Make A Living Writing Romance

One of the most interesting and often the most difficult challenges is to write a realistic hero. We all know how we’d like men to behave and think but often we’re just not sure if it’s realistic.  And guessing often doesn’t work.

I mean it’s not like we can remove their brain and analyze it right? (And it’s completely understandable if you don’t want to ask your brother, dad, husband or boyfriend for their opinion when you’re in the middle of a book. Sometimes it’s downright awkward and other times writing feels just a bit too private to have to explain to a family member or friend why you’re asking the question.)

Well I’ve done a bit of research and found some truly great resources for picking men’s brains about various topics and behaviors that come up when you’re writing.

#1 The Men’s Room at Romance Divas. http://forums.romancedivas.com/index.php?showforum=102  This is super cool. You can ask any question, sex, commitment, turn ons,  as long as it relates to the characters in your book.

#2 Sascha Illyvich. He offers a “Writing From The Male POV” workshop. It’s been offered at PassionateInk.com and Coffeetime romance.  I think if you visit Coffeetimeromance.com or Google the workshop you can have access to the materials. It’s a good and very interesting course.

#3 Romance University. They offer a weekly lesson, it’s free, on writing from the male POV.

Finally, just for fun here’s a funny blog post from author Keri Arthur http://www.keriarthur.com/extras/for-writers/articles/male-pov/

One of the most interesting and often the most difficult challenges is to write a realistic hero. We all know how we’d like men to behave and think but often we’re just not sure if it’s realistic.  And guessing often doesn’t work.

I mean it’s not like we can remove their brain and analyze it right? (And it’s completely understandable if you don’t want to ask your brother, dad, husband or boyfriend for their opinion when you’re in the middle of a book. Sometimes it’s downright awkward and other times writing feels just a bit too private to have to explain to a family member or friend why you’re asking the question.)

Well I’ve done a bit of research and found some truly great resources for picking men’s brains about various topics and behaviors that come up when you’re writing.

#1 The Men’s Room at Romance Divas. http://forums.romancedivas.com/index.php?showforum=102  This is super cool. You can ask any question, sex, commitment, turn ons,  as long as it relates to the characters in your book.

#2 Sascha Illyvich. He offers a “Writing From The Male POV” workshop. It’s been offered at PassionateInk.com and Coffeetime romance.  I think if you visit Coffeetimeromance.com or Google the workshop you can have access to the materials. It’s a good and very interesting course.

#3 Romance University. They offer a weekly lesson, it’s free, on writing from the male POV.

Finally, just for fun here’s a funny blog post from author Keri Arthur http://www.keriarthur.com/extras/for-writers/articles/male-pov/

Okay, so my old manuscript isn’t exactly a dinosaur but it is the second manuscript I ever wrote. I had an agent for it for a while but it was the wrong agent. I made a mistake and that’s a story for another time.

Right now, I’m going back to work through this manuscript with my new revision plan in my pocket.  I have always had a very powerful feeling about this story, it’s good, and with a few revisions I can make it great.  And this time I’ll make a better choice about who represents me and what I do with it.

What about your old manuscripts? Are they collecting dust? Would a hearty revision make them marketable?

Go blow off the dust of one of your manuscripts, or even an old story idea, and get to work.  It may be your next masterpiece!

Oh, and here’s a little pre-revision snippet of my dinosaur for your enjoyment!

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You may be familiar with the mantra many successful romance writers use to get and stay productive. It is “Butt in chair, fingers on keyboard.”

However, as useful as that mantra is, it may also be useful to hold yourself accountable by other methods. Here are a few that work for romance writers around the world.

#1 Social networking. There are hundreds of romance writers, published and unpublished that post their wordcount on social networking sites.  Just jump on Twitter and search the following tag #amwriting and you’ll see a number of writers using Twitter to hold themselves accountable. It’s fast, it’s free and it definitely works for many.

#2 Writing groups. This operates along the same system that social networking does. You’re using a connection with fellow writers to hold yourself accountable. Most romance writing groups have a forum so you can do the same thing, post what you’re working on and what you’ve accomplished. However, writing groups can take it a step further and require you to have a certain amount to deliver each month.

 
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Because this is a blog about the process of creating and growing a romance writing career, I thought it fit to share a romance writing challenge I’m currently struggling with.

To date, I have about six manuscripts under my belt.  I’ve submitted exactly three of them to various agents and publishers – and not very wholeheartedly.

Presently, in the midst of editing and polishing a new piece I was struck by motivation/inspiration to work on another fiction project.  And it struck me that I’ve made a habit of moving onto a new project whilst in the middle of an old one.

I’ve become a chronic plotter – enjoying the process of creating but not sticking to it and polishing it so it’s worthy of submission.  I’ve allowed myself to be a writer without really being a writer.

I posted my dilemma on PassionateInk’s forum looking for insight and advice and one very brave, and insightful, fellow writer pointed out that maybe my chasing the next story is really a way to avoid my fear.

Fear of success

Fear of rejection

Fear of letting go of the story

At first I thought, “well that isn’t very helpful” but I’m a quick one and realized just a few minutes later that maybe she’s onto something. Maybe I am avoiding truly completing the manuscripts because I am afraid.  It’s food for thought at least and something to meditate on.

I’ve purchased a journal to hold myself accountable with my writing (I’m pretty disciplined but like the idea of actually tracking my progress).

As I work my way through this romance writing challenge I’ll let you know what I discover.

And if you’ve struggled with anything like this or have insight, please share!