Writing Romance Novels: Harlequin and Beyond
Granted, I take my idea of romance to a darker place than most people are comfortable with, and we won’t get into that predilection. What is important here is that many more people are discovering the field of Romance as a viable place to launch writing careers, and with good reason.
What a Romance Novel Is
Romance novels fall into two distinct categories, which might not be obvious to the writer new to romance writing. The first is the category romance, which tends to work much like a series and often features sequentially numbered spines that place the books within a line. These lines release a specific number of books per month, tend to run the same page length and word count, and will deal with a specific theme; either a time period, particular setting, or common conflicts.
The second type of romance novel is the single title romance, which tend to be a bit longer than the category romance and are not part of a “line”.
Either way that you go, though, the romance novel has a few undeniable things in common:
1. A heroine (who is the main character) and a hero
2. A critical situation
3. Plenty of conflict
4. Romantic encounters
5. A resolution to the critical situation (and, thus, the conflict)
6. A happy ending in which the reader can truly believe the hero and heroine will love each other forever
With the world what it is, and our own love lives what they can often be, it is really not so surprising that these books are popular. You’re guaranteed a “happily-ever-after” once you reach the end of the book, which is a lot more than can be said about life’s guarantees.
The Current Romance Markets
Harlequin has been a major player in the romance market from its inception. As of 2005, they published dozens of category romance lines ranging from the squeaky-clean Christian Romance to racy, semi-erotic romance stories.
Nearing 2006, Harlequin is setting themselves in a position to further dominate the market with at least 2 new lines coming into play, including the SPICE line which will feature stories on the borderline of taboo (and, possibly, beyond). Look for a new emergence of stories featuring bondage, and gutsy realistic novels like the Story of O; all of this is being actively sought by Harlequin.
Taking a step beyond Harlequin, it’s easy to see a general trend toward more erotic novels. A quickly rising star in both e-publication and traditional book publishing, New Concepts Publishing asks straight-out in the 5th paragraph of their Submission Guidelines for writers to “take your story somewhere exotic, introduce elements of the forbidden or taboo in your story like domination/submission, voyeurism, fetishesâÂ?¦”
What is clear is that the romance market as a whole is taking a deep breath and getting ready to push the limits of what has been acceptable up-to-now. For the writer who hasn’t always been interested in writing “romance”, this opens up a whole new field of possibility.
Exploring the Broader Romance Field
Any writer’s first job is to love reading. Write what you love to read; if you don’t love reading it, you’re not going to like writing it, and you’ll never be convincing. Sounds like a challenge, to someone like me (makes me automatically want to start writing a science fiction, which I neither like reading or writing, just to prove a point) but really, it’s a simple fact.
If you don’t read it, don’t love it, you’re never going to be convincing when you write it. Readers spot a fake a mile away, and never do you want to be the one they spot.
The trend toward edgier, more dramatic romance is something that writers from many genres can get into – if they love romance to begin with. Sometimes, as I’m proof of, this is like a conversion; you stumble across something that speaks to you, and suddenly your eyes are opened to a whole new realm of possibility. Regardless, you have to first know what you’re about.
Mainly, what I’m noticing is a serious search for something that extends beyond the stereotypical romance. Editors are starting to look for things that reach into the paranormal, fantasy, and touch on previously taboo topics like bondage. It’s not enough, then, to read the current romance books – though you definitely should start there. To gain an edge, though, and really give editors what they’re looking for, it’s time to take a step outside and look at writings you may not have considered before.
Here I provide a list of some of the best-loved “underground” books, and a few books that teach you how to write for the romance market. Both are essential tools into understanding a field of writing that is about to boom in ways that have not been seen before, and many are gleaned right from the guidelines of editors themselves – styles and topics that they are actively seeking.
Romance Writer’s Reading List
1. The Story of O: Originally published in French under the name Pauline Reage, this book is a fantasy of female submission. It stars a Parisian fashion photographer who is blindfolded, chained, whipped, branded, and taught to be “constantly available” for sexual play. Its publication in English in 1965 was seen as both “a significant event” and a catalyst for controversy. One view of the novel is that it is the “ultimate objectification” of a woman, including her name (O), which could stand for anything from the shortening of the name Odile to the word “object”. Definitely falling under the lines of taboo, this book is surrounded by the BDSM culture, and is one of the books being referenced as valuable by the Harlequin SPICE romance series.
2. Kiss and Tell: Written by Cherry Adair, a romance writer of no little renown, Kiss and Tell successfully weaves military/political intrigue and tons of action into a romance novel without seeming the least bit contrived. The heroine is no stereotypical romance character, either; physically and emotionally strong, she definitely can hold her own. With a high amount of action-driven testosterone and very tight plot lines, this book merits a read not only because it is exceptionally well-crafted but because the editors at New Concepts Publishing are looking for this type of romance.
3. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: With this book, author Linda Berdoll proves that the historical romance isn’t necessarily dying, there just aren’t as many authors able to research them effectively. Beyond the historical element which publishers are currently clamoring for, there are two other actively sought elements to this book that make it worthy of a read: it is an epic, which the new Harlequin “Epic Romance” series is looking for, and it is a new look at the Classics, which New Concepts Publishing is actively seeking.
4. How to Write Romances: Penned by Phyllis Taylor Pianka, noted romance author of Midsummer Madness, this is a nuts and bolts book that fully introduces you to and immerses you in the process of writing romance novels. Checklists and charts for character, dialogue, and plot are provided alongside writing exercises and full samples of things like query letters and writing synopses.
5. The Romance Writer’s Handbook: Covered within these pages are everything you need to know to now only write your romance novel, but to get it published as well. Newer than the previous how-to, this book also offers a very useful list of small presses and e-publishers, which might be easier for the new writer to “break into”, and valuable advice on creating an author’s website. In short, each of the brief chapters in this book provide practical information and advice on improving your stories, crafting believable characters, and tackling issues like the love scene. It will definitely help you write a romance that will satisfy readers and sell well.
