Top Ten Ways to Get Published in Romance:

1. Join Romance Writers of America.

I finished my first book in 1993. Back then, there were maybe one or two how-to books on the subject of romance writing, and while those helped as far as providing addresses of publishing houses, none of them gave me the *meat* I was looking for. An interior design client of mine told me about RWA, and finding this organization made me feel like the ugly duckling discovering her family of swans!

Contact info:
RWA Office: 832-717-5200
e-mail: info@rwanational.org
Web site: www.rwanational.org

2.  Hone Your Submission Skills.

These days, most publishing houses require a query letter describing your project before they even want to see a three-chapter partial and a synopsis. When I started out, I didn't know what any of these items were. Assuming some of you don't either, let's break'em down:

• Query letter:

  A ONE page letter selling your project. There are as many different styles of these little beasties as there are writers, but this is the technique that has consistently worked for me.

  First off, target your letter to a real live editor. Another reason to join RWA is that twice a year in their magazine, they do a market update in which they list editor names and the lines for which they acquire. Many publishing house websites also give this info, though, as well as writing magazines. There's no excuse for not addressing your letter to a person.

  If you've tried all of the above methods and still can't find a name--call the publishing house and ask the receptionist which editor is accepting queries. (Bonus tip: might sound silly, but be sure to get the spelling of the editor's name. I've read a few interviews wherein the editor says she frowns upon a writer misspelling her name.)

  Next, buy top quality paper and design yourself some good looking letterhead. It doesn't have to be flashy--just professional.

  This is also a good place to mention that the query letter is the ONLY time when submitting that you'll need to use nice paper. When submitting my first complete manuscript, I printed the whole thing on 100% cotton. It not only cost me a fortune, but weighed a ton. Also, one jumbo rubber band around the middle will do when shipping your written babies. The USPS's Priority envelopes work great.

  Opening paragraph, start with an attention grabber. Remember, this one paragraph may be the only chance you get to grab an editor's attention. Use it!

  Below is the blurb I used for my first Harlequin American, Blind Luck Bride. Only then it was called, Blind Luck.

  "Lucky" Finn Reilly's luck has just run out. His fiancee left him at the altar, and now his most despised competitor for the town of Greenleaf, Utah's contracting business just goaded him into accepting the mother of all stupid bets. Does Finn have a chance in the world of getting another bride to the chapel by the end of the week? Sure he does . . . with a little blind luck!

  Since this submission was for a series romance line, in the second paragraph, I told the editor which line I was targeting, and the length of the manuscript (75,000 words). Many lines have different word counts. Be sure you know the word count of the line you're submitting to. If your submission is a single title--or book that stands alone--say that here and include the word count--typically 100,000 words. This paragraph would also be a great spot to BRIEFLY describe any special qualifications you have for writing the book. (i.e. You're a doctor or nurse, and the book is set in a hospital. You're a great cook and your heroine is a master chef.)

  Another great thing to put in the middle paragraph is other books you've read and enjoyed within the line you're trying to target. (i.e. If you're submitting to Harlequin American, tell the editor that you like reading the line, which is why you'd now like to write for the line.)

  The third paragraph is the right spot to brag about your accomplishments. Have you won any writing contests? Do you hold an office in any writing organizations? Have you finished more than one manuscript? Do you publish a school or church newsletter? Do you write copy for your company's parts catalog?

  Just because you haven't yet sold a book doesn't mean you have no writing accomplishments. Finish this paragraph with a sentence thanking the editor for his or her time, then be sure to include an SASE.

  The time it takes to hear back on a query varies. I've heard back in as little as a week, and as long as a year. Be patient.

• Three Chapter Partial:

  This is the FIRST three chapters and prologue of your manuscript. Don't just pull out your favorite three chapters. Always start from the beginning.

• Synopsis:

  This is a brief summary of your story. A general rule of thumb I follow for length is a page of synopsis per every ten-thousand words of book. So for a seventy-thousand page book, you might submit a seven page synopsis.

  That said, a lot of houses only want a five page synopsis. Others want two to three pages. Others still want as many pages as it takes to adequately tell your story. Let the house tip sheets available through many publishing house web sites be your guide.

  Think of your synopsis as a Reader's Digest condensed version of your book. Fill it with all of the emotional excitement that your book will have, including brief glimpses of setting and the overall mood and tone of your story.

  More confused then ever?   Follow the link below for synopsis examples.

3.  Don't Let Formatting Waste Your Time.

I don't believe a poorly formatted, yet wonderfully entertaining story will make the slightest difference in whether or not an editor will buy your story. Do your best when it comes to grammar, and always run spell check. Beyond that, New York knows more about grammar than I ever will. That said, proper formatting can save you and your editor's time.

For years, I wrote with Times New Roman font. I thought it was pretty, and looked more like a book. After selling my first book, I had to cut fifteen pages. I had to cut thirty from my second. Finally, my Kensington editor told me to switch to Courier 12 point font. Twenty-five lines per page. I also use 1.25 inch margins instead of the inch margin a lot of how-to books tell you to use. Since making these changes, I've never had to cut again.

4.  Attend Every Writer's Conference You Can Afford--If They're In Your Genre.

In other words, if you write romance, attend romance author-sponsored conferences. I've spent money on the more highbrow literary conferences and gotten nothing out of them.

Conferences are the BEST, and sometimes, ONLY, place to meet the editors whose lines you'd like to be writing for. Regional conferences are awesome. They're small, which means a lot of one-on-one time with editors and agents.

5.  Fine Tune Your Writing.

I wish, wish, wish, I'd learned this early on.

I wasted a lot of time and energy writing stuff that didn't have a market. Early on--before writing a word, spend time researching your favorite lines--or, if you prefer reading/writing single title books, find the houses that publish your favorite type of book. Once you know what you love to read, write it. Even better, see if you can figure out the editors of your favorite authors, and/or authors whose work you feel is most like yours. If you then submit to these editors your work might stand a better chance of being noticed. True, everyone wants to write the book of his or her dreams, the problem comes when trying to mesh those dreams with the realities of marketing. When you're first starting out, fit your work to the market. Make it easy for an editor to buy your story.

6.  Buy yourself a copy of Deb Dixon's writing book, GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict The Building Blocks of Good Fiction.

It's available through Gryphon Books for Writers, P.O. Box 172342, Memphis, TN 38187-2342.

I'm convinced the information in this book is what got me my first Harlequin contract. And no, I don't make any money off of the sales of this book! *g*

7.  Write the Synopsis Before the Story.

Okay, I know a lot of writers who'd tell you just the opposite, but since this is my Top Ten list, read on to see why I prefer to do it this way. When I first started writing, I believed the story had to be an organic thing. Like some kind of God-given gift I couldn't mess around with.

Looking back on those early efforts, I see them for the mess they were. Writing the synopsis first gives me a loose map to follow. A lot of times, when I finish a book and go back and look at the synopsis, it's totally changed, but usually for good reason. Like I came up with a better/stronger ending.

8.  Be Organized, Both With Your Finances and Manuscript Correspondence.

Over the years I've probably lost thousands in tax deductions because of missing receipts. Organization of anything has never been my strong point, so this is a tip I still struggle with every day.

For organizing receipts, I now keep a plastic tub with an attached lid near my desk. Theoretically, by tax time, every writing-related receipt for that past year should be in the box. *insert wild laughter here!*

I am organized, however, when it comes to manuscript correspondence. I make a three-ring binder for every book, including a pretty cover using Print Shop, then insert every little thing that has to do with that book. The manuscript itself. Research materials. E-mails from my editor or agent. And back before I had an agent to submit projects on my behalf, I'd keep copies of all queries sent to editors and agents, along with their replies.

9.  Be Patient

I know I've already mentioned this, but it's another thing I struggle with every, single day. Send off a submission, and then try to forget it by working on your next masterpiece. When you're just starting out, I wouldn't call to check the status of a three-chapter partial until it's been with a house for at least six months.

10.  Be Persistent and Develop a Thick Skin.

If you truly want to sell a book, don't ever, ever give up! Rejections hurt. Bad. I should know, I've probably got a hundred. But after a while, you have to abandon the woe is me attitude and substitute a kick butt attitude. Take any constructive criticism and tips for improvement the rejection may offer, then tell yourself, "No matter what this rejection says, I WILL succeed," and chances are, you will!

Want to share your favorite writing tips? E-mail me at BaliPalm@aol.com and I'll add them to this page! Thanks, and good luck with those submissions!

CONTRIBUTED WRITING TIPS

Don't get defensive with your critique partners. They are trying to help you. Listen carefully to what they have to say and analyze it objectively to see if it applies to what you are trying to accomplish with your story. If it does, learn from it. If it doesn't, then you can ignore it.

-- Betty Sanders