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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.385
EAN num: 9780764525544
ISBN number: 0764525549
Label: For Dummies
Manufacturer: For Dummies
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 384
Printing Date: May 07, 2004
Publishing house: For Dummies
Sale Popularity Level: 193956
Studio: For Dummies
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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 subsequent 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!
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I've been working on romance novels off and on since I was a teenager. I picked this book up three or four years ago, and it has a permanent place on my bookshelf as a reference manual. While I agree that it does discuss the process of sitting down to actually write the novel more than the actual nitty details of writing, it does enable you to think about new ways of writing your novel.
Rated by buyers -
Leslie Wainger sure knows how to get her point across. If you're lucky enough to have an editor like her in your corner - lucky you. Courtesy of this book, we can all partake of her advice and knowledge.
Leslie makes it easier to organise yourself and recognise those yawning pits that can derail you while you're writing your book.
A good read but an invaluable resource to those of us wetting our toes or plunging deep into the writing pool.
Rated by buyers -
This book is full of great information on writing romance novels of all kinds. It's wonderful to read and not boring. Fantastic for beginning writers such as myself!
Rated by buyers -
I'm not sure what was going on with the other reviewers when they rated this item. Previously, I had bought the Idiots Guide to Writing a Romance Novel because of the less-than-great reviews written on this book. That was a year ago. Last weekend, I decided to purchase this book and I was really impressed.
There are detailed explanations in this book for why certain conventions work best, how to understand the rejection letters you get, and know when to re-submit versus when to accept a letter as a final "no" on your book. Wainger really takes time to explain subtleties of writing romance and understanding characterization.
If you are looking for a book to explain the publishing process to you, this is not the book you need. But, if you are like me, and you are writing a book that seems to have dropped its momentum in the middle, or you find yourself consistently getting comments on weak dialogue, boring description, or poor characterization in your critique groups and rejection letters, you can benefit from this book.
I think what some of the reviewers were looking for is a manual on publishing. This is not that book. There are tons of books out there on that subject. But, if you want to know more about the actual process of WRITING or OUTLINING a romance novel then this book will be of help.
Wainger takes the time to tell you what works and what doesn't work and gives you specific examples of why certain techniques work or why they fail.
The point of this book is to help you strengthen your beginnings, middles, and ends, characterization, and dialogue. You'll learn what is required in each part of your novel and why your prose my be boring a reader though you have a high concept story.
Most of the other books I've read on romance writing spend a lot of time telling you how to choose a category/genre rather than telling you how to structure a romance. And, some, like Rita Clay Estrada's book You Can Write a Romance give you a great starter kit for understanding the key elements of successful romance, but don't give enough detail on how to fix specific problems.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It may be a "Dummies" book, but it is much more helpful than some of the serious books by author-experts. I think the difference is that Wainger is an editor and approaches romance writing from a publisher's standpoint: Is there any reason why I should NOT buy this book? Are the characters strong enough? Does this writer have a unique voice? Does this person understand POV and provide a balance between emotional content, sexual tension, and external plot action?
Understanding these elements can help your novel go from the slush-pile to the best-sellers list.
Best of luck with your writing journey. I hope this book inspires you and helps you make a sale!
Rated by buyers -
I have read several "how to" guides on both writing fiction and more specifically, writing romantic fiction. The thing that really stands out with this book, is that Leslie Wainger believes YOU CAN DO IT! She really believes in you. If you read this and heed her advice, there is a good chance that you may just be able to publish a romance novel.
Whereas a lot of the other books are constantly reminding a novice writer that there is a very slim chance that she will ever be able to publish anything, this book is reassuringly positive. Leslie Wainger never underplays the fact that writing is hard work and takes a lot of time, patience and both physical and emotional energy, but she continuously offers positive reinforement for the efforts of the beginning writer.
This book illustrates an idea to get you started that I have never seen in a "how to" guide or even in the many writing workshops and classes that I have completed. I am so excited by some of the ideas and secrets that Ms. Wainger shares in her positive, upbeat manner, that I have ideas for many new books!
I strongly recommend that if you are serious about writing romance, you do not overlook this valuable trove of information!
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