If you had asked me a decade ago if I would be a romance writer, I would have said, “Hell no! That’s cheesy stuff. I want to be a serious writer.”

And yet, here I am. Not only am I a romance writer, but I’m proud to be one. The truth is that romance writing is just as powerful and important as other forms of writing. Romance stories have healed my life, and I hope my stories help others find healing, too.

But like many readers and writers, I fell for the misconceptions about the genre, believing it was just a bunch of nonsense written to entertain the masses with no depth or development. Now, some specific niches in the romance genre might be made simply for entertainment, and that’s perfectly fine, too.

But that’s just it: there are different niches for different people. And that’s great! But how do you find YOUR niche?

Finding your niche might feel a bit crazy because your writing style might differ from your reading style. Or, even crazier, it might be completely different from your lifestyle. (Quick examples include Dr. Seuss never having children and the great romance writer Jane Austen never marrying. And don’t get me started on Stephen King…)

So, to help you on your journey, here are 3 steps you can take today to start you on your romance writing path:

1. What are your fantasies? Yikes, sorry to get so personal right off the bat here. But your personal, romantic fantasies can help guide your writing. Writing fiction is a lot of daydreaming and writing down your thoughts, so it can be easiest to start with things you already fantasize about. This can be as simple as fantasizing about a relationship built on mutual experiences, something cute like a Hallmark Christmas movie. And it can be as wild as whatever your deep, dark, secret “kinks” are. Whatever you like to think about, try writing it down.
2. What do you like to read? Writers are also avid readers. So, when it comes to romance (even if it was just a subplot), what types of relationships do you usually enjoy reading about? Are they enemies to lovers? Love triangles? Maybe you like paranormal romance and want to get down on some werewolf action. Whatever niche you enjoy as a reader could also help guide you as a writer.
3. Ask yourself what is missing from the romance market. My sister always told me if I didn’t find the kind of painting I wanted at the store, I should just paint it myself. This is true of writing, too. If there is a type of romance story you have always wanted to read but have struggled to find it anywhere, that’s a great place to start for writing a book! Chances are, someone else is looking for it, too.

Hopefully, these helped you out. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for more writing tips!

Happy writing 🙂