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1. Writing a Romance
Novel for Dummies, by Leslie
Wainger. ISBN 0764525549.
This might be published under
the “For Dummies” banner
but it’s written by one
of the smartest editors in
the business. Nuff said!
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2. Writing Romantic
Fiction, by Daphne Clair and
Robyn Donald. ISBN 0713648872
By 2 multi-published authors
who are not only great writers
but fabulous teachers. (If
you’re “down under,” check
out their courses at the Kara
School of Writing.)
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3. The Art of Romance
Writing, by Valerie Parv. ISBN
1863734244
The first how-to on romance
writing I purchased. I used
as a guide to writing my first
book. Recently revised and
highly recommended.
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4. Kate Walker’s
12-Point Guide to Writing Romance,
by Kate Walker. ISBN 184285044X
A beaut little book, not only
for beginners but for all writers.
Focuses on the most important
elements of romantic fiction.
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5. The Story Within
Writing Series, by Alicia Rasley.
This is a set of booklets
covering topics such as characterisation,
conflict, motivation, dialogue – great
stuff by a master teacher.
Click
here for more
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6. The Dreaded Synopsis,
by Elizabeth Sinclair. ISBN 1892718251
Not only about synopsis writing,
but a lesson in plotting and
structuring a short category
romance novel.
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7. Scene and Structure,
by Jack Bickham. ISBN 0898799066
Easy-to-follow guide on basic
structure of a novel and especially
on writing scenes. Turned on
many light-bulbs for me.
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8. Goal, Motivation
and Conflict, by Debra Dixon.
ISBN 0-9654371-0-8
The sub title -- “The
Building Blocks of Good Fiction” – says
it all, pretty much!
Essential reading.
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9. Making A Good
Script Great, by Linda Seger.
ISBN 0573699216
Not only for screenwriters,
not only about scripts. This
one taught me A LOT about structure
and pacing.
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10. Writing Down
the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg.
ISBN 0877733759
The sub-title of this book
is “Freeing the Writer
Within.” Inspirational
and inspired.
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11. Bird by Bird,
by Anne Lamott. ISBN 0385480016
Sub-titled “some instructions
on writing and life.” Unique,
funny, motivational.
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12. Dangerous Men
and Adventurous Women, edited
by Jayne Ann Krentz. ISBN 0812214110
A series of essays by romance
writers and editors on the
appeal of the romance to modern
women. Thoughtful and thought-provoking.
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