You Can Write a Romance (Paperback)

~ Rita Clay Estrada (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As the romance genre changes and evolves, there continues to be a need for new handbooks on writing within the genre. Estrada, founding member of Romance Writers of America, and coauthor Gallagher have written an up-to-date handbook for writing romances in the `90s. In a conversational style that occasionally rambles, they take the reader through the process of not only writing a romance and submitting it to publishers but also the production phase of book publishing. They discuss what an agent can do for a beginning writer and how to find one, and the craft of creating strong characters, plot, conflict, and resolution. They also list writers' organizations and publications of interest to fiction writers. Sprinkled liberally with quotes from well-known romance writers, this handbook will be of interest and use to all aspiring romance writers. Ann Bouricius

Product Description

Write the romance of your dreams and capture the hearts of readers everywhere. You Can Write a Romance, designed for first-time writers, is the ultimate teaching guide for those interested in writing romance stories. Rita Clay Estrada and Rita Gallagher lend their expertise to show you how to take your story from idea to completed manuscript to signed book deal - even if you have never tried to write a novel before. They explain the writing process in easy to understand terms, and help beginning writer's find there niche in the complex writing market.

They also teach you how to build a strong plot, create compelling characters and sustain a dynamic beginning, middle and ending. You'll also learn what romance editors are looking for, and how stories are accepted. Create a novel your readers won't forget, with You Can Write a Romance.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898798620
• ISBN-13: 978-0898798623
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #341,760 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent practical advice for a novice like me, October 25, 2000

By	"kasuwa" (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This short book is full of good basic information including defining a romance novel and listing and describing the many types of romance novels. The authors provide guidelines for creating characters, developing plot, and writing dialogue. The basics of selling your novel are included, and there's even a section on what happens after you have a contract. Thanks to this book, I expect to have my own romance novel finished in a few months--then maybe I can quit my day job!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You Can Write A Romance, June 21, 2000

By	Elaine L. Miller (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

A great book for all beginning romance writers. This mother-daughter team are experts in their field and the easy to follow advice is a must-have for all aspiring romance fiction authors. Advice from characterization, plotting, dialogue, motivating your characters to revisions is included. Add this book to your reference collection today!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Professional genre writing 101., January 3, 2004

By	Chadwick H. Saxelid "Bookworm" (Concord, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Not much detailed ground is covered in this slim volume, but Estrada and Gallagher do show the novice romance writer the business ropes and how to best use them without strangling yourself in the process (something I wish more writing classes had done). This is the first book about romance writing I have read (and it will not be the last, of that I am sure), but it showed me that I still have much to learn about both the genre and the industry. Then again, one is always learning. Recommended.