Leigh Michaels - On Writing Romance

This book would not have been possible without the help and support of my friends, family, and colleagues. I wish to thank:

My good friend, fellow writer, and expert critiquer, Elaine Orr.

My writing colleagues Rachelle Chase, Roxanne Rustand, Sandra Marton, Lyn Cote, Sophie Weston, Hannah Bernard, Anne Weale, Renee Roszel, Alexandra Sellers, Linda Riff, Doreen Linnen, and Lynn Hoffmann, who never tired of discussing the romance novel, and who pointed me to excellent examples and illustrations.

The students in my online and in-person romance-writing classes, whose comments and questions helped clarify and crystallize the materials in this book.

The many friends who supported me through the process, especially Margaret Trucano, Shelley Kveton, Desiree Johnson, Bev Hart, Janet Jenkins, Cindy Loughman, Edna Dunning, and Marilyn Cremer.

My sister, Linda Smith, for always being there.

My editor, Kelly Nickell, and my agent, Elaine English, for their hard work in bringing this book to life, and Jane Friedman, of Writer's Digest Books, for her encouragement.

The long series of editors who have helped to make me a better writer, especially Jacqui Bianchi, Karin Stoecker, Paula Eykelh of, Jane Robson, and Samantha Bell.

And as always, my husband, Michael Lemberger who believes in me.

When I was fourteen years old and a freshman in high school, I wrote my first romance novel. It was painfully derivative and nave, and despite the number of years that have passed (and let's not go into that, please), it's painful even to think about it now. Thank heaven I maintained enough good sense not to let any of my classmates read it.

In the dozen years after that first effort, I wrote five more complete romances and burned them all, sending more than a quarter of a million words up in smoke. I've never regretted burning those books in fact, I'm awfully glad they're not hiding in a closet to embarrass me someday but I do regret that it took me so long and so many tries to get to the point that an editor could look at my work without bursting into giggles.

When I first started writing, I'd have given anything to have the book you're now holding in your hands a step-by-step guide to developing and writing a romance novel that works, a love story that brings readers to laughter and tears.

On Writing Romance is the distilled wisdom I've gained from writing eighty successful romance novels (and from writing that armful of unsuccessful ones), and from teaching romance writing to hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to success with commercial romance publishers. While On Writing Romance is intended mainly for writers working on romance novels, the techniques are useful to all those who include romantic elements in their books. I hope you will find it helpful!