5 Tips For Writing Romance Novels By Linda Goodnight

Linda Goodnight offers some practical advice on how to write a better romance.

Tip #1 - A romance novel starts with great characters.

Make them strong, realistic, flawed, sympathetic characters that we can like. Even if he’s a damaged bad boy in need of redemption, the hero should be a man with deep worth, a true hero whose actions
show he respects and admires the heroine even as he’s struggling not to fall in love with her. Create a heroine worthy of that respect and admiration. Whiney, wimpy, helpless heroines without their own goals and dreams turn today’s readers off.

Tip #2 - Create realistic conflicts.

One of the major complaints against romance novels in the past has been silly, contrived conflicts. To avoid this, think of your characters as people. Real people have problems, fears, inner wounds, etc. Notice how these are all internal. While a romance may include an external issue between the main characters to move the story along, their main
conflict is internal.

Tip #3 - Focus on the emotional journey

Go deep inside your characters, figure out their emotional baggage, what hurts them, what are they afraid of, etc., and then show those emotions on the page. The heart of your book is inside your characters. Letting the reader see this internal angst adds to the conflict discussed in #2 and creates motivation for the character’s behavior.

Tip #4 - Keep the romantic relationship front and center.

While it’s great to include interesting subplots, always bring your reader back to the reason for the novel--the developing relationship between the man and woman.

Tip #5 - The Happy Ever After is a must in romance novels.

Consider it the emotional pay–off your reader has been longing for. This union of two hearts, this transformation from alone to committed love, is why she/he has followed the characters through all their trials. Don’t skimp on it. Tie up the plot’s loose ends and finish the story with an “ahhh” moment. If your reader tears up or swoons or smiles as she
closes the book, chances are she’ll be back for another of your stories.

"I could give you dozens of tips for writing a good romance novel..."    Linda Goodnight

NY Times and USA Bestseller, Linda Goodnight writes novels to touch the heart as well as to entertain. Her emotional stories of hope have won the RITA, the Carol, the Reviewer's Choice, and numerous other industry awards. A small town girl, Linda remains close to her roots, making her home in rural Oklahoma. She and husband have a blended family of eight, including two teenagers recently adopted from Ukraine. Many of her books are about family and children and rightly so, as she draws her deeply emotional stories from her surroundings, her great love of family, and from personal experiences as a nurse and teacher. Connect with Linda on Facebook, Twitter, or at www.lindagoodnight.com

This post originally appeared on the Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writer's Blog in January 2018.

The Importance of Alone Time by Mary Manners

 

The Importance of Alone Time

by

Mary Manners

 

 

I am a creature of habit, and I probably crave routine more than the average person. I think that's why I love my animals so much--they need and enjoy routine, as well. But sometimes things come up and life gets in the way of my nice, cozy self-prescribed organization. If I'm not careful, the distractions of everyday life suck all the creativity right out of me. And even when the creative juices keep flowing, my writing time is usually the first thing that falls to the wayside.

 

At least that's the way it was until I learned to take some alone time and not feel one bit of remorse for doing so. I like to write in long stretches of time, which I'm able to do now that I'm retired from my day job. For the first year or so after I said goodbye to my nine-to-five (or more like six to six) job as a school principal, I felt a twinge of guilt when I holed up in my home writing office for hours at a time, working on a story. I had accomplished a life-long dream of becoming a full-time writer, but it still felt...odd, especially after a job that had me surrounded by people virtually every moment. 

 

 



 

But a lot of those feelings have fallen away, and I can now say that writing is a job that I love--but it's still a job just like any other job, and it devours time. Because writing is more than simply penning stories (that's the easy part). It's networking and marketing, social media and cover art, workshops and reader events. God must have known that my experience wearing the many hats of an educator would help me conquer the author learning curve a little more easily.

 

I'm thankful I have an understanding husband who has been supportive since Day One. He gets me, and that's the greatest gift anyone can ever give a writer--to understand the need for alone time. So, thanks allowing me to share with you today, and now it's back to work...back to writing.

 

~~~~~

 

 

A CHANCE TO LOVE AGAIN…

Naomi Taylor is putting her life back together following the sudden death of her husband, when eldest son Austin shows up at her doorstep with grandson Max. The troubled teen wants nothing more than to escape the cozy little town of Serenity and get back to his friends in the city. But Naomi’s not giving up on him, and hopes next-door neighbor Ben can help her find a way to reach him and turn things around—before it’s too late.

 

Ben Miller lost his wife to a long and ruthless battle with Alzheimer’s. Coming to terms with the loss has shown him he still has much to live for. When his needs intertwine with Naomi’s, their long-time friendship blossoms into something more.  

 

Can the two discover a way to move into the future and love again, without betraying memories of the past?

 

~~~~~

 

Mary Manners is a country girl at heart who has spent a lifetime sharing her joy of writing. She lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and their rescue dog Axel, mischievous cats Colby and Rascal, 8 rambunctious chickens, and a dozen fish.

Mary writes stories full of faith and hope. Her books have earned multiple accolades including two Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold, the Heart of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.

Mary loves long sunrise runs, Smoky Mountain sunsets, and flavored coffee. She enjoys connecting with reader friends through her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.

 

A Buffet of Romance by Mary Manners

A Buffet of Romance

By

Mary Manners

Inspirational Romance has grown into a scrumptious buffet, offering a variety of heart-racing tales like never before. Characters in inspirational stories are by no means perfect; they often harbor flawed and even scandalous pasts and are searching for redemption. Today’s inspirational novels tend to be edgier with themes and plot-twists that mirror current headlines. Authors are not afraid to don boxing gloves and duke it out by weaving newsworthy, tough issues into their plotlines.

 

The most satisfying romances involve the transformation of the hero, heroine, or both. A struggle with mistakes of the past is a common theme while hope for the future prevails with a highly-sought happily-ever-after. The genre has actively branched out into the young adult marketplace. Today’s teens yearn for stories they can relate to…wholesome romances with lessons that are heartwarming and ultimately positive.

 

 

Inspirational romance has a growing variety of food groups sure to satisfy all readers, whether their tastes run to historical, contemporary, suspenseful or young-adult stories. Beyond the inspirational flavor, what makes these romances so good is no different from what makes any other story good—an interesting plotline with relatable characters who are searching for something more…something to fulfill their heart and soul.

 

So fill your plate (and your library shelves) with stories sure to leave an impression. And remember that it’s perfectly fine to enjoy a second helping…even a third or fourth.

 

~~~~~

 



 Precious Fire (Diamond Knot Dreams #3)

 

Claire McLaughlin, weary of running a corporate rat-race, dreams of pursuing her passion to bake sweet confections. So when former college roommate Lila Brooks asks for her help with catering services at Diamond Knot Dreams Bridal Boutique, Claire grabs the invitation with both hands.

Ryan Kendrick has returned home to Clover Cove to raise his step-brother following the death of their grandmother. Hired to renovate the Town Square, he rents office space on the second floor of Diamond Knot Dreams and soon succumbs to talented Claire McLaughlin’s sweet confections—as well as the blue-eyed beauty herself.

As their romance blooms, so do the shenanigans of Diamond Knot Dreams' meddling spirit, Ellie. Will her antics help to draw Claire and Ryan closer together, or bring the blossoming romance to a grinding halt?

 

~~~~~

 

Mary Manners is a country girl at heart who has spent a lifetime exploring her joy of writing. She has two sons, a daughter, and three beautiful grandchildren. She currently lives along the sunny shores of Jacksonville Beach with her husband Tim.

A former teacher and intermediate school principal, Mary spent three decades sharing her love of learning. While growing up in Chicago, Mary worked her way to college through a variety of odd jobs including paper girl, hot dog vendor, grocery store cashier, lifeguard, swim instructor, pizza chef, and nanny. Many of these experiences led to adventures that bring a touch of humor to her stories.

Mary’s writing has earned her multiple awards including a two-time Inspirational Reader’s Choice award, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold, the Heart of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.

Mary loves long sunrise runs, ocean sunsets, and flavored coffee. She recently conquered her fear of heights (sort of) by completing the Gate River Run over downtown Jacksonville’s bridges last spring.

Connect with Mary at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.

 

 

 

 

Write It Bad. Just Write It. by Sandie Bricker

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not telling  you to eighty-six all the how-to books, workshops you’ve taken, columns you’ve read, etc. Knowing the rules can make a big difference in making your writing better, stronger, faster… You get the idea. But as I’ve pursued a writing career, one of the neon sign lessons that overrides most of the others is this one:

When new or aspiring authors have asked me how they can become a better writer, I tend to ask them a couple of standard questions before responding:

1. How many manuscripts have you completed? Not started, not trimmed into a neat proposal or synopsis, not partials you’ve submitted in a contest. How many full manuscripts have you written and prepared for submission to appropriate publishing houses?

2. What is your typical daily schedule (day job, family obligations, health issues, etc.), and how does writing fit into it? For some aspiring authors, even just an hour or two a day at the computer putting words on the screen can feel like too much to ask. But what is a reasonable amount of time and energy to invest in what you view as your passion/professional goal?

If the answer to Question #1 is anywhere between zero and three, and if Question #2 is met with a blank stare … the solution is an uncomplicated (albeit, likely unwelcome) one.

Put the words on the page.

It doesn’t matter if they’re stellar or if the plot isn’t exactly flowing. It doesn’t matter if more research is needed or if the word count isn’t right. The most important thing you can do to become a better writer is to write.

You know how your mom told you in your school days that practice makes perfect? Her advice didn’t miraculously become brilliant overnight. She knew what she was talking about back then. Yes, there are authors who sell their first completed manuscript … and yes, you could be one of them. But the reality is that most people who write their first book won’t contract it to a traditional publisher. Furthermore, most of those that are contracted and published stand a good chance of never selling a second one.

If you’ve decided to self-publish, the odds change. However, so does the expectation of effort, expense, time, and talent. To self-publish, you still need to plunk down in the chair, fire up the computer, and put the words on the page. All of them. Not just a few golden chapters. Then there will also be the necessity of hiring an editor … a cover designer … learning the how-to of preparing and presenting the manuscript to the platform you’ve chosen to get it out there to your reading public. And I’m dramatically over-simplifying the process here.

Still … in the “inspiring” last words of murderer Gary Gilmore before he was executed by firing squad … words oddly lifted by a Nike marketing executive in the late 80s when searching for a lasting tagline for their brand … JUST DO IT. Even if it’s not up to par, put the words on the screen. All of them. You can fix them later. You can’t perfect what isn’t there.

Here are some important tips to remember:

• The more manuscripts  you complete – draft + editing + revisions + more revisions – the better equipped you will be for activities such as writing-on-demand, meeting deadlines,  understanding your readers, and learning the rules (before you can break them).
• Even if you only have an hour a day, three days a week … use them. Don’t give in to the temptation to make excuses, to restructure your day to accommodate other things, to wait until you’re in the mood or feeling creative. If writing is going to be your business, you’ll have to pull on your big girl/boy panties and learn how to do it whether you feel like it or not.
• Countless writers spend an inordinate amount of time writing and perfecting those first three chapters that will accompany the synopsis when the proposal goes out. I once knew an aspiring writer who spent THREE YEARS on those first three chapters, working with various critique groups to get them “just right,” always with the idea of selling her book at the forefront of her efforts. When she finally met the editor who saw the beauty in those chapters, she wasn’t able to complete the book to the standard that the initial pages promised. Do the best you can on the contents of your proposal … but don’t forget that your target publisher is going to want to see the subsequent 60-80,000 words if you pique their interest. And they’d better be good ones.

The bottom line is that, if you’re racing into this writing thing with high expectations – or any expectations at all – you’re doing yourself and your book a big disservice. Instead, why not adjust your thinking so that it’s the actual writing you’re courting rather than the paycheck it may supply.

[Note: And the truth is … the paychecks aren’t all that impressive for a beginner!]

Just hone your craft. Learn as much as you can, and put it into practice at every opportunity. Write badly if you have to! As long as you write.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SANDRA D. BRICKER was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for 15+ years where she attended school to learn screenwriting and eventually taught the craft for several semesters. When she put Hollywood in the rear view mirror and headed across the country to take care of her mom until she passed away, she traded her scripts for books . . . and a best-selling, award-winning author of Live-Out-Loud fiction for the inspirational market was born. Sandie is best known for her Another Emma Rae Creation and Jessie Stanton series for Abingdon Press, and she was also named ACFW’s 2015 Editor of the Year for her work as managing editor of Bling! Romance, an edgy romance imprint for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. As an ovarian cancer survivor, Sandie also gears time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics and a cure.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH SANDIE:

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