In love with romance novels? You’re not alone! Romance is today’s most popular fiction genre, accounting for more than half of all mass market fiction sold. If you’re looking to make a serious effort at writing a romance and getting it published in today’s multifaceted markets, you need to learn as much as you can about this highly successful field—especially how to create the perfect heroes and heroines. Now, in this easy, step-by-step guide, a top romance editor gives you the know-how you need to succeed as a romance novelist! Writing A Romance Novel For Dummies is perfect for both beginning and more accomplished writers who are looking to get the leading edge on writing a romance novel and get it published. Leslie Wainger, Executive Editor at Harlequin Books, explains what it takes to become the next Nora Roberts, providing the techniques you need to: Select a pseudonym Write a compelling, heartfelt story Find the right agent and publisher Submit a manuscript Market your novel Join clubs and associations Packed with insider advice, this plain-English guide helps you grasp the building blocks of a great romance, providing practical tips on the craft of writing as well as savvy pointers on how to hook your reader from page one, write with passion, and shape a proposal that will wow agents and editors. You get lots of expert tips on analyzing the marketplace, creating compelling characters, and finding your own voice. Wainger also: Demystifies the sub-genres of the romance world, from historical, contemporary, and multicultural to paranormal, romantic suspense, and Christian/inspirational Explains plotting, pacing, and writing those crucial love scenes Discusses how to conduct research, assign credits, and get permissions Helps you decide whether it’s best to write alone or with a partner Complete with a manuscript preparation checklist, tips for revising your work smoothly and successfully, guidance in understanding and negotiating a contract, and a list of romance writing resources, Writing A Romance Novel For Dummies is your one-stop guide to becoming a published novelist!

Takes the budding romance novelist through the entire process of developing story ideas, editing, finding publishers, and marketing.

This book is a study of female virginity loss and its representations in popular Anglophone literatures. It explores dominant cultural narratives around what makes a “good” female virginity loss experience by examining two key forms of popular literature: autobiographical virginity loss stories and popular romance fiction. In particular, this book focuses on how female sexual desire and romantic love have become entangled in the contemporary cultural imagination, leading to the emergence of a dominant paradigm which dictates that for women, sexual desire and love are and should be intrinsically linked together: something which has greatly affected cultural scripts for virginity loss. This book examines the ways in which this paradigm has been negotiated, upheld, subverted, and resisted in depictions of virginity loss in popular literatures, unpacking the romanticisation of the idea of “the right one” and “the right time”.

An insightful look at the cultural impact of the television phenomenon Sex and the City. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, one word was on everyone’s lips: sex. Sex and the City had taken the United States, and the world, by storm. Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha influenced how a generation of women think, practice, and talk about sex, allowing them to embrace their sexual desires publicly and unlocking the idea of women as sexual beings on par with men. In Sex and the City: A Cultural History, Nicole Evelina provides a fascinating, in-depth look at the show’s characters, their relationships, and the issues the show confronted. From sexuality and feminism to friendship and motherhood, Evelina reveals how the series impacted viewers in the 1990s, as well as what still resonates today and what has glaringly not kept up with the times. The world has changed dramatically since the show originally aired, and Evelina examines how recent social movements have served to highlight the show’s lack of diversity and throw some of its storylines into a less than favorable light. While Sex and the City had problematic issues, it alsochanged the world’s perception of single women, emphasized the power of female friendship, built brands, and influenced fashion. This book looks at it all, from the pilot episode to the spin-off movies, prequel, and reboot that together have built an enduring legacy for a new generation of women.

THE MONSTER WANTS HER. HE WON’T BE DENIED. I've become a monster. I hear blood moving in people’s veins. Scent their emotions. I want to feed. To hunt. To mate... I'm no longer a human--my life is over. I've left everyone I love. I've gone rogue from the CIA. My only hope is my handler. Annabel gray is tough enough to face my monster. If I lose control, she won't hesitate to take me out. But I'm not the only predator out there. Someone's hunting Annabel. She needs my protection. But if I don’t get my animal under control, I may be her biggest threat yet.

Romances date back to the creation of stories. Although the definition of the genre has changed in time from the Ancient Greeks to the Bildungsromans,to the 19th century and today’s courtship novels, both scholarship and widely-held attitudes towards romance has remained fixedly and prioritized only the universality, unoriginality, and continuity of romance fiction instead of its sociocultural effect of promoting positive ideals like female empowerment. The portrayal of women in social roles has been in a state of constant change including their relationship with and relation to men. This book explores only medieval historical romance fictions and their changes through the course of the time. I examine three medieval romances’ content—Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe (1920), Kathleen Woodowiss’ The Wolf and the Dove (1974), and Amanda Quick’s Mystique (1995)-- written in different time periods based on content analysis using Anthony Giddens’s (1992) theories of intimacy. In addition, it will address romance novels’ views about sex, gender and love roles.

'Thinking of writing Romance? You NEED this book' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review Love sells and sex sells and you can earn your living writing about them for novels, novellas and short stories as well as serials for magazines, anthologies and websites. This book holds the secrets of how to achieve success. Recommended by readers! 'A great guide to writing romance' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Genuinely useful . . . I recommend this one' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Packed with information . . . an illuminating book for anyone starting out in the field and well-worth the read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Definitely a book to keep near to your keyboard! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'As good as a paying for an expensive seminar. Excellent book' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .................................................... As well as drawing on her experience as a fiction writer and creative writing tutor, in this 'must-have' book Sue Moorcroft has included questions from aspiring writers - with illuminating responses from published writers and industry experts. Romantic fiction encompasses everything from chart-topping chick lit and romantic comedies, through gritty sagas, sweeping historicals and smouldering erotica to liver-twisting affairs with vampires. Bright, emotional, involving, intelligent storytelling about love and desire is what readers want and will pay for. Do you want to know how to create emotional punch? (Or even what emotional punch is?) How to control dual time lines? Spring your work out of the slush pile? Write a tender love scene that excites passion rather than hilarity? This book reveals all. .................................................... Sue Moorcroft is an award-winning novelist. Her emotionally compelling fiction has hit No. 1 on Kindle UK, top 100 on Kindle US and made her a Sunday Times bestseller. Her novels, short stories, serials, courses and writing guides have sold around the world. As a creative writing tutor, she has worked at the University of Leicester, the London School of Journalism, Adult Learning Services Northants, Writing School Leicester, Writing School East Midlands, Writers' News Home Study and various other organisations. She's also delivered workshops and courses in the US, Italy, France and Dubai.

When Southern romance writer Miranda Lane is told by her editor to create a brooding, sexy cop character, Miranda turns to the handsome Detective Chas Casey for help. Soon, Miranda realizes she's losing her heart to a man who specializes in drive-by romance. Original.