Adrienne DeWolfe Blog Tour

WANT TO WRITE POPULAR ROMANCE? Let Adrienne De Wolfe Tell Us How It Is Done.



Want to Write Popular Romance?

Here’s How to Start

By Adrienne deWolfe

I was reading a marketing statistic recently that said that 50,000 new Kindles are purchased every month by readers around the world.
That’s mind-boggling! To give you some perspective, in the old days (as recently as 2000,) a midlist paperback novel in the Romance genre may have had a print run of only 35,000 books – total. And Romance is the most popular category of adult commercial fiction in the world!
With the growing popularity of e-readers, the potential reading audience for your Romance novels is growing astronomically. The days of having your audience (and your income) limited by the costs of printing and shipping are rapidly fading into the past. That’s great news for writers!
But the emerging electronic market has also opened the door for a lot of poorly written commercial fiction to get formatted as Romance “e-books.” This trend has made many readers leery about investing money in a novel that was written by an unknown author.
If your goal is to write profitable Romance novels, you need to attract tens of thousands of readers, who are happily spreading the word about you and your novels via their iPhones or their social media networks. You also need these readers chomping at the bit to buy your next book.
So how do you start?

You write a good book.

Here are five tips that will get aspiring Romance authors headed in the “write” direction:

#1. Read Voraciously in Your Sub-Genre (“Niche Market”)
If you want to establish yourself as a Romance author, then you need to understand who your target readers are and why they read Romance novels.  You won't do yourself any good financially or career-wise if you write a novel that nobody wants to read. That's why I highly recommend that you start your research with the website of Romance Writers of America (RWAnational.org).
At last count, Romance had nine sub-genres (Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Inspirational, Regency, Romantic Suspense, Gothic, Ethnic, and Romantica.) Each of these sub-genres is rife with story-plot archetypes that your target readers have come to love and expect. To be successful, you need to be an expert in your sub-genre so you can give your readers the story plot elements that they want. Don’t assume that because you’ve read one Romantic Suspense (for instance), that you’ve read them all.
For market research purposes, read at least 30 books that were published by new names in your sub-category over the last 2-3 years. Reading books that bestsellers were writing 10 years ago isn’t going to help you understand market trends in the 21^st Century.
You might also investigate my e-book series, The Secrets of Getting Your Romance Novel Published, which includes the following titles: How to Write Wildly Popular Romances (featuring the 14 bestselling archetypes in the genre); How to Write Romance Heroes with Sex Appeal; and How to Write Sensual Love Scenes.


#2. Take an in-depth course on novel structure and the foundations of fiction from a successful Romance author.
Romance is considered commercial fiction. The primary purpose of commercial fiction is to entertain the reader by evoking feelings. Endings are happy (the guy gets the girl.) A commercial writer’s style appeals to the common man; and thus, a broader range of readers.
However, most creative writing courses that are offered at American colleges teach how to write literary fiction. This is an important distinction, and must be understood. In literary fiction, the writer’s primary goal is to indulge in self-expression; consideration of the reader’s taste is secondary. Literary storylines are rife with angst, and endings are not often happy.
For all these reasons, you'll be happier learning how to write Romance from a successful Romance author, who understands the peculiarities of the genre, and therefore, will not misdirect you into writing a literary (non-commercial) novel.
That's why I developed my course, How to Write a Romance Novel That Sells, which is a spin-off of my popular course, How to Write Novels That Sell, which I taught for three years at a college in Texas.

#3. Set writing goals and stick to them.
Once you start writing, it’s easy to stop writing. At the beginning of your project, you’ll be riding the wave of your enthusiasm. Aspiring authors have lots of ideas and lots of good intentions -- until the cold stark reality sets in.
If you want to finish your story, you have to cough up fresh material, day after day. To make matters more challenging, you have to write your story in a coherent manner, filling it with characters and plot twists that your readers will find entertaining, or at least interesting.
These tasks aren’t easy, even for veteran published authors. That’s why so many people talk about writing books . . . but never actually finish one. To keep yourself on track, establish a daily writing routine and a daily word-count goal. Surround yourself with people who are supportive of the time and effort that you must expend to write your novel.

#4 Network with published Romance authors who are knowledgeable about the business of writing
Don’t wait until it’s time to select a cover artist or to hire a literary agent to start learning the business of writing! Start early. Seek out allies and mentors who have had success in the sub-category of Romance that you’re writing. Join forums. Attend conferences. Network with other writers in your hometown. Learn “publishing etiquette” before you submit your book proposal to any publishing professional.
If you’ve chosen the self-publishing route, stay on top of the market! Trends in electronic publishing change constantly. New technology explodes onto the market every few weeks. Book covers that were “adequate” to sell novels one year ago are not doing the job today. If you don’t have time to keep up with the ever-changing trends, hire someone who does, so your books – and your income – won’t lag behind.

#5 Attitude is everything: get yours “write”
Talking about writing isn’t writing. Reading about writing isn’t writing. A writer learns his craft by knuckling down and going to work.
My writing teacher, Romance novelist Rita Gallagher, once told me, “Books aren’t written. They’re re-written.” Even published authors have to revise their manuscripts. Trust me. I know. Writing a book is like raising kids: no two books will ever have the same problem.
Even when you think you’ve mastered every trick, you’ll find yourself challenged by some freaky new writing dilemma that you hadn’t anticipated. To fix that problem, you may have to re-write hundreds of pages. You may have to toss out characters that you absolutely loved for the good of the “greater work.”
Most daunting of all, a writer has to gird himself to face critics. You won’t go far in the writing business if you can’t cope with contrary opinions in a gracious manner – or worse, if you crumble like a soda cracker when someone challenges your ideas.
Writing Romance novels isn’t for the faint-hearted. You need a powerful determination to succeed. Persistence, humility, and a hunger for self-improvement will keep you on the right track.
But the most important ingredient to your success will be the courage to write every day. Ignore the nay-sayers, and stay focused on your dream.
In the words of Irwin Shaw, “If you’re a real writer, you’ll write no matter what.”

About Adrienne deWolfe     

                                
Adrienne deWolfe’s five historical Romance novels have earned 9 writing awards, including "The Best Historical Romance of the Year." Through August, Adrienne is offering various raffles to celebrate the release of her new ebook series, The Secrets to Getting Your Romance Novel Published, which includes How to Write Sensual Love Scenes.
 
 
Look for the books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. (Or purchase the pdfs from Adrienne’s website, WritingNovelsThatSell.com.)
 
You can also follow Adrienne on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook
WritingNovelsThatSell.com:  http://WritingNovelsThatSell.com
How to Write Wildly Popular Romances (ebook page w/ trailer; launched in May) http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/how-to-write-wildly-popular-romances/
How to Write Romance Heroes with Sex Appeal (ebook launching in June) http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/how-to-write-heroes-with-sex-appeal/
The Secrets to Getting Your Romance Novel Published (eSeries): http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/the-secrets-to-getting-your-romance-published/
novel writing workshops and courses online:  http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/how-to-write-novels-that-sell-fiction-writing-course/
in-depth course on novel structure and the foundations of fiction: http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/how-to-write-novels-that-sell-fiction-writing-course/
book writing coach / story critiques:  http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/story-critiques-private-coaching-for-how-to-write-a-novel/
How to Write a Romance Novel That Sells (course) http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/how-to-write-a-romance-novel-that-sells/
Twitter:  http://Twitter.com/AdriennedeWolfe
Facebook:  http://Facebook.com/Writing.Novels
Google+  https://plus.google.com/109088666107201832076/posts

Dirty Little Secret #4

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by us at Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.

2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions. 

3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.

4. Then add your link below.

Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!! Let us know your answer in the comments! 

We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

This week's question: 

Share your experiences with blogging! 

List TWO "Don't" and one "Do" when it comes to blogging and reviewing.

Olive: I haven't been blogging and reviewing long. I am but a mere co-blogger, but I have been doing websites for a LONG time and I guess I can draw from that experience. M 

Don't:

 bully anyone no matter what. You may not like what someone posts, writes or does, but that is not a reason to say bad things about them on their blogs or websites. If you have something to address with someone, please send them a message. Don't paint their webspace with juvenile things.

Don't act like you are better than everyone. Just because you have 1 million followers does not make you a better person. Remember you were a little guy once too.

DO: 

pay it forward. If someone asks you for help; no matter what help them. Even if you don't want to. You may make a friend out of it. Questions are real easy to answer. So do it!

First Visions by Heather Topham Wood Review

Author: Heather Topham Wood

Title:  First Visions (Second Sight #1)

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother’s home.
Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can’t control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever

My Review:

Regan Walsh Author of Whisper Cape Guest Post

I would like to welcome back Regan Walsh the author of Whisper Cape. Today she has a special guest post for us to enjoy.

Was it the Music of the Night?

There are many things that inspired me to write Whisper Cape. I’ve talked about some others on this blog tour and in other interviews. Even mentioned a few times that I was inspired by Phantom of the Opera. But I’ve never revealed which song/songs in particular had the most influence.
I’m one of those writers who can’t write while listening to music. That doesn’t mean to say I’m not inspired by certain songs, and this held true when I wrote Whisper Cape. In fact, everywhere I went I had The Phantom of the Opera playing; the CD in my car, on my iPod when I went jogging, to the grocery store, even while performing that dreaded chore of cleaning the house. Though the Phantom did not inspire Cael’s character, the music did spark (no pun intended and if you don’t understand what I mean, ask me or, better yet, read the book!) my imagination for Addison’s. I’ve always said that Gerard Butler was and still is my main influence for Gerry Briden’s character in both Whisper Cape and Reflections. I have to admit though, looking at this picture from back when the movie was made, Gerard could most definitely have been my vision for Cael. This is pre 300 days, but yummy.

There is a scene in Phantom of the Opera where Christine is in the cemetery singing to her deceased father. Of course, in the movie and the live production it is snowing so the setting has nothing to do with a particular scene I wrote for Whisper Cape. But the lyrics and the mood are what ignited my inspiration. Addison is distraught after almost fatally injuring Cael and runs to the edge of the cliff, wishing she could talk to her father once more. (There will be an excerpt of this scene on June 9th when I visit http://www.literaladdiction.com.) In the music video below, right before Christine starts singing, she whispers about her father promising to send her the “Angel of Music.” After she sings “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” the Phantom sings, “Wandering Child,” luring her to him, reinforcing his deception of being the promised “Angel of Music.” It was the idea of Christine whispering to her father, singing to him that gave me the inspiration for that scene.

Lyrics to “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Srilgoe

You were once my one companion, you were all that mattered.

You were once a friend and father, then my world was shattered.

Wishing you were somehow here again, wishing you were somehow near.

Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed, somehow you would be here.

Wishing I could hear your voice again, knowing that I never would.

Dreaming of you won’t help me to do all that you dreamed I could.

Passing bells and sculpted angels, cold and monumental, seem for you

the wrong companions; you were warm and gentle.

Too many years, fighting back tears. Why can’t the past just die?

Wishing you were somehow here again, knowing we must say goodbye.

Try to forgive, teach me to live, give me the strength to try!

No more memories, no more silent tears!

No more gazing across the wasted years.

Help me say goodbye…Help me say…goodbye!

***

Lyrics to “Wandering Child,” written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Srilgoe.

Phantom:

Wandering child so lost, so helpless yearning for my guidance

Christine:

Angel or father? Friend or Phantom?

Who is it there staring?

Phantom:

Have you forgotten your Angel?

Christine:

Angel, oh speak what endless longings echo in this whisper!

Phantom:

Too long you’ve wandered in winter, far from my fathering gaze

Christine:

Wildly my mind beats against you

Phantom:

You resist

Together:

Yet your/the soul obeys

Angel of Music!

I/you denied you/me

Turning from true beauty

Christine with the Phantom:

Angel of Music? Do not shun me/My protector…

Angel of Music! Come to your/me strange Angel

Phantom:

I am your Angel of Music…

Come to me; Angel of Music

Of course, it doesn’t happen anything like this in Whisper Cape but the music and the lyrics were so very inspiring.

Thank you, Anna, for having me on your wonderful blog today. Happy reading.

xxoo

Regan♥

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Review One Bite To Passion by MaryLynn Bast

Title : One Bite To Passion
Author: MaryLynn Bast
Publisher: Renaissance E Books
Published: May 18th 2012

Goodreads Synopsis

On a business trip to Japan, Paige has just found happiness with Casey, an exciting, young man with a passionate interest in Paige. After a night of wild sex, feels like a new woman. Drawn to Casey, Paige can’t refuse him even though he says he wants to possess her and she learns he is a vampire. Then Paige's unfaithful husband, Dalton, shows up. He has supposedly broken off his affair, but Paige suspects he is still seeing his mistress. Soon, Paige begins to notice disturbing things happening around her and discovers she has become the center of a battle between covens who consider her The Chosen One. But when she faces the greatest peril of her life, and Casey shows up to help, Page realizes she is willing fight the covens side-by-side with him, if it means the chance of a future with this vampire she has come to love.

Deadlocked By Charlaine Harris Review

Author :Charlaine Harris
Title: Deadlocked
Series: Southern Vampires
My Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:
With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.
Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down

In the 12th book in the Southern Vampires series we get to see Sookie yet again have something troubling erupt in her life. This reads much like a diary—kind of like, I went and poured some coffee, made some toast, talked to Tara, and painted my nails. In the last book I felt like it was an unfinished product. This book feels like it was the rest of the 11th book, but cut off leaving you going wtf? I listened to the audiobook for this one. As always I love the person who reads these. Her name is Johanna Parker and she is awesome. Like I said this really reads like a diary of mundane tasks. Sookie finds herself (yet again) in the middle of a crap storm. A woman is found dead in Eric’s front yard, Claude is acting weird (as always), and Eric needs to choose whether to stay with Sookie or go where the power is with Freyda. I really felt like this book should have been in the last book, because not much happens. I enjoyed listening to the book. It wasn’t a horrible story, but the lack of any real plot struck me as odd. I felt the same way about the last book. It just feels unfinished. It ends so abruptly that I had to make sure I didn’t accidentally press skip on something. Yeah, it’s that level of abruptness. I have no closure to the storyline and it wasn’t that strong to begin with. The last two books in this series have really thrown me off. It’s like the publisher is making her sit at a desk all day and write half books, and then publishes them. The storyline is weak, it feels unfinished, and all these men pining over Sookie has me down right irritated. She isn’t that awesome people. I see her appeal, but every dude has it bad for her. This book wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either. If you are this far along in the series you are probably going to keep reading like me, but please Charlaine Harris—maybe take some time in the plot? I mean seriously look how short the synopsis is!