On Writing Romance_ How to Craft a Novel That Sells - Leigh Michaels [147]
Even before you're published, you can do a lot to build a professional attitude toward meeting deadlines. You can set your own due dates, or answer to a fellow writer or critique partner. And when you pitch a story to an editor and she says she'd like to read it, you'll be far ahead of the game if you tell her she'll have it in two weeks and you can follow through on it.
The Can-Do Attitude
An I-can-do-that attitude will take you a long way. Be willing to listen to the editor's ideas, cooperate whenever possible with his requests, and if cooperation
is impossible or if you disagree with the editor's suggestion, give logical reasons for your refusal.
Even when you find it necessary to disagree, you can do so without being disagreeable. The successful author does not ever flatly refuse to make changes or revisions. If you disagree with an editor's requests, respectfully present your case, detail your reasons, and offer an alternate solution.
Growing and Stretching
It's impossible to stay at a certain level of competence as a writer. You either stretch, grow, and improve, or you slide downhill. Unless you are willing to learn with every new manuscript, you may find that publication is no guarantee of continued success. Remember, you are only as good as your latest story.
The Writer's Life
Writing a romance is fun, challenging, aggravating, and satisfying—sometimes all in the same moment. Your characters can thrill you, frighten you, amaze you, and make you want to tear your hair out. Your story will be exciting and frustrating in turns, and some days you'll just want to turn your back on your work and never pick it up again.
But in the end, writers write—while amateurs talk and think and dream about writing.
The query letter starts with a polite greeting and immediately gives the main information about the book—story type, targeted line, word count—and the fact that it has placed in a contest, which immediately gives more credibility to the author.
Then the letter segues into a quick synopsis of the story, including the main turning points of the plot and how those affect the main characters, along with a hint of the story's tone (mending toilets for a living, Flynn's motivation to sidetrack the romance). Note that the story's ending and what brings it about are included.
The quick finish specifies that the manuscript is complete and can be mailed on request. The author's name and contact information are clear.
This cover letter immediately gives the main information about the book—story type, targeted line, word count—and reminds the editor of a previous meeting with enough detail that she's likely to remember the writer.
The letter then gives a thumbnail sketch of the book (handy in case the letter and synopsis are separated) and mentions the fact that the manuscript has placed in a contest, which immediately gives more credibility to the author.
The quick finish specifies that the manuscript is complete and can be mailed on request. The author's name and contact information are clear.
The synopsis opens with the heroine's short-term problem and immediately introduces the main characters. It includes the main events of the plot, telling about the episodes in a lighthearted way that mimics the overall tone of the story. It shares the changes of heart experienced by the heroine, and explains why her attitude changes. It also includes the hero's view of events and his reasons for confusion and delay, and goes into some detail about the ending and what brings it about.
The cover page includes crucial data about the manuscript and about the author, including full