Writing the Great American Romance Novel

Writing the Great American Romance Novel by Catherine Lanigan

• Highly recommend for beginning writers and those who’ve written a few novels (published or not).

2006, 196 pgs 

Allworth Press (Trade Paperback)

#24 - 03.21.08—03.28.08

• This is a great book for new writers and those who have published their first book. The chapters on The Makeup of the Romantic Hero and The Makeup of the Romantic Heroine are worth the price of the book. The rest of the book is a bonus. The chapter on The Publishing Process is very interesting as it gives an idea of what a manuscript goes through to become a book on the shelf. 

• The first part of the book concerns writing the romance novel and the second part is about selling the romance novel. 

• As I finished this book I realized that it is ‘plotted’ out like a romance novel. First you get to know the location and the characters as Ms. Lanigan explains the genre and sub-genres, research, characters, structure and the mechanics of writing. She takes us through plot, love scene, and how agents, editors and publishers work. Then comes the ‘black moment’: selling your book and yourself. I found it a bit daunting and discouraging. But then comes the HEA. Ms. Lanigan gives encouragement and affirmations that you, too, can write the novel within you. The last chapter left me feeling hopeful and upbeat just as a romance does. I especially liked her reasoning for writing romance, it's how I feel about reading and writing romance, and that is: there’s enough violence, abuse and tragedy in the real world. Romance is about the highest human endeavor: love.

• I like how Ms. Lanigan gets across the information the book cover promises in concise, easy to understand, conversational text. 

Counts: Harlequin = 22 • Other = 2 • Total = 23

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March Mini Challenge - New to You: Catherine Lanigan is new to me. I’ll look for her romances after reading this non fiction about romance writing.