What can you, as a new writer expect to earn? You can earn anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 and more as an advance on the sale of your first romance novel depending on what kind it is, who publishes it and the number of copies printed. Royalties are from 6 to 8% of the cover price. More if you self publish.
It doesn't take forever to write a romance novel. You could write one in six months or less, depending on the time you wish to spend each day. I know writers who use their computers to write one novel each month. You say you don't know anything about writing a romance novel. Edward R. Murrow, the late American radio and television journalist encouraged me with my journalism when he told me that "journalist are made not born." I might add the same thing about Romance Writers. When you learn to write saleable romance fiction, you learn to write sensuously, creating vivid word pictures. You will learn to build solid plots, learn to understand motivation, so that your characters take on depth and dimension. And, you will learn to be fresh and original. You will also learn discipline.
You don't need to have a Ph. D., to write romance fiction. The editor is interested in how you put words together that takes the reader away from an everyday humdrum life into a lovely world of romance where dreams always come true. In other words you become a "dream maker." If you have ever been in love, you have the background you need, and with help, you develop your own romantic style but if you're like me, a romantic at heart, all you need is a little encouragement. For that encouragement, I would like to thank my writing guru, Dr. Ruth Kanin, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I also live in Quebec.
There are no geographical requirements to writing a romance novel. You don't need to travel to the far ends of the earth. Careful research can take care of that if you prefer far off places. But any place can be made romantic. And if you are lucky enough to be living in what I sincerely believe is North America's most romantic city, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, then you have it made.
There are no sex or age requirements either. Although romance writing seems be more suited to women writers, I personally know several men romance writers and others who write with a friend or wife. I don't know if you have ever heard of Jennifer Wilde: the late Tom Huff. Patricia and Clayton Matthews have sold over one million copies of their books. Everyone knows of the late Princess Diana's late step-grandmother, Barbara Cartland, who died at the age of 97. She wrote romance novels for young people until a few years before her death!
Best of all, you have a guaranteed readership. The various categories sell each month to the same readers. Romances are selling so fast now that publishers find it difficult to keep up with the demand and with the Far East opening up, the sky's the limit. When I was in the Far East recently - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, etc., it was interesting to see the Harlequin and other familiar logos above Chinese characters and other oriental languages! Also, there's Eastern Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand and all of Africa: Portuguese, French and English.
Having said that, you see that there is a tremendous market for romance fiction. Silhouette, now a division of Harlequin got there first. In their first year, 21 million Silhouette Romances were sold, and that was before they began publishing ethnic romances. They were so impressed with their own success, they published their SPECIAL EDITION in 1982, featuring more sensuality than ever before. Three months later, SILHOUETTE DESIRE became their hottest line. After doing extensive reader research, SILHOUETTE INTIMATE MOMENTS arrived. With its longer format and increased adventure angle, the love scenes took a greater portion of the story.
Other publishers have developed new romance lines. The original publishers of my novel, Whispers in the Sand, is GENESIS PRESS, Inc., who first published it in hardback form in November 1996, then in conjunction with Ballantine's One World line, it was re-issued in pocket book form (mass market) in 1998. Now GENESIS PRESS, Inc. has issued it's own mass market version as of 1 February 2008. It should be found everywhere pocket books are sold. All three versions are selling on the Internet through Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, to name two who still have it in stock. It can also be ordered directly from the publisher through their website. Genesis Press also publishes Hispanic and Oriental themed romances. They are always looking for new and interesting manuscripts.
