Are you curious about writing romance stories, but you’re not sure what qualifies as romance?
In this episode, you’ll get a deeper look into what constitutes the romance genre. You’ll learn what makes a romance novel literary and what distinguishes the 50+ subgenres from each other.
Joining this conversation is Maria Secoy, a literary romance author and writing coach. Today, Maria shares three story development tips that help you know whether you’re writing a romance story, a love story, or a tragedy.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- What makes a romance book literary
- What the Library of Congress has to say about romance
- How many subgenres exist under the romance category
- What distinguishes erotica from romance
- Where to find the LGBTQ+ romance subgenre
- M/M romance and the inadequate classification of LGBTQ+ romance
- What’s happening with the newer subgenre sapphic romance
- The need for more LGBTQ+ categories
- An overview of 35 other romance subcategories
- Further breaking down historical romance
- Cross listing books in subgenres
- Fantasy vs paranormal romance
- Three tips for romance writers
- What character development means for romance
- The only two ways to develop love
- What romance requires
- How to show happily ever after
- Clarifying happily for now endings
- Does happy for now imply a sequel
- What’s a dealbreaker in the romance genre
About Maria:
Maria Secoy has a BA in English and an MEd in Secondary English. She spent more than a decade in the classroom helping students grow as authentic writers.
She wrote and published her first romance novel, Alongside Lucy, in February 2022, which has since reached #4 on the Amazon Best Sellers List. And she released Gloria’s Gumption January 2023.
After hearing stories of editors gone wrong, flopped cover designs, marketing struggles, and anxiety over the entire self-publication process, she launched All Write Well, which has grown to include a team of supportive experts who meet all the self-publishing needs of writers.
Get her books:
- Alongside Lucy: https://www.amazon.com/Alongside-Lucy-Trail-Adventure-Adventures-ebook/dp/B09WKYLVVZ
- Gloria’s Gumption: https://www.amazon.com/Glorias-Gumption-Maria-Secoy/dp/B0BRH2F7WZ/
Connect with Maria:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msecoywriter
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/msecoywriter
- Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/awwromance
- All Write Well (self-publishing support services): https://allwritewell.com/
Free your creative self too. Download your free copy of my guide, 5 Steps to Help You Start Writing Today, at https://lifebeyondparenting.com/5-steps-start-writing.
Let’s connect via my Facebook group, Parents Who Write, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite.