Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies (Paperback)

~ Leslie Wainger (Author)
Key Phrases: putting pen, writing love scenes, closing the deal, Making the Sale, Submitting Your Manuscript, Laying the Foundation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In love with romance novels? You’re not alone! Romance is today’s most popular fiction genre, accounting for more than half of all mass market fiction sold. If you’re looking to make a serious effort at writing a romance and getting it published in today’s multifaceted markets, you need to learn as much as you can about this highly successful field--especially how to create the perfect heroes and heroines. Now, in this easy, step-by-step guide, a top romance editor gives you the know-how you need to succeed as a romance novelist!

Writing A Romance Novel For Dummies is perfect for both beginning and more accomplished writers who are looking to get the leading edge on writing a romance novel and get it published. Leslie Wainger, Executive Editor at Harlequin Books, explains what it takes to become the next Nora Roberts, providing the techniques you need to:

• Select a pseudonym
• Write a compelling, heartfelt story
• Find the right agent and publisher
• Submit a manuscript
• Market your novel
• Join clubs and associations

Packed with insider advice, this plain-English guide helps you grasp the building blocks of a great romance, providing practical tips on the craft of writing as well as savvy pointers on how to hook your reader from page one, write with passion, and shape a proposal that will wow agents and editors. You get lots of expert tips on analyzing the marketplace, creating compelling characters, and finding your own voice. Wainger also:

• Demystifies the sub-genres of the romance world, from historical, contemporary, and multicultural to paranormal, romantic suspense, and Christian/inspirational
• Explains plotting, pacing, and writing those crucial love scenes
• Discusses how to conduct research, assign credits, and get permissions
• Helps you decide whether it’s best to write alone or with a partner

Complete with a manuscript preparation checklist, tips for revising your work smoothly and successfully, guidance in understanding and negotiating a contract, and a list of romance writing resources, Writing A Romance Novel For Dummies is your one-stop guide to becoming a published novelist!

From the Back Cover

Demystifies subgenres, from historical to paranormal

Get the inside track on creating and marketing your romance novel

In love with romance? This easy, step-by-step guide gives you the leading edge on writing your novel and getting published. From plotting and pacing to creating the perfect heroes and heroines, you’ll discover how to hook your reader, write with passion, and shape a proposal that will wow agents and editors.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Discover how to:

• Map a compelling plot
• Develop your own voice
• Fine-tune your pacing
• Write love scenes
• Find the right agent
• Put together a winning submission
• Select a pseudonym

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (May 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764525549
• ISBN-13: 978-0764525544
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,583 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding how-to book on writing a romance novel, June 29, 2004

By	Kate McMurry (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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In my experience of Dummies books in general, they all fulfill beautifully a major requirement of the self-help genre: clarity. In specific, Writing a Romance Novel (WRN), as do all Dummies books, offers an outstanding table of contents, an extensive index, and an accessible layout that allows you to skip from topic to topic if you don't choose to read the book cover to cover. One thing that is unique in each Dummies book, though, is what it contains, and I can sum up the quality of this book's content in one word: superb!

I shamelessly confess that my shelves contain every book ever written on how to write romance, along with 50 or 60 books on writing popular fiction in general. Add to that dozens of other fiction how-to's I've read which did not merit "keeper" status, and if I haven't read everything ever written on how-to-write fiction, I'm pretty close. Based on all that reading, I would rank this book in the how-to-write-fiction genre at least in the top 5. And in the sub-category of how-to-write romance, I would rank it Number 1--that's how good it is.

Author, Leslie Wainger, knows whereof she speaks on the subject of what makes a quality romance novel: she's been editing romances professionally for 25 years, in the process working up from editorial assistant at Silhouette books to executive editor for Harlequin/Silhouette. Based on all that experience, she's provides in WRN exhaustive information on the qualities editors seek in publishable romance novels. There is something here for romance writers at every stage of their career, from raw recruits who've may not even be sure what constitutes a romance novel, to disciplined, experienced writers who've been plugging away for years and are close to selling their first romance novel. Many of the topics in WRN are essentials in any how-to book on fiction of any genre: characters, plotting, setting, research, and marketing your completed book. However, Ms. Wainger's take on each of these topics adds information specific to the romance novel in the form of practical, clear insights that are simultaneously down-to-earth and quite sophisticated. My particular favorites among the various sections of the book are Chapter 8 on author voice and Chapter 9 on unique character voices. These chapters contain the most profound understanding of how the author's voice impacts narrative that I've ever seen. In addition, Ms. Wainger offers extremely useful insights on feeding in research information and physical movements of characters in a way that doesn't slow the story's pacing. Finally, the all-important topic of love scenes in the romance novel is handled with insight and unblushing finesse.

In short, if you can afford only one how-to book on romance, make it this one. It's easy to read and packed with essential information on how to write a romance novel that has a very good chance of getting published.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great place to start, February 25, 2005

By	Lesa Browning "writer/mother" (Pacific Palisades, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the perfect book for a beginning romance writer that may need an overview of the romance novel market. I found it a quick and easy read filled was lots of good advice and some entertaining stories as well. This will never be the last word on the subject, but certainly worth reading and keeping on the shelf.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking into the biggest genre in all of fiction., June 25, 2004

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Why would you want to write a romance novel? Might it have something to do with the fact that Romance is far and away the best selling genre in all of fiction.

OK, so maybe you'll give it a try. Sooner or later you'll want to sell your work, and who better to sell it to than Leslie Wainger, the Executive Editor of Harlequin Books, quite likely the biggest romance publisher.

After twenty five years of being in the romance publishing business, she knows what the readers want. And what the readers want is what the publishers want to publish, and ... well need I go on.

The book is about what you would expect, more or less detailed instructions of how to write a book. It covers everything from getting started writing to what kind of paper to use to sending to a publisher. Basically it's all the rules.