Do you want to write a romance novel that will make you a writer, or is it just for fun? Writing a romance novel isn't easy, but it's fun! While there's no fixed "formula," there are some guidelines you can follow.
Step
Method 1 of 1: Writing Romance Novels
Step 1. Decide whether you want to sell the book on the internet or send it to a publisher to increase the chances of selling it in stores
Make this decision before you start writing.
Step 2. Find a publishing agent if you choose to send your book to a publisher
Collect the contact information of the agent or publisher itself. Keep this information safe so you never have to look for it again. If you want to sell a book on the internet, know the process. However, don't publish anything, just follow the guidelines carefully.
Step 3. Think about the characters, especially the two main characters who are the stars of the novel
Think about the past that may have had an impact on them. What are their strengths and weaknesses? Do they have past love? Get to know the character you are creating.
- Characters are an important part of romance novels. To make your main characters look "realistic" (if that's what you want), you have to give them flaws. Nobody is perfect. So, why make a perfect character? (However, creating two characters that are perfect for each other is fine as long as they also have flaws).
- Don't create a main character who is only obsessed with one thing or one person. Readers should be able to get to know them outside of love life.
Step 4. Choose their age
Determine the age of the character, depending on the group of readers you are targeting. You need to write a romance novel that readers can understand so that a 15-year-old adult romance novel won't be a success. Vice versa, if you are writing a teen novel, try not to create a main character in their 40s or even 30s because that is the age of teenage parents who will be reading your novel. Teens and young people in their early 20s prefer romance novels so it's best if your character is between 18 and 24 years old. Adjust the age of the character to the age group of the person who is the target reader.
Step 5. Define the background
If you choose the future, the situation will not look like the present. If you're writing paranormal romances, try creating your own world. Base the setting on the romance subgenre. There's no need to create a specific setting down to the smallest detail if you don't want to, but readers will find it easier to visualize the story if they can imagine the setting. Also, setting can help build character. If your setting is always drenched in the sun, perhaps your character aspires to live in a place where it rains.
Step 6. Think about the events that made your story romantic
Include love-related events, such as dating and heartbreak. Think of an interesting idea that is different from an idea already used in other stories. For example, one of the former characters is jealous and wants to return, or the parents disagree with the character's choice and choose another candidate. Don't forget to include other characters, such as your ex, parents (if the story is about teenagers), and friends.
- Don't always create "picnics in the garden with butterflies flying" or "married, divorced, dating, married, divorced, dating, cheating, breaking up" scenes. Write a different romance novel.
- Give difficulties to the characters in the story. The idea of "men meet women and fall in love and live happily ever after" is all too common. Come up with a catchy idea, for example, "boy meets girl and they hate each other until he sees her going crazy at a party and asks her out and she realizes dating sucks." Yes, the scenario is long, but much more complex. Create different problems according to the type of romance you are writing. For example, the female character is a ghost, the male character is 10 years older and the woman's family disagrees, the female character is disabled, or the male character is from the future.
Step 7. Write reasonable dialogue
"Hm, I'm Santi. Have we met?" sounds reasonable. You can also add tacky dialogue, such as, "Your eyes are beautiful." However, don't fill the novel with tacky praise. A good romance must have a balance between realistic and sentimental sentences. Also, remember that romance should be passionate. So, give emotion to the dialogue.
Enter descriptive words. "Good" or "Cool" sound unprofessional and tend to discourage readers from continuing. Other words that are also boring and overused are 'good', 'great', and 'awesome'. Look for interesting synonyms, such as 'excellent', 'fun', or 'satisfactory'
Step 8. Start writing/typing
Think of a captivating start, such as one of the characters seducing someone she has a crush on, or if the idea is about the paranormal, start in a magical place. You don't have to stick to the outline exactly, but you have to follow it. Also, think of a good ending. Most endings are happily ever after, but why don't you try something different? The ending will be remembered so you have to make it special!
Step 9. End the novel well
You can write a great romance novel, but if the ending isn't satisfying, people just remember it with an 'okay' or 'I liked it, but it ended badly' impression. Don't rush to the end just because you're tired of making up chapter by chapter. The novel should end with the togetherness of male and female characters. It will make readers happy because they want the two main characters together. However, don't feel that you have to end the novel with a happily ever after. See Romeo and Juliet.
Step 10. Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Nobody wants to read a book that isn't well written and edited, like, "and Sarah, go to the bathroom n never go out again and everyone's sad. ENDING, thanks for reading my book, here's my e-mail, tell me to your friends, BYE!!!" Most likely, no one will buy it. If you submit a manuscript to an agent or publisher, they WILL ask the editor to change the novel until you stop making mistakes. When you have to edit something, don't change the story. Publishing agents will reject it if your story sucks. So if they haven't rejected it so far, don't change anything (other than the error the editor asked to fix.)
Step 11. Ask your friends to check
Ask for criticism because you're no better off if you don't get feedback. If they like it, publish it. Or, if you don't want to publish it, save it for some time, then read it again for your own entertainment.
Tips
- Don't expect instant success. Your first book may not be published and you will most likely have to send it to more than one publisher before it is finally accepted. Remember that big names, like J. K. Rowling or Charles Dickens, have also experienced rejection.
- The outline will serve as a guide, and provide an overall picture of the novel you are writing and what to include. If you need help, check out the article on How to Create an Outline.
- Don't rush to finish the book. Writing a book takes commitment and time so you shouldn't rush it and should try your best.
- Always check language, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Microsoft Office Word is a great word processor for writing novels. Although this program is paid, you can give it a try. Try the free version if you want. However, if you're going to be writing a very long book or more than one, you'll need to buy it before the trial period ends (trial is about 180 days). A free alternative is "Open Office Writer" which allows you to save documents directly in the PDF format used by the printer.
- If you're brave, the idea of same-sex couples is one way to increase the popularity of the book, and it's different from the usual love story.
- Determine who your readers are. If your book is for adults, you can include swearing or sexual words. On the other hand, if you're writing for children and teens, use polite words.
Warning
- Do not publish a novel on the internet if you intend to publish it through a publisher first. Self-publishing is now on the rise, and many romance writers are publishing their work that has already been published physically in the form of an e-book. This tactic attracts more readers and increases their revenue. For aspiring romance writers (or romance writers who haven't been accepted by publishers), self-publishing books in the form of e-books will help gain readers and add income. In the age of digital books, stepping over the path of a publisher can sometimes be profitable, but you must be prepared to run your own business and promote yourself vigorously. This means that you have to consider how much time you will spend outside of writing.
- Watch out for publishing companies that ask you to pay a certain amount of money to get them to read your work, edit it, and sell it. Usually it's a scam. In addition, you also have to be careful with internet publishers because they can also be scams.
- If you think your book is good, but a critical friend says "bad," don't believe it. If the average person likes it, it means that your book is indeed good and will probably sell well.
