From Fay Lamb:
 |
| Charisse |
- Make your heroes and heroine's likable from the start no matter what their issues are.
- Don't dump back story; layer it.
- Less is more when it comes to writing romance. There is no thin line between erotica and romance. Erotica is lust; romance is love.
From Joan Deneve:
 |
| Saving Eric |
- Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. Make it natural, believable, with a healthy dose of humor.
- Strong characterization. I'm convinced that the things we love about the hero/love interest are the qualities of our savior, Jesus Christ. Every girl wants a hero. Someone who will fight for her, love her unconditionally, and even be willing to sacrifice himself for her if necessary.
- Keep it real. Yes, romance is larger than life and easy escapism, but it also serves a purpose. A good, well-written romance novel can illustrate how one is supposed to treat the important people in his life. I found when I was writing my debut novel, I began treating my husband like my heroine treated her love interest. A good novel should inspire one to be his personal best.
From Jerusha Agen:
 |
| This Dance |
- Subtlety, subtlety, subtlety. Don’t fall into the trap of writing in a bunch of physical contact (kisses, hand-holding, back-touching, etc.) with the belief you’re writing romance. Attraction is a must, but the most powerful romances are those that simmer with palpable tension and chemistry that readers don’t see realized (or at least not until the end). Add too much physical contact, and that simmer mundanely cools down before it can boil.
- Don’t skip friendship. Any smart reader will know the romance doesn’t have a lasting future if your couple doesn’t have the foundation of friendship that will outlast the on-again, off-again romance.
- Chemistry is key. If your characters don’t click, your readers won’t buy the romance.
 |
| Amelia's Legacy |
- The eyes have it. The very first thing that drew me to my husband was his eyes. I literally lost my train of thought at one point.
- Mutual respect: kindness toward the object of their affection, and others, as well.
- Humor. This is a strong point for me, especially if one can laugh at their own mistakes.
From Julie Arduini:
 |
| Entrusted |
- Give them a character flaw.
- Conflict. For every action, give a reaction.
- Don’t forget the middle. I love endings as much as anyone but don’t rush to get there. Make the middle as strong as the beginning and end.
Interviews with the authors of The Love Boat Bachelor:
Fay Lamb’s On the Ledge:
Marji Laine, Joan Deneve, Betty Thomason Owens, and Theresa Anderson:
Julie Arduini:
Write Integrity Press:
Dream Valentine Dates
Don't forget, The Love Boat Bachelor is FREE on Kindle right now! Learn who the readers chose as Brent's true love! And see how his story ends? Or is it just beginning?
No comments:
Post a Comment