Romance Genre Month

By The Steps to Getting Published Team

As part of our ongoing efforts to help you publish your short stories, poetry, and novels, the writers at The Steps to Getting Published are proud to present our very first ever Romance Genre Month. We kicked off the month with Valentine’s Day writing prompts and an article on Romance Novel Subgenres, and hope to fill the month with publishing opportunities geared toward the romance genre. Here are a few romance publishers to get the ball rolling:

Gypsy Shadow Publishing (short stories, novels, non-fiction — romance)

 http://www.gypsyshadow.com/Guidelines.html

Forever Yours Publishing (novellas and novels — romance)

http://labs.hbgusa.com/web/forever-romance/submission-guidelines.html

Liquid Silver Books (Romance Manuscripts)

http://liquidsilverpublishing.com/coming-soon/

We hope these help and will be providing more links in the coming month. In the meantime, happy Romance Writing!

Please subscribe to our blog to receive email updates on monthly publishing opportunities, seasonal writing prompts, and helpful articles on the writing and publishing industry. Next month, we hope to bring you Magic March, which should please those writing fantasy projects. Let us know if you have any questions at all, and happy writing!

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts

By Emrald Sethna

Hello, dear writers! Valentine's Day is upon us, let's get inspired!

Here are some prompts to celebrate this romantic day:

Create a short story about an unexpected surprise on Valentine's Day.

Write a poem describing the most romantic moment you wish to experience or have experienced.

 Describe what love means to you through a short narrative.

Write a screenplay about a charming Valentine's Day dinner gone comically wrong.

Craft a non-fiction piece dedicated to your loved one(s).

Define the theme of love within a freeverse poem.

Write a story based on the best gift you have recieved on Valentine's Day.

Create a short narrative about a love confession from the protagonist's enemy.

Answer the following in a poem: "When I think of the person I love, I see ___."


Craft a short story based on the image provided:

Romance Novel Subgenres

By Carla Trueheart 

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we thought it might be a good idea to visit some romance novel subgenres for all of you romance novelists out there. Romance novels require a different narrative structure than many other genres, including a cute meet and two protagonists who normally act as each other’s antagonist. The genre itself may also include a broad spectrum of outside literary genres. For example, while Twilight and The Notebook are both romance-based, you would hardly say they had the same subgenres or were similar in any way. To that end, we’re happy to present a list of romance novel subgenres that should not only aid you in placing your own novel, but also perhaps inspire you to start a new one. 

Traditional/Contemporary Romance

This subgenre of romance novels normally takes place in a modern era, with protagonists who  use cellphones and other electronic devices. There is a focus on falling in love in a new era, highlighting the modern female and her own specific goals in the twenty-first century. You’ll want to consider careers, family plans, and relationship roles with this subgenre. If writing from a male perspective, you’ll want to consider the modern male as well—how are they dealing with their new age woman?

Paranormal Romance

Paranormal romance focuses on supernatural beings and mystical powers and might include vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, ghosts, fairies, witches, and other types of monsters or mythological beings. The popularity of this genre grew with the Twilight series, and continues to be a fan favorite. Consider careful weaving of the plot, love story, and supernatural elements for a perfect balance of romance and magic.

Romantic Mystery

This type of romance novel is your standard mystery, but with a love story attached. You might consider a whodunit here, or a detective romance, or perhaps even a dark and stormy night novel infused with romance and intrigue. Consider a careful balance of mystery and romance here, as one story may be too powerful and overtake the other.

Inspirational Romance

The inspirational romance novel might include religion, particularly Christianity, or it might be a story about overcoming a personal obstacle. Traditionally it’s clean with little suggestion of intimacy, and sweet, with the focus more on a cute or spiritual relationship rather than a sexual one. That doesn’t mean this type of novel has to be boring or won’t sell! Consider the work of Debbie Macomber who writes contemporary and inspirational romance novels that have been adapted into television series. There is always a readership for inspirational novels.

Historical Romance

Hugely popular as of late, this subgenre includes any story set in the past, from Medieval Times to the Colonial era to the turn of the century. The story here will revolve around protagonists falling in love in another time period, and the setting should enhance the love story. Be aware of time period and make sure to research language, food, transportation, and dress/style. 

Erotica/Sizzle

Another popular subgenre of romance, coming off the success of 50 Shades of Grey. Erotica novels will include a love story based around a sexual relationship, with many details of that type of togetherness. Consider that readers will expect a lot of sizzle, and don’t disappoint them, but also keep the plot in mind so the novel is not one-note.

LGBT

Again, this subgenre is growing in popularity as readers embrace LGBT issues and stories. These novels will include LGBT teens or adults finding each other out there in the new world, and will highlight their relationship and struggles just as any romance novel would. Consider fan base (be authentic) and reaching readers who might be new to reading this type of story. 

Category/Harlequin

These publications normally focus on series romance, much like a soap opera on television runs new “episodes” week to week. The novels are generally a bit shorter than the average novel, and readers will expect a traditional romance, normally contemporary. When publishing, you’ll want to look for publishers of specific series, such as Harlequin.

Romantic Suspense/Thriller

These romance novels usually include high action and even elements of horror. The readers of this genre expect a thrill ride, with anything from kidnappings to murders to psychological twists in the plot. Romantic suspense tends to be fast-paced with heart-stopping moments, breathless love scenes, and strong active protagonists. Consider that a slow, frightening thriller might work as well—try something new!

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Similar to paranormal, but with a different-world element. Maybe your love story takes place on another planet or an imaginary land. Maybe the protagonists are not even human. Consider the elements of fantasy or sci-fi here, noting the world-building of fantasy and the science that may be involved in a sci-fi setting. Time travel novels would also fit into this category. 

Gothic Romance

These novels aren’t as popular nowadays, but if you’d like to try your writing hand at penning one, the plot would revolve around mood and atmosphere mainly, with possible dark settings and brooding protagonists. There is also a psychological element in gothic romance, and like the thriller, these novels are suspense-driven and may also include horror. Consider stories like Dracula and Frankenstein and classic authors like Edgar Allan Poe. 

YA/NA Romance

YA (young adult) novels focus on teen readers, while NA (new adult) focuses on college-aged readers. Both age groups will normally enjoy a good romance novel, as this is a time when many of these readers will be starting up romantic relationships. Consider the age group you’re writing for, especially when it comes to intimate scenes, and strive for authenticity in voice and narration. 

We hope this list helps you as you write your romance novels on Valentine’s Day or any other time of the year! Please let us know if you think of other subgenres, and happy writing!

Winter Writing Prompts

By Emrald Sethna

Hello, dear writers! The winter season has found us, we are being reintroduced to its chilly glory. Let's take some inspiration from the world around us and create some new writing projects!

Here are some prompts to celebrate this beautiful season:

- Write a short story about the North Pole
- Create a poem from the point of view of a Christmas tree
- Construct a poem about what snowflakes represent to you
- Write a short story that takes place at the peak of Winter
- Create a story about an antique holiday object
- Write a five-page screenplay about a strange coincidence during holiday shopping
- Craft a poem from the perspective of a snowman
- Consider the best part of the season in less than ten words
- Craft a story about a holiday feast gone awry
- Develop a story about a winter storm

Write a winter tale inspired by the picture below:

Leave us a comment below with your story or any other winter prompt ideas you have!

Happy Writing!

The Positives of Networking with other Writers

By Carla Trueheart 

At the conclusion of my time in writing workshops, one thing I looked back on with a smile was the compassion and helpfulness of other writers in the program. True, this is a profession where jealousy can separate us, particularly because in this era of publishing, the business is highly competitive. But writers, at the root, understand the struggles and the setbacks. They know, from experience, what works and what doesn’t work, and depending on what level you’re working at in your own writing workshops, they know what’s going to make your story sell. To that end, it’s important to network with other authors in your professional life and keep them in your circle of friends.

 There are a few ways to do this, including meeting other authors in writing workshops and inside writing schools/courses, and striking up friendships on social media. Facebook has many groups for writers, and using hashtags on Twitter, you can probably find writing groups on that platform as well. LinkedIn is a terrific way to network with other writers, and even Pinterest or Instagram might direct you toward writers with similar interests, goals, and genres. Outside of the normal social media outlets, you might also consider a podcast, video correspondence (such as Skype), blogging, and personal websites (how about set up a video on your website’s main page with information for making connections with other writers?). Below this article, I’ve included links to start you off with social media groups and writing workshops.

Tip: Don’t forget to pop into social media groups on a regular basis: don’t just write a post about your latest release with the obvious intention of trying to market a book or published project. It’s important to keep a weekly back and forth going, and help other writers when you can.

If you’re not a social media person and prefer to do some footwork, you can visit local bookstores during events, or even make connections at your local museums. For example, in my home state of Connecticut, the Mark Twain house and museum in Hartford sponsors write-in sessions where you actually sit in Mark Twain’s library with other writers for a few hours (there is a fee, however). You can also check out your town’s library to set up a speaking event or lead a writing group, or you can attend writing conferences in your area. Finally, you might consider renting out some space and starting up your own writing group with meetings every other week. 

The positives for networking with other authors are countless. First, you may find you can exchange your writing with another trusted writer for feedback to strengthen your project. Second, you have a point person to bounce ideas off and basically just talk to about the life of a writer (we’ve all had both rejections and high points). Perhaps the most important aspect of networking includes the pinnacle of any writer’s career: publication. Your writing buddy may receive a publishing contract and offer your name to their publishing company, they might start their own publishing company, or they might ask you to assist them with a publishable writing project. They will also be there for you (and you for them!) when published writing projects need marketing, reviews, and word-of-mouth exposure. 

Here are some links for writing workshops, social groups, and articles on networking. Good luck with this and let us know if you have any questions, opinions, or suggestions for author networking!

Facebook: FWG (Fiction Writers Global) https://www.facebook.com/groups/fictionwritersgroup/

Facebook: 10 Minute Novelists https://www.facebook.com/groups/488365771285615/

Facebook: Writers Helping Writers https://www.facebook.com/groups/mikegeffnerpresentswritershelpingwriters/

Facebook: Writers’ Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/memberswritersgroup/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Twitter: The Writers Group https://twitter.com/writersgrouporg?lang=en

Writer’s Digest: 5 Networking Tips for Writers https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/5-networking-tips-for-writers

Podcast: Why Writers Need to Build a Professional Network to Succeed https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/5-networking-tips-for-writers

Workshop: Writer’s Digest University https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/catalog

Writing Community: Gotham Writers’ Workshop https://www.writingclasses.com/community/index

Writing Community: Scribophile: https://www.scribophile.com

Writing in Mark Twain’s Library: https://marktwainhouse.org/programs-events/writing-programs/writing-in-mark-twains-library/

2019 Writing Competitions

By Emrald Sethna

We're only a few months away from 2019, everyone! Which means you can start preparing for 2019 Writing Competitions! These competitions take place on a national and international scale, allowing you to submit your work and potentially earn a prestigious title, cash prizes, and even publishing deals. Participating in these events could be beneficial to you, whether you are interested in challenging yourself, achieving prizes, or getting your work noticed by other writers and publishers.

Here is a list of highly rated competitions you can participate in:

Fish Publishing Short Story Prize
(http://www.fishpublishing.com/competition/short-story-contest/)
Genre: Any
Fee: 20 euros
Word Limit: 5,000
Deadline: 30 November 2018

L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest
(https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/)
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Fee: None
Word Limit: 17,000
Deadline: 31 December 2018

New Voices Writing Contest
(https://www.leeandlow.com/writers-illustrators/new-voices-award)
Genre: Children Fiction, Nonfiction, & Poetry
Fee: None
Word Limit: 1500
Deadline: August 2019

The Marfield Prize
(https://artsclubofwashington.org/awards/)
Genre: Nonfiction
Fee: None
Word Limit: None
Deadline: 31 December 2018

Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award
(http://www.broadsidelotuspress.org/2018/01/3490.html)
Genre: Poetry
Fee: None
Page Limit: 90
Deadline: 1 March 2019

James Laughlin Award
(https://www.poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/james-laughlin-award)
Genre: Poetry
Fee: None
Page Limit: 100
Deadline: 15 May 2019

Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition
(http://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/annual-writing-competition)
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction
Fee: None
Word Limit: Not Stated
Deadline: 4 May 2019

Try these competitions out, you never know what may happen!

Happy Writing!

Autumn Inspiration: Writing Prompts

By: The Steps to Getting Published Team

It’s that time of year again! The Steps to Getting Published team is proud to present this year’s autumn writing prompts. We’ve tried to include something for everyone and hope you’ll enjoy the following list. If you’d like, please share some of your stories in the comments section, or feel free to add more writing prompts to the list. Whether you like writing soft or spooky this time of year, these prompts should jumpstart your writing and keep you going through the cold months ahead!

Autumn Prompts

Write a story from the point of view of falling foliage.

You get lost during a long walk exploring the fall foliage in the forest. Nightfall is coming. Write a short story or screenplay about what happens to you next.

Write a horror story within 25 words.

You go trick-or-treating dressed as a witch, but everyone thinks you’re a ghost and comments as such. Write a story about this experience and why this might be happening.

 Create a short story about a Halloween party gone wrong.

Write a poem about finding a box of Halloween decorations in an attic.

Develop a free-verse poem about the peak of Autumn.

Write a 100-word story about nature. You must use all of these words in your poem: orange, apple, rustic, crisp, blanket, leaf, lake, wind, acorn, chill.

Write a short piece about your best memories of Fall.

Write a screenplay about a night when rotted pumpkins come to life. 

Write a poem, story, or screenplay based on the following autumn image:

The story can be scary, serene, or a mystery.

Have fun with these!

Conventions of Horror Writing

By Carla Trueheart

Like many genres of fiction—including romance and mystery—horror writing has its own unique set of writing conventions and story structures. The best approach is to study how your favorite horror writer sets up his or her tales and mimic that with your writing, using your own plots and characters. Readers of the horror genre will expect certain elements, and by studying the top-selling horror novelists, you’ll gain a greater understanding of the way these stories are laced together. 

Outside of that, we can offer a few tips when it comes to horror writing. The following lists break down story structures, literary elements, and conventions of horror writing. We hope you’ll find them useful in your writing. 

Fear

Fear is the main emotion in horror novels, and horror writers are eager for their readers to experience it. However, while many writers structure a plot with the intention of frightening their readers with blood, guts, and gore, it is also important to include psychological fears, tension, suspense, and perhaps even a sense of mystery. You don’t want to rely on the graphic nature of a horror novel alone, so make sure elements of suspense are included and revise with pacing in mind. 

Characterization

The characters that inhabit the dark worlds of horror should be real, relatable, and multi-dimensional. For the reader to be afraid, they must have a personal link and connection to the protagonist and the side characters of a novel. They must be able to feel what they are feeling, and they can only do this if the characters are not cut-outs or one-dimensional. Consider what personal fears the character may have, and weave those fears into the plot. Basically, you’ll want to spend just as much time developing characters in a horror novel as you spend developing the plot. Make it a good balance between plot and characterization, and you’ll have a winning story. 

Mood and Tone

The mood and tone of a horror short story or novel should reflect the plot. A great way to set the mood is through setting. Play upon the fears of readers here, perhaps through isolation: an island, a snowed-in hotel, a maze, a prison, a broken elevator, or a medical event that traps the character(s) in their own house or town. Another terrific way to set mood is through weather, so while “it was a dark and stormy night” is a little cliche, it still works to set up a scene in horror writing. 

Types of Horror

There is no distinct type of horror novel, but there are certainly common plots. First, the traditional haunted house or ghost story is always a good read and fun to write. There are many different ways to go about these types of stories, and because no one is really sure what happens in the afterlife, every ghost story is different. Make yours as unique as you can, and remember to include a lot of suspense and an air of mystery. 

Going along with the ghost theme, another common story type in horror is paranormal/supernatural. This would include supernatural beings such as witches, vampires, werewolves, and creatures or humans you would not normally see walking down the street on a sunny afternoon. Again, be original with these stories, as they are pretty abundant nowadays. Mix and match, introduce new themes, and try playing with settings. A witch in space? A vampire in Italy? A strange creature of the sea in New York City?

Another story type common in horror is special abilities, like in Stephen King’s Carrie or Firestarter. A normal, everyday character has dark, powerful, or psychic abilities which in turn usually end up destroying lives and leaving the reader breathless in fear. Make the characters multi-dimensional: give them both dark and light sides, or perhaps explore them hating the ability they possess. 

Finally, we can also include the classic good vs. evil or slasher type of horror novel. Normal people are thrown into a wild dash for their lives when the bad guy, serial killer, or other-worldly slasher comes calling. Again, make sure you include more than just knife stabs and blood spilling. Avoid cliches here, such as the pretty girl getting murdered, a teenaged babysitter alone in a house, or a stumble-fall kill. 

Story Structure

As with a thriller or mystery novel, grab the reader early on in horror writing. Then, weave in backstory so it doesn’t slow the pace, and introduce the main conflict in the first chapter if you can. The inciting incident should come fairly soon as well. Remember to keep the stakes high, the conflict present, and the character motivation and fears clear. While most horror novels are fast-moving, you’ll want to take a breather here and there, similar to a thriller. In other words, give the reader a pause in the action before upping the suspense again.

The ending should include a high-energy, tense climax, while finishing with your character in whatever state they are in now, after experiencing a life-changing, horrific event. Remember you have plenty of room to explore different types of endings. Study the master writers in the genre, as mentioned in the opening of the article, and find out what works best for you based on your own writing and your favorite writers’ story structures.

Final Note: Do your research. Nothing is worse for a reader than spotting factual errors, even in fiction. If you’re writing historical horror fiction, research is even more important. 

Have fun with your writing and let us know how you make out!

Spotlight Publishing Opportunity

Publishing Opportunity
Horror Magazine

Horror Tree

Link: https://horrortree.com/category/type/

Submissions: 3,000 words, fiction and poetry.

What is Impromptu Writing? Q&A with Prompts

By: The Steps to Getting Published Team

Q: What is Impromptu Writing?

A: Impromptu Writing is timed writing, typically using a subject you are given on the spot. It involves writing without stopping to edit or revise.

Q: What are the benefits of Impromptu Writing for writers?

A: Impromptu Writing forces you to not only write, but to resist the urge to go back and edit your work, leading to higher productivity and creativity. It also serves as a gauge of your punctuation, grammar, and quick-thinking skills. 

Q: How much time is allowed?

A: Generally, we recommend 15 or 20 minutes, timed. You could try shorter or longer times—like 5 minutes—but it’s best not to go too far over 20 minutes for best results. Here is a fun link for timers: https://www.online-stopwatch.com/classroom-timers/

Q: What happens if I run out of ideas before time is up?

A: Don’t fret! Just keep writing, even if the ideas aren’t directly linked to the writing topic. If you’re writing about the color red, for example, you might start writing about a red object and your memories of that object (a day in the park with a red kite, a day of swimming with a red pool float, a favorite red food, etc.).

Q: How do I start?

A: We have provided a few Impromptu Writing prompts, based on teaching techniques and our experience. It’s best to choose one randomly (with your eyes closed, if you can) without looking ahead first. Just choose a prompt, set the timer, and go. Do not stop!

Prompts for FICTION WRITERS

• Write a short story about a family who finds themselves in the midst of a long-term power outage
• Write a romantic short story
• Write about how you feel on your favorite planet
• Write a short story about an unexpected reunion
• Create a character profile. Write about your character’s history, their personality, their relationship with other characters, their ambitions—everything you know about this character
• Create your own restaurant. Fill in recipes, food, clientele, menus, and info about regular customers
• Write social media posts from famous people in history (ex: Napoleon, Queen Victoria, Abraham Lincoln, etc.)
• Consider the point of view of a tree and create a story about what it may observe

Prompts for POETS

• Create a poem or two about a childhood experience
• Write up a collection of short poems revolving around the theme of mortality
• Write about the first color you see
• Write a poem about a time you forgave, but did not forget
• Write a poem about berry picking
• Write a poem about your prom (or a dance). What were you wearing? Who did you go with? What music was playing? How did you feel?

Prompts for SCREENWRITERS/PLAYWRIGHTS

• Write a snippet of a screenplay about a girls’ or boys’ weekend gone awry
• Write a short sitcom script that takes place in a fantasy world
• Write a play about a runaway and a group of traveling actors
• Write a horror/drama script involving an unorthodox girl or boy with highly religious parents
• Write a short play about an overly polite pirate with a broken heart

Prompts for NON-FICTION WRITERS

• Describe a childhood friend
• Write about a treasured or sentimental item that has little or no material value 
• Describe an object in the room
• Pick a news story today. Write about it. What side have you taken? Why?
• Write about the coldest you have ever been
• Write about a time you found something that did not belong to you (money, a purse, a backpack, etc.) 
• Write about the first time you swam in a pool (or lake or ocean, etc.)

Feel free to try out other genres, and don’t forget to post your stories to the blog. We’d love to read them!