William Hammett

Romance continues to be one of the most enduring genres in the literary marketplace. Ghostwriting romance novels requires the author to create three-dimensional characters within the context of a believable narrative. Ideally, the plot of a great romance novel employs an interesting historical backdrop or an unusual character trait for the protagonist. Otherwise, the book is likely to be a saccharine bodice-ripper with a formulaic plot and an abundance of clichés.

I favor what I call literary romances, such as those by Nicholas Sparks, rather than formula novels published by Harlequin or Silhouette. A literary romance can explore characters in greater depth and touch on many far-reaching subplots such as war, illness, history, and family.

Romance is no longer one-dimensional in plot and characterization. The genre has earned a high degree of respect in the literary marketplace, reflected by the growing number of romance novels that are made into major motion pictures. Some of the nation's best novelists call themselves romance writers and no longer use over-the-top psuedoymns like Heather Windstorm.

If you're a romance writer, maybe it's time to step up your game. Contact me if you want to give your romance novel originality and a competitive edge so that we can tap into one of the biggest markets in the publishing industry. You may also want to read Fiction and Nonfiction.