Reading to Learn
You've already heard that becoming a romance writer is going to change the way you read. But as your skills advance, the opportunity to use reading as a tool grows even stronger. Every book you read is an opportunity to study the writing craft, to study story structure and pacing for particular lines. Reading is even an opportunity to get inside the head of an editor or agent. Don't pass up the advantage of learning from the books you read.
When you read to study craft, be aware of how the writer uses words to create her novel. How does the writer shift point of view without leaving you confused? Look for dialogue tags and study how they work. Notice how much dialogue is on the page compared to narrative. Analyze how the character's backstory is brought in.
To study story structure, find a book similar to yours in plot — for example, a romantic suspense, or a romantic comedy that is similar to your own style. Then look at the scenes and what is happening in them. Do the hero and heroine meet on page one? Or is this a romantic suspense and the suspense plot is introduced first? Where does the romance start carrying the story?
Different writers for the same line might approach their plots differently, but there will still be some continuity in the lines. Discover the continuity and your odds of selling to this house will increase.
Compare your pacing of the romance, the level of sexual tension, and the introduction of other plot elements to those published by that particular line. How does your story measure up? Is your book written to fit these lines? Do you need to tweak your novel, or maybe look toward another publisher?
Readers have favorite types and tones of books. Some love humor; some would prefer the darker stories. Now, think about agents and editors. They chose their careers because of their love of the written word. But just because they added a title to their nameplate doesn't mean their favorite types of books cease to exist.
When reading a book, try to find out the name of the agent who represented it and the editor who bought it. If you read a book similar in tone to your own book, then it's pretty clear the agent liked the book enough to represent it, and the editor loved it enough to buy it.
When talking to editors or agents at conferences, ask them what type of books they love and what type they are looking to represent or buy. Then, read the books to see if your writing style matches the editor's or agent's taste.
To find out who edited and agented a book, look at the author's acknowledgments page. Some writers mention their editors and agents by name. You might try checking out Publishers Marketplace (
