Make A Living Writing Romance

Yesterday, I posted a video from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Check it out if you didn’t get a chance to see it. (They’re my fav!) Anyway, you may have been scratching your head and thinking, “Oh boy this is one of those kinds of blogs.”  (You know the kind where folks blog for their own um…vanity or mental health purposes and don’t really offer any value.)

It’s not.

There’s a method to my madness.

When you listen to music it puts you in a mood, right? It evokes emotions, maybe makes you feel sad or rebellious or horny even.

Why not use this beautiful tool to help you work through your characters and your story?

I stumbled upon this tool quite accidentally. I found that when I’d sit down to write certain characters, they always seemed to have a theme song. For Frankie Carabello a race car driver her song was Restless by Allison Krauss. For Taggart his song was Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones. I didn’t plan it that way, it just seemed to happen. I’d sit down to write a scene with them and bam I’d be thinking or humming their theme song.

So I started using it. Each character naturally falls into their own theme song and when I sit down to write, I play the song to help me set the mood and to help the character stay consistent.

So, what about the Red Hot Chili Peppers? Do I have a character that fits one of their songs? Not yet but boy is she going to be fun when I meet her!

Are you currently working on a story either on paper or in your head?  If so, what’s your protagonist’s theme song?  Have fun!

Sounds ominous, right?

It is. But it’s easily overcome.

The biggest writing mistake you, and most everyone else, is making is…

Not spending enough time writing.

The only person who may be able to claim immunity from this mistake is Nora Roberts. Her “Butt in chair” rule works for her.

But what about the rest of us? How do we overcome this mistake.

We’re talking about productivity here.  Actually sitting down at the computer or grabbing your pen and notebook and writing each and every day. It’s the only way you’re going to get published.

An Action Plan

The only way to make sure your dreams of becoming a published, and paid, romance writer come true is to plan your career from the beginning.

So grab a pen and answer the following questions:

• What do you want to accomplish?
• How are you going to accomplish it?
• When are you going to accomplish it?
• How are you going to take real action to make your dreams a reality?

It Takes More than Wanting

Anyone can say they want to be a romance writer, and many people do. The difference between those who are published and those who are not is often how much work they put into it.

So I’m going to go first.  Here’s my goal and how I’m going to accomplish it.  My goal is to publish the book I’m currently working on, “Die Trying.” I’m in the editing and revision process and I’m going to polish a minimum of one chapter a week. I’ll post an occasional update so you can see I’m holding up my end of the bargain.

What is your goal and how are you going to accomplish it?

Welcome to the Make A Living Writing Romance Blog!  Thank you very much for visiting.

Make a Living Writing Romance is devoted to helping the aspiring romance writer do more than put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, when the occasional mood strikes.  The goal is to help you take regular and consistent action to help you fulfill your dream of becoming a romance writer.

And not just any old romance writer, but one who is published time and time again. A romance writer with name recognition and books on the shelves in the bookstore, on Amazon.com and heck why not the grocery store too!

The goal is to actually make a living writing romance.

How Is The Blog Different From the Website?

To be blunt, the blog is more personal. I’m a writer and I’ve made many mistakes. The blog exposes those mistakes (so you don’t have to make them) and takes you on my path toward success.

Speaking Of Success…

We each have a different definition of success, right? For some people it’s fame, for others it is fortune.  For still others it’s simply the ability to make a living doing what they love.

I invite you to sit down right now and write down what your definition of success is as it relates to romance writing. If you’re successful, what does it look like? Use this as a vision/writing exercise. Write a few pages about your day as a successful romance writer.

What does your life look like?  Be as descriptive as possible and enjoy the process.  Once you’ve finished writing your vision and definition of success, fold up the papers and tuck them away somewhere. Forget about them but keep in the back of your memory what your romance writing goals are.

Happy Writing!