales are trending.

By using Novel Rank, I've seen how much my sales of Hard Luck Ranch have outpaced my previous book launches and also how the success of it has spurred readers to pick up some of my similar titles like A Lady for Two and Country Hearts, pumping up the sales of my back list.

Let's face it, I like seeing my Amazon ranking climb -- my goal is to crack the triple digits one day -- but I also want to know what those numbers mean.  I don't know how scientific Novel Rank is but it seems to give me a good idea of how I'm doing and let's me anticipate how big a royalty check's coming my way!

Bad Romance (Reviews)

I have to admit that the bad reviews get me down.  Most of them are tinged with back-handed compliments (good sex, okay story).  Others are just all out bad (although I take mean spirited pleasure in noting that these are the ones that also tend to be poorly spelled).

I enjoy a good review.  The meaning of a good review has changed in recent months.

When I read a book and provide a review on Goodreads, I tend to simplify the experience.  If I liked the book, I give it a four star review.  If I loved it, five stars.  Two or less stars means I really didn't care for it.  One star pretty much means I didn't finish it, which is exceedingly rare.

Perhaps I am a generous reviewer.  I don't mind.  I realized long ago that I can love an infinite number (and variety) of books.  My all time favourite books I tend to read and re-read regularly.  They're like old friends.  And you can't have enough friends.

So, back to my reviews.  I know now that not everyone shares my view on books.  Some reviewers never seem to hand out five stars.  Others have their grading curves hovering around three instead of four or five like me.  People are different.  My idea of being a book lover is being fairly uncritical.  If the book made me feel strongly, I usually love it.  Even if it makes me sad.  Especially if it makes me sad.  That's the power of a book.  They don't all have to evoke the same emotions or tell the same type of story.  Imagine if all books did.  What horror.

People like your writing or they don't.  Not exactly stunning wisdom but the truth.  Everyone reads, and reviews, in different ways.

I can write good sex scenes.  I'll take it.  I write erotic romance so giving good sex scenes is a crucial part of my craft.  But I also want to tell a good story so I do read the negative reviews and try to see where I can improve.

Do I give the bad reviews too much power?  Perhaps?  They get me down.  At least now they get me down for a few minutes when, in the beginning, I would worry about them for days.

The good reviews outweigh the bad ones, both in number and in effect.  I want people to read my stories and feel something.  Hopefully, something sexy.

Totally Bound Publisher Website Revamp

 

My current e-book erotic romance publisher, Total-E-Bound, has recently rebranded with a new name (Totally Bound) and a new website.

(Note: I say current erotic romance publisher because I am published in contemporary romance with Crimson Romance and I have recently signed a contract for publication of a new erotic romance story with another publisher, which I am very excited about...but more on that later).

I checked out the website for Totally Bound and was pleasantly surprised by the look and layout, which are smart and clean.  As you can probably tell from this blog, I appreciate the uncluttered look...or try to.

Check out the new Totally Bound website and maybe buy a book or two.  I promise they will be hot!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Erotic Romance Calls for Submission - Spring Edition

This week, I broke out my spring dresses for the first time in the year.  It was still a little chilly up here but it felt great to wear a dress again, even if it was with tights.

Bring on the warm weather!

Of course, with spring comes thoughts of love (and sex), so here are a few erotic romance publishers who are looking for your stories.

Loose Id is looking for hot stories about the new boss, whether that's in an office setting or the "new Dom at the club" -- wow.  Submissions should be novella-length, so 20,000 or more words.  Deadline for writers who aren't already working with this publisher is May 25th so get writing!

Entangled wants stories with moderate to high heat levels set in exotic locales.  Story lengths can range from 10,000 to 40,000 words.  Not sure about the deadline for these but the call went out earlier this month so get those pens working.

Ellora's Cave has two calls for submission for 2013: Boys Will Do Boys (deadline: May 1st) and sweet Regencies for a Christmas collection (deadline: May 15th if you don't already write for them).

Lastly, Entranced Publishing is seeking novel length winter and holiday-themed romance fiction.  Deadline is May 1st so this is perfect for any of you who already have a manuscript gathering dust (like me).  Get editing, folks!

Day on the Links: Nan in the News

Since the release of my new contemporary hockey romance, Power Play, I've been getting a ton of hits, reviews (mostly good) and exposure.  So I wanted to share some work I've been putting out there.

I recently answered a Q&A about sexy music to listen to while...you know: on my publisher, Crimson Romance's, website.

I also completed a blog post for Crimson Romance about--what else?--writing the athlete romantic hero.

Lastly, I've been working on my author profile on Goodreads, which I'm finding is a great (and nerve wracking) way to get feedback on your published works.

Happy reading and don't forget to check out my new romance about hockey and hot athletes, Power Play, available on Amazon.

Performing Major Edits

Over the last few weeks, I've been editing my forthcoming romance manuscript for Crimson Romance.

It has been a challenging experience.

I've edited several short stories for publication in the recent past, namely my erotic romances for Total-E-Bound: Captive Angel and Country Hearts.

Perhaps because they were for far shorter works, those edits were relatively easy.  Yes, I had to change fairly major aspects of the pieces, such as tweaking the death of a character or changing a sex scene, but these were discrete scenes that required specific thought, not a major overhaul.

These latest edits were major overhauls.  I was tasked with revisiting the pasts of the characters, questioning the heroine's characterization, and changing an overly sweet ending.  I struggled with the edits for the entire two weeks I had to rework the manuscript.

Eventually, I got the edits done -- early too! -- but it was pretty much the only focus of my life during that time.  I didn't work.  I didn't write.  I barely spoke to my family.  It felt like all I did for two weeks was think about this book and make changes to it.

From out of my experience, I have put together a few tips to help anyone who might be facing their first novel length editing process, which I will be posting shortly.  The key, I think, is patience and planning.  Procrastination in editing is definitely your worst enemy.  This time, I dove right in and I think I did a fairly good job.  But we'll see when I get my next round of edits back.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So You Think You Can Write Contest

Once again, Harlequin is holding it's So You Think You Can Write (love the name!) contest, seeking new romance authors for the chance to win publication of their work.

I am a lifelong fan of Harlequin/ Mills & Boon (my mother apparently read nothing else when I was in utero...so it must be an inherited trait) and I love the idea of seeking unknowns to become the next published author in their line up.

Please, try putting up your first chapter in the last week of September--the contest opens on the 23rd--and join me in the nail biting.  You know I will be working on my first chapter in the weeks to come.

My Publisher - Total-E-Bound

Over the last few weeks, I've been spending a greater amount of time on the website of my publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.  For those who don't know, Total-E-Bound is an erotic romance publisher of primarily eBooks, with some audio and print offerings as well.

In my perusal, I've discovered some cool things about their website, which I have to share with you all.

They have an amazing offering of free short stories.  Yes, that's right -- free.  There are over fifty stories on the website.

I've also been checking out my author page(!): here.  It links back to this blog!

Very importantly, they have a number of calls for submissions: everything from Bodices and Boudoirs to "At your service" (domestic staff).  All of the calls sound like so much fun that I have already started brainstorming ideas for ones that close in August!

Lastly, and of course not least, they sell ebooks...one of of which will soon be mine!

Journey to My First Romance Publication

This is my first blog post in over a month and I am pleased to share a bit of good news that has kept me occupied for that period of time...I have had my first romance short story accepted for publication!

I am thrilled!  And busy!

When I last left this blog, I was deep into the process of preparing and editing my short story for submission into the Total-E-Bound erotic romance call for submissions.  This was, in fact, my very first attempt at writing an erotic romance story, a task I struggled with.

Apparently, I succeeded.

I received a request to make revisions to my story late in July and, after a few weeks of revisions, I resubmitted the story and had it accepted for publication.  I am now in the process of signing forms, giving some input into the cover art process(!), etc.

But, never fear, I will be back on these pages to chart my journey towards this first erotic romance submission, revision process, and acceptance.  I want to share my good fortune with everyone out there and remind you all that success is possible if you just keep at it.  Okay, I will stop myself from breaking into song.

(PS: I am now working on my second erotic romance story...I will keep you posted on that as well).

Fav 5 - Free Romance E-Books

I'm a voracious reader, so much so that I often have a huge stockpile of books waiting to be read just in case I can't find the time to run to my nearest bookstore.  (Yes, I still purchase hard copy books from a physical store.)

But why spend money on a good book when they can also be had for free?

Think about it: some of your favourite romance publishers want to both keep you as a reader and to woo a new audience, so they offer free e-books to lure you in.

Hey, it works!

Harlequin:  I was raised on Harlequin/ Mills and Boon so I still harbour a soft spot for their books.  I am both amazed and impressed by how many of my favourite romance authors (subject, no doubt, of a future post) are still producing incredible works!  I remember some of these names from twenty or so years ago.  Try some of these authors for free and you too will be hooked.  I promise.

Smashwords: This site has a large selection of lower priced and free ebooks, including pages of romance novels.  The selections feature reader reviews (out of 5 stars) and a "prude filter" to allow you to check out only novels that conform to your desired level of heat.  Well worth the perusal.

All Romance Books:  For tons of variety and more spicy reads, try out this website.  Just keep in mind that you have to go through a sales-type transaction even for the free reads -- it's just that your cart will show $0 owing.  That means you also have to create an account for the site.  Well worth the effort.

Public Book Shelf:  Looking for romance classics as well as the newer stuff?  Try out this site which offers titles from Jane Eyre to Married to a Rock Star.  Much emphasis, however, is on classics and historicals so check it out if you have a hankering for a romance set in the olden days.

The Wild Rose Press: A decent variety of free reads is available from this romance publisher who offers everything in the romance genre from young adult to paranormal.  For hotter reads, check out the Wilder Roses for another helping of freebies.

My Secret Identity, or Choosing the Write Pseudonym

A little while ago, I wrote about some of the reasons why a writer may choose a pseudonym. The issue I was struggling with was the fact that I write sweet or sensual romances but I am on the verge of branching out into my first erotic romance story for recent call for submissions.

I was torn. Did I want to muddy the good name of Nan Comargue by writing in several different subgenres? On the other hand, did I want to go through the energy and effort of taxing my limited memory by creating and maintaining a new identity?

That said, I’ve decided to take the plunge and create a new self to thrust out there into the cold hard world of romance writing. No doubt, she too will experience the highs (request for full manuscript) and lows (rejection letters) of publishing.

So now that I’ve decided to do it, how do I go about choosing the right (write) pseudonym for me?

Random Name Generators:

If I found the task of choosing a pseudonym a tedious chore to be completed as quickly as possible, I would just use one of these websites to create a plausible sounding name.

Porn Names:

Or, if you’re delving into erotic romances, as I am, you can use your porn name to create a suitable pseudonym. The rule for creating such names, as I understand it, is to use the name of your first pet for your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your surname.

            Example: Rex (pet name) + Main (street name) = Rex Main

My porn name is Lady Wilson. Not really ideal and not good enough for my purposes.

Of course, I enjoy the process of choosing character names so why wouldn’t I savour creating a whole new identity for myself?

All I need to do is keep a few guidelines in mind:

Don’t use someone else’s name: Big one, since the point of creating a pseudonym is to avoid confusion. People should know they’re picking up your book and exactly what kind of book to expect from you. Not to mention the ethical morass involved in picking a name close to another individual or writer’s. Stephanie King, anyone?

Consider the genre you’re writing in: Erotic romance is not the same as sweet romance. You want a name that pops, screams passion or sensuality, and is also memorable. So, anything except Nan Comargue, in other words.

Looks and sounds good: A pseudonym should look great on the front cover of a book (here’s hoping!) and should also sound smooth on the tongue. Although I’ve lumped these together, these are two different traits. On the page, I don’t want a name that’s too long or repetitive, for instance, with the same sequences of letters in both first and last names. For listening value, I want a few different sounds in my mouth but there’s a tendency to trip over too many of the same sounds. No one wants a tongue-twister name. But remember that letters that look the different on the page can end up sounding the same.

I love the name: It seems obvious but sometimes you can get caught up in picking the “right” name and overlook the fact that you don’t love the name you’ve chosen. Think about it. If your writing becomes successful then you could be joined to your pseudonym for many years to come. You don’t want to grow tired of your alter ego.

So, keeping all of these tips in mind, what name have I chosen for my wilder, erotic romance-writing self?

Sigh. I still haven’t decided.

Photo courtesy of m_bartosch at freedigitalphotos.net

Are You Still a Real Writer if You Haven’t Published?

All of my life, I’ve considered myself a writer. Heck, aren’t we all? We all churn out book reviews for middle school English classes and history essays for high school. We all do some writing at work, if only to tot up our hours worked every week. In a sense, we’re all writers.

But creative writing is a different animal. Most of those people who’ve written essays and book reviews don’t choose to write another document once they’ve graduated. Most of them wouldn’t pay attention to word count or run spell check unless they’re getting paid to do it. Most people don’t choose to write.

That’s what makes writers great. Every writer, at some point, has written a story or a novel for nothing. Zilch. Nada. As the industry politely calls it, “on spec”.

I’ve spent my entire career writing on spec and I’m not sure that that situation will change in the near future. Yet I keep churning out the manuscripts (I’ve produced more than twenty completed romance manuscripts to date – everything from historicals to alternate realities to contemporary series-style). Why? Am I crazy?

Yeah, crazy like a writer. An unpublished writer.

So, back to our central issue: are you still a “real” writer when you haven’t published a word?

On one level, we’re all real writers because we spend time and energy on our craft and produce stories and manuscripts that our families and friends love to read, even if forced to do so.

But there are real negatives to being unpublished.

First of all, you belong to the great unwashed hordes of aspiring writers who are hungrily seeking: a literary agent, a book deal, a few cents. The conundrum that most unpublished writers experience is that many publishers won’t look at your work without an agent and many agents won’t represent you without a publishing history or a contract in hand. Yikes.

Second, you can’t belong to certain professional organizations without a publishing credit behind your name. Organizations can be a great way to network and learn the inside tricks and tips of experienced writers. Unfortunately, some of them don’t want to hear from you unless you’re already one of them. Another conundrum for the aspiring writer.

No one takes you seriously, least of all your family and friends. Aside from the industry, who has turned its collective back on you, your friends and family tend not to take your years’ long toiling at the computer too seriously unless you’ve produced a publication during that time. They want to push you aside so they can play computer games and surf the internet. The nerve! Don’t they know that you’re working?

When you’re writing, the word “working” can often end up in quotation marks. People may see it as a harmless but time consuming hobby. You get paid to do work, right? So you can’t be working. Not really.

Acquaintances want to ask uncomfortable questions of you if you’re brave or foolhardy enough to announce that you’re a writer (instead of identifying yourself by the much easier day job title of lawyer or IT tech). The inevitable question is “what you have written?”, followed by “where have you been published?” “Nowhere” is such an unsatisfactory answer.

These are the pitfalls of being a real writer. But does that mean you stop calling yourself one?

Ask yourself this: if a doctor stops on the side of the road to administer emergency medical attention, is she no longer a doctor because she isn’t getting paid for it? If a musician plays a free concert with a bunch of other amateurs in the park, is he not a real musician? NO! He does it for love or she does it because it’s what she feels she has to do. Both are valid motivations and neither is money-based.

Fame and success can happen overnight. Ask any YouTube sensation. Paradoxically, such overnight success often takes years of hard work.

So remember this: you’re a real writer. Tell yourself that a hundred times a day in front of the mirror. If you stick with it, one day you will be a published one too.

Photo courtesy of Kittikun Atsawintarangkul at freedigitalphotos.net

Faking It, or How to Write under a Pseudonym

I, Nan Comargue, write sweet or semi-sweet (bittersweet?) romance novels. Recently, however, I’ve been reading and dabbling in writing erotic romances. In fact, I currently have a manuscript for an erotic romance call for submission on the go and I am dead set on finishing it in time for the July 1st deadline.

The problem is, when someone sees the name Nan Comargue (or will see it in the future, when my books are someday accepted for publication), they will know me as a sweet/ semi-sweet romance writer. They will not be expecting hot and explosive erotic romance, which I also want to publish. For one thing, I don’t want to offend any of my mythical sweet romance readers but I also don’t want to “trick” an erotic romance reader into buying a sweet story.

So what to do?

The answer I’ve come up with is a pseudonym.

But…but…but…is this a valid case for creating and stepping into a whole new identity?

Well, let’s look at some of the reasons writers use pseudonyms.

Privacy:
You teach schoolchildren or preside over traffic court in your day job. You may not, for obvious reasons, want the parent of a child you teach or an offender who comes before you to know your innermost sexual desires…because, to some extent, that’s what romance writing conveys. It may just be a wicked fantasy in your mind but someone, somewhere, will think this is what you do outside of your work.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  But you may not want your erotic writing to be the first thing someone thinks of when they see you in your day job.

In another scenario, your name may identify your ethnic or religious origins, which you may have reason not to publicize.

In both cases, a pseudonym can help for you to eliminate the risk of notoriety.

Avoid confusion:
Your name may be very common or extremely unusual. In the first case, you may not want to be confused with that famous singer because no one who searches your real name on the internet will ever find your romance novels. In the latter instance, you may want to protect your privacy (see above) or that of your family and make it easier on a potential reader to spell or pronounce your name.

Another instance of confusion, which applies to me, is not knowing what you’re marketing. No reader wants to spend time scratching their heads wondering if they’re buying a sweet or erotic romance. According to the trusty internet, writing in multiple genres (or, in my case, subgenres) can be a valid reason to come up with a pseudonym. Yay!

Volume:
You write too many books and don’t want your readers to think you churn them out by rote (thus leading to the assumption that they can't be of very good quality). Multiple pseudonyms can hide this fact.

You’re Two People:
Collaborators can sometimes find it easier to write under a single name. Let’s face it, the vast majority of authors are a single individual, so you may not want to stand out with your cover page being littered with multiple names. Or, as well, one or more of the collaborators may wish to obscure their identities for one of the reasons mentioned above.

There are probably as many reasons for having pseudonyms as there are pseudonymous authors out there. At the end of the day, you have to feel comfortable with your decision. Think about it carefully, it may affect your writing career for many years down the road.

As for me, I’m still thinking it over. I’ll let you know what I decide.

Photo courtesy of m_bartosch at freedigitalphotos.net

A Day on the Links: Free Romance Reads Edition

Who doesn't like free books?  Well, publishers of romance novels certainly know what their readers like and that's a taste of what they sell every day.  So why not benefit from the freebies?  They can allow you to sample writers or even romance subgenres that you wouldn't ordinarily purchase.  And that's what the publishers are banking on.

So before you dive in, dip your toes a little in the water.  It feels good.

Check out free romance titles from these publishers:

Harlequin has free online reads that are updated periodically with new content.  Plus you can get videos and podcasts too!

HarperCollins Browse Inside feature allows you to sample significant portions of bestselling and other books before you purchase.  A great option to get you hooked quickly (or allow you discard a possible romance title instead of purchasing the real deal).

Ellora's Cave offers free short stories for from some of their most popular authors.  The heat level is on the higher end so be warned!  Ha, that probably just got you clicking a little faster, didn't it?

These are just a sampling of the offerings available from romance publishers who are trying to woo the large market of romance readers to their own particular titles and authors.  Take advantage of the offers and browse to your heart's content...all without spending a dime.

A Day on the Links: Submissions Edition

So, you want to get published?

If you're like me, you have no idea about where to start shopping around your finished (and presumably polished) romance manuscript.  Many of the larger publishing houses want agented submissions, meaning you first have to snag a literary agent before you can even think of trying to sell your book to them.

How do you know which publishers will take romance, or unagented submissions, or unsolicited queries and manuscripts?

The good news is that you don't have to spend days on Google compiling this information.  Someone has already done it for you (and very well, I might add).  So, please see below for a couple of my recommendations for romance publisher compilations.  And, of course, a link to a great article by Brenda Hiatt called Show Me The Money!  Hint: it's about how much each publisher she's following pays out, on average, gathered from actual authors' information.  A truly amazing resource.

I hope you enjoy...A Day on the Links.

Romance Publishers: Karen Fox is a romance author with a good website (it's purple!) filled with links and other writing information.  She maintains a list of current romance publishers that is regularly updated (the last update was just over a month ago as I write this).  Her list links both to the publishers website and their submission guidelines.  (From Karen Fox website)

Romance Publishers: The Passionate Pen was actually created to list romance publishers and their guidelines so who could do it any better?  They separate their publishers into categories such as Large Publishers (warning: many of these want agented submissions only), Small Press, E-Publishers, Large Print/ Library and Christian presses.  A well-organized and thorough resource.  (From The Passionate Pen website)

Show Me the Money!: Brenda Hiatt is a romance writer...I've read some of her books and they're good.  For the last decade, she's been using information gleaned from actual romance authors to compile a list of how much various romance publishers advance, offer as royalties and usually pay out.  It's an amazing resource and a great wake up call for anyone expecting to make millions, very quickly, writing romance novels.  (From Brenda Hiatt website)

Good luck with your submissions!

Patterns in Romance Fiction

People who don't read romance novels have been heard to say that the entire genre revolves around a handful of cliches.  The powerful Type A male and the woman who tames him, the experienced rake and the beautiful virgin, the kidnappings, the marriages of convenience, the secret babies...etc.

I say, not true!  Yes, these aspects still appear in many novels but they are not cliches any more than the suggestion than a novel about star-crossed lovers would necessarily be a re-working of Romeo and Juliet.  These are patterns and patterns persist because of their universality.  If, as some literary experts have it, there are only thirty-odd plots in literature and Shakespeare has done them all (and well too) then why is anyone bothering to write anymore?

Well, simply, because it hasn't all been done yet.  Every new novel has the potential to add a twist on the old thirty-odd plots.

Patterns are good.  They give readers a foundation of the familiar from which the writer can jump off with their own take or twist.  Done right, a pattern does not have to become a tired cliche.

Romance fiction itself relies on certain rules.  For one, the romantic element of the story takes precedence over all other aspects of the plot.  There is a difference between a mystery with a romantic subplot and a romance with a mysterious subplot.  Read any Agatha Christie mystery and you will almost invariably find a romance brewing between two of the characters but the mystery is always predominant.  While the romantic subplot may throw a twist into the works, the real purpose of the story is to find out whodunnit and why.  The romance adds a vital flavour to the mystery.  Similarly, the addition of a crime and the process of figuring out who committed it, in addition to adding danger into the lives of the main characters, can drive much of a romance novel.  However, the end purpose is to use the crime to bring the two characters together; the solution to the crime itself is incidental.

Another frequent romance pattern is the Happily Ever After (or HEA) ending.  While not all romance publishers or specific lines demand it, most still do.  In other words, the two main characters should end up together (often on the verge of marriage) when the last page in the book has been turned over.  They've worked out the differences that kept them apart throughout the book, have overcome many obstacles large and small, and have realized their love for each other.  They belong together and their coming together at the end of the book leaves us with a feeling of rightness.  All is warm and fuzzy in the world.

I have to admit that I enjoy the tried-and-true patterns.  I've even produced manuscripts using many of the patterns I noted above.  Hey, if it ain't broke...

Photo courtesy of Tina Phillips at freedigitalphotos.net

Belonging to the Popular Kids’ Club

We’ve all read the statistics: romance novels make up roughly 50% of the book market. The industry accounts for in excess of a billion dollars a year, an incredible figure! Little wonder that so many aspiring authors (myself included) want to write the next breakthrough romance novel, take home the RWA plaudits, soar up the bestseller charts, and retire on piles of cash.

So how realistic is this dream?

Well, if you’re like me, a woman, you might already be on your way. Romance novels are geared primarily for an audience of women so, not surprisingly, its authors are predominantly women. Score!

Really, it makes sense. Who else knows as intimately what women want (Mel Gibson movies notwithstanding) than other women? After all, we’re paying a lot of money to devour the books we love so it makes sense that female authors are the ones who largely profit from it. Not to mention the female editors, publishers, literary agents, etc., who keep the market hot hot hot.

Romance has grown and evolved. The powerhouses with their august history still dominate but they too have branched out beyond the traditional categories of romance into brave new realms.

In recent years, the traditional subgenres we all read and loved: the westerns, the historicals relegated to certain specific time periods, the traditional kiss-and-hug and nothing more, have given rise to paranormal, time travel, fantasy, steampunk, and a host of other areas that are as diverse as their readers.

In recent years, women of colour have been able to read romance novels about women who look and sound like them, and even speak their own language! No wonder romance still commands such a large share of the book market; it has moved and adapted in tune with the times. Now online and e-reads are rising in popularity and availability, letting more and more aspiring authors arrive on the scene.

We dominate, ladies! Long may we rule.

Photo courtesy of winnond at freedigitalphotos.net

A Few Minutes with Nan

My first blog post.  Wow, finally Nan jumps into the 2000s!  Too bad it's now the 2010s.

Oh well, better late than never, I suppose.

First, a little about me:  I'm a thirty-two (soon to be thirty-three) year old unpublished romance writer.  I'm hoping that this is the year when that all changes but I won't be holding my breath either.  If it happens this year, great!  If not...there's always next year.  And the year after that.  And the one after that.  Hey, I'm nothing if not patient.

Why am I so patient?  Well, I've been reading and writing romance novels pretty much all of my life.  My mom actually read a ton of Mills & Boons [British based romance publishing house] while she was pregnant with me so I guess "my romance with romance" started even before I was born!  Romance is in my blood so I will keep reading and writing it as long as I life, whether or not I actually land an agent or get a single word published.

I spent much of my tweens and teens sneaking a peak at these books and when I got my first real job, I spent most of my salary on the newest titles.  Ah, the awesome power of Johanna Lindsey and Charlotte Lamb, and to mention Janet Dailey, Catherine Coulter, Emma Darcy...the list goes on.

I was a shy bookish teenager and I wanted to live in those exciting books.  Eventually, I wanted to write like my favourite authors.  I can't copy a Lindsey or a Lamb but I did end up writing around a dozen manuscripts, all of which have languished in my underwear drawer (actually, my old obsolete laptop).

Is it time to bring these creations out into the light of day?

Here's hoping!