Could you write Kindle fiction, specifically romance fiction? With the release of our romance writing class, Hot, Hotter, Hottest: Write Bestselling Kindle Romances, and our new Kindle Romance Writer Weekly digital magazine, I’ve been getting questions from freelancers who want to try to write romance.
They’re hesitant. They write Web content, or copy, and haven’t written fiction. I ask them all the same question: have you tried reading romance?
Here’s what’s always worked for me, and works for my students when they’re not sure whether they can write something or other. If you THINK you can, and you WANT TO, you can. What counts is your enthusiasm and excitement.
The hardest money you’ll ever earn is if you take a writing commission just for the money. Believe me, I’ve done that, and barely lived to tell the tale. Yes, I’m serious. The last time someone waved a lot of money at me, and I foolishly agreed to write a book I didn’t want to write, I ended up in hospital. Even though I had surgery, I’m convinced that stress wrecked my body so that I needed to go under the knife.
So, in a nutshell: if you can read romance fiction with enjoyment, and are enthusiastic about writing it, you can write it.
Write Short Stories First.
Start small. As I wrote in this article of fiction writing tips:
… write short stories, and if you can, write erotica short stories – smut SELLS, and sells well. Last year, you could write ultra-short erotica, and make a great income. These days, focus on erotica romances. Aim for 10,000 to 20,000 words. Use a pen name for this stuff. You can write under whatever names you choose.
For the first time in decades, you can make excellent money writing short stories and novellas. And yes, if you enjoy reading smut, write it. Under a pen name. Your great aunt Ruth and your pastor never need to know that those kinds of thoughts go through your mind. :-)
Forget Publishing. Just Write.
When you’re starting out with fiction, just write. Make up stories. Practice brainstorming fiction.
Expect to be clumsy at it. If you’re used to writing nonfiction, making up stories seems weird, at first. Give it a week or two. Write on the train, and while you’re watching TV. Distract your logical left brain, and give your creative right brain a chance to come out and play.
Lower your expectations, and keep reading romance. You can find hundreds of free romances on Amazon.
If you enjoy what you’re writing, our romance writing class, Hot, Hotter, Hottest: Write Bestselling Kindle Romances, and our new Kindle Romance Writer Weekly digital magazine will help you to make writing romance fiction your new career. Or just a sideline to whatever you’re writing now.
I started my writing career writing romance, and these days, writing it seems like a holiday. I do my other writing chores, and look on my romances as the reward for my other writing.
Start small, with short stories, and encourage yourself to have fun with it. If you think you can write romance… you can.
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