Ten things that every romance novel needs

​​​I always encourage a writer to learn the craft by writing a genre romance - and that means a Harlequin/M&B style one. And why not? You have the highest chance of being published in this genre, it’s fun, it's a challenge and it’s shorter than many other books. It sure worked for EL James. But does that mean it is easy? Not a chance! It will put to the test all your storytelling skills. That’s why it is such a great place to start your career.

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Depression and squalor are for those under twenty-five, they can take it, they even like it, they still have enough time left.
But real life is bad for you, you hold it in your hand long enough, and you’ll get pimples and become feeble-minded. You’ll go blind.
Margaret Atwood, What is a woman’s novel, Portfolio December 1986
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Decades ago you may have hidden your Mills & Boon books under your mattress. I sure did.
​My sisters and I passed a treasured Kathleen E Woodiwiss between the three of us for well over a decade Each of us must have read it at least ten times and the pages where threadbare and full of sticky tape by the time we finally let it fall apart (in our late 20s). I learned about sex from Cosmo, but from Woodiwiss and the Harlequin stable I learned about passion. Quivering breasts, aching nipples, bruised lips, midnight sighs, moist mounds and delicate thighs. Oh my, oh my! My teenage heart was pounding. I read about dukes and earls and naughty sheiks with a penchant for soft, sighing blondes. 
 
But the covert thrill of buying of romance has long passed. Now it's a quick download ‘buy with one click’ order on my Kindle. In fact I often buy the four-pack deal. It’s like the CNA bestseller shelf, right in my bedroom.  Nobody knows I am reading The Tycoon Who Kissed Me, and rightly so. I do also read fabulously intellectual stuff. Just not always. Do I care if people see me reading a romance? Well actually I do still care. That’s why my Kindle has a password.

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And that is the secret to the meteoric rise and rise and rise of romance novels as a genre.
 
Romance is one of the biggest genres in the world. More than 200 million women a year read Harlequin books in the US alone.  That is four times more than the entire population of South Africa. It is a market that is so huge it boggles the imagination. Generally over 50% of all paperbacks sold are in the romance genre and the most competitive category on Amazon Kindle is Romance -> Contemporary. Many of these books are self-published.

I glanced at the top titles and here’s a hint as to what is selling like hot sex.

• Tempt Me: A Second Chance Billionaire Romance
• Reckless: A Bad Boy MMA Fighter Romance
• Single Dad’s Bride
• Her Bodyguard
• The Billionaire and the Virgin

So, if you want to write a book with a strong chance of actually getting published – write a romance.
 
 Ten things that every romance novel needs 

1. There is a simple, unchangeable rule in romance… the reader has to like your heroine. A likeable heroine. No longer are romance novel heroines the nanny or the secretary. They are feisty, strong, independent women. So she can be a kick boxer, shape shifter, fighter pilot or any degree of modern woman in between. And sure, she can still be a nurse, secretary or a governess.
2. A strong and deeply sexy hero. The hero can be complex, intriguing and deep. He can be an earl, a werewolf or a Navy Seal – just as long he’s drop dead sexy and in control.
3. There has to be conflict. The second we meet the two leads the reader knows they are going to end up together. The question is this; how are you going to keep to yearning magnets apart for 50,000 words until they realise it is true love?
4. You do really need a plot. Two strong characters circling each other doesn't’ equal a story.  The work of the author is to craft a step-by-step plot that sweeps the reader on a journey with them. An author’s work is to find a good idea and the systematically make that into a plot driven by conflict.
5. The plot needs both internal and external conflict. External conflict is easier to plot – these are the actual events or things that are going to go wrong and keep your lovers apart. Internal conflict is emotional in nature, which means the characters own doubts; ideas, beliefs and flaws are also going to keep them apart (but not for long).
6. ​Enough of a plot, but not too much. Beware of too much plot. In a romance the story must always be there to support or illustrate the romance, never overshadow it. All scenes are there to push the romance to the next level, tear them apart, challenge them or throw a curveball.
7. A deep knowledge of the imprint you are writing for. Are you writing a medical, crime paranormal, sweetheart, cowboy or Christian romance? If you don’t know then you need to do some serious research. The best way to do that is to read lots of romances. Then do your research, check the tip sheets on the websites from the publishers and read some more of their books.
8. A new take on an old idea. Don’t try and reinvent the genre. Take a look at what works and bring your own style, take and characters to the mix. Look at the titles again I listed above. Get the general idea? You can’t go too far wrong with a billionaire!
9. A straight-up title. Don't get too fancy here and throw in a Japanese word for snow.
10. A happy ending. If you kill the hero, or he ends up a lying, thieving, cheating loser you listened to the wrong fairy stories. The lead and the heroine always end up deliciously in love. The progression usually goes from lust to love (and often ends in a proposal of marriage).. Don't get all weird at the end - just deliver on the promise of romance please!

 
Romance novels of the type published by M&B or the large stables are not as easy to write as they are to read. It takes storytelling muscle and good writing to pull it off. But if you do pull it off you can rise to a bestseller pretty fast.
 
Mail me if you want to find out about the next How to Write a Romance course. 

Sarah