This is K.M. Wyland and you are listening to the 615th episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast.

I hope you enjoyed this week's episode, genre tips part two, how to write romance.

Romance makes the world go round. In many respects, it makes the book world go round too.

Romance consistently remains one of the best-selling of all fiction genres. So it's no surprise so many

people write it both out of personal enjoyment and because when it hits the sweet spot

it can be extremely lucrative. Learning how to write romance however is no easy feat.

For all that romances often look simplistic, the genre is one of the most demanding.

At its core, romance is nothing more or less than two people coming together and falling in love.

Most romances are happily ever after, but of course tragedy has been popular ever since

Romeo and Juliet graced the stage. The genre is sometimes maligned for its stereotypes and often contested by readers who have varying steam-level preferences,

but it remains perennially popular and for obvious reasons.

Genre itself represents an archetype and there is perhaps

no genre more archetypal than romance representing as it does the heartbeat of all life.

Romance is a highly specialized genre

with a demanding audience that wants exactly what it wants.

And this is true to the point that many romance descriptions now tell readers exactly what to expect

so they can find what they're looking for and steer clear of what they're not.

For example, they use labels such as reverse grumpy sunshine, second chance with a baby, or enemies to lovers,

as well as indicating what sort of raiding love scenes might warrant, since going too far in either direction can turn off

specific audiences. Although romance novels in their strictest sense are simply

about the drama and excitement of two people navigating a new relationship, the genre can

feature many sub-genres such as paranormal romance or romantic thriller or be featured as a subplot in stories that fall into other genres such as fantasy, historical, etc.

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