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What's some writing advice?

What is some free writing advice in trying to write a book and not having any clue what to put in it (it's a romance book) I am a beginner writer and need some help

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Tom’s Answer

My advice is usually rather simplistic and some people don't like that, but the truth is that it is at the heart of writing.

Just write.

Don't look to make sense, don't try to make a cohesive story out of it to begin with. Just write and see what comes up, what you think about, and what idea sticks. It's a chaotic way to start, but chaos usually gives way to order when you pay attention to the threads you're weaving.

Just write, your story will appear to you at some point.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for giving me advice. Charlie
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Jude’s Answer

Just like you, I'm also a novice, but navigating this path isn't as straightforward as it appears. The first step is to identify your objective. For instance, you're aiming to create a romance novel, which is your goal. Then, immerse yourself in research. Absorb knowledge from other books to enhance your learning. Next, sketch out your plot and the sequence of events. Make it engaging and intriguing, keeping the reader guessing until the end. You can also leverage AI to help craft your characters and events. Remember, every step you take is a step towards becoming a better writer. Keep going, you're doing great!
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Ann-Marie’s Answer

Hi Charlie,
To the great advice already posted, I would add that you find online resources and look for romance writers groups both online and locally to meet with in person.

Online workshops on plot, character development, genre structure, etc, are often offered for free as a taste of the larger course presented for purchase. No need to purchase the courses. Just watch the free stuff.

A group you meet with in person will perhaps fill in the gaps and will definitely give you valuable feedback and support for your project.

If you can afford $25, Jane Friedman works with excellent instructors who offer online workshops covering all aspects of genre: https://janefriedman.com/ Subscribe to her free newsletter for insight into the publishing industry.

Finally, join (or follow) the Romance Writers Guild of America: https://rwa.org . Those are your peeps.

Above all, keep writing. You'll learn a lot.
Ann-Marie
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Iryna’s Answer

Hi Charlie! Writing your first romance novel can be an exciting journey! Here’s a structured approach to help you brainstorm ideas and outline your book:

1. Understand Romance Genre Elements
Emotional Focus: Romance novels often center on emotional connection and personal growth between characters.
Character Development: Characters should undergo development, overcoming obstacles to achieve their romantic goals.
Happy Ending: Most romances end with a positive resolution where the couple finds love or happiness together.
2. Brainstorming Ideas
Inspiration: Draw inspiration from your own experiences, relationships, or favorite romance novels/movies.
What-If Scenarios: Write down various "what-if" scenarios. For instance, “What if two strangers meet at a wedding?” or “What if childhood friends reconnect years later?”
Character Traits: Think about the protagonists' characteristics. For example, a shy introvert meets a charismatic extrovert.
3. Develop Your Characters
Protagonists: Create detailed character profiles for your main characters. Consider their backgrounds, motivations, and what they want in a relationship.
Supporting Characters: Outline supporting characters that can enhance the story, like friends, family, or rivals.
4. Create a Plot Outline
Introduction:
Introduce your protagonists and their world.
Set the tone and establish their initial situation or conflict.
Inciting Incident:
Present a moment that brings the characters together. This could be a chance meeting or a shared goal.
Developing Relationship:
Explore how the characters move from strangers to being close. This could involve shared experiences, tension, or emotional moments.
Conflict:
Introduce obstacles that challenge the relationship (e.g., misunderstandings, external pressures, personal fears).
Climax:
Build to a pivotal moment where the characters must confront their feelings or make a significant choice.
Resolution:
Conclude with how they overcome their obstacles and affirm their love. Ensure a satisfying ending that aligns with romance conventions.
5. Set the Scene
Location: Choose settings that enhance the romantic atmosphere. Think about unique locales like a charming café, a serene beach, or a bustling city.
Mood: Use descriptive language to evoke feelings and immerse readers in the story.
6. Write Daily
Schedule: Set aside dedicated time each day to write, even if it’s just a few paragraphs.
Word Count Goals: Set achievable word count goals to track your progress.
7. First Draft and Revisions
Write Freely: Focus on getting your ideas down in the first draft. Don’t worry about perfection.
Revise and Edit: Once your draft is complete, take time to revise. Look for areas to enhance character development, dialogue, and pacing.
8. Seek Feedback
Beta Readers: Share your manuscript with trusted friends or writing groups to gather feedback and insights.
Incorporate Feedback: Consider suggestions for improvement but stay true to your vision.
9. Read and Learn
Read: Read widely in the romance genre to understand different styles and techniques.
Writing Resources: Consider books on writing or join online courses focused on novel writing.
10. Stay Persistent
Embrace Challenges: Writing can be tough, but persistence is key. Keep refining your work.
Enjoy the Process: Remember to enjoy the journey of writing your romance novel, and allow your passion to shine through.
By following these steps, you can develop a compelling romance novel that resonates with readers. Happy writing!
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Kenneth’s Answer

Try writing a simple outline of your romance book. Don't worry about being too specific. Start with beginning, middle, and end. Think about other romance stories you've enjoyed and the events that happen in their beginnings, middles, and endings.
Alternatively, you could start writing any scene that comes to mind from your story. Again, don't be too concerned about details. Just start getting some practice crafting sentences and paragraphs. Revision is a big part of writing. Allow yourself time to write drafts that are not about getting it perfect. You can always go back and revise or even rewrite entirley, things you've written.
Writers write, so most importantly, find time to write and do so.
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Laura’s Answer

If you really want to write, read.

Read. Not just romantic fiction, anything. Classic literature is a good start. You can't beat Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte or Charles Dickens for wonderful storytelling, great plotting and larger-than-life characters. Read widely and adventurously. Find out what makes a compelling, effective piece of writing.

When you start writing, just write. See what happens. Be fearless. Find some time to write every day and stick to it. Something to try is "Morning Pages" from Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist's Way."

Journaling and keeping a writer's notebook are your friends. When you have an idea, write it down. It may be prose, or a poem. It doesn't matter. Write it down. Keep writing.

But keep reading. And enjoy the process.

Good luck!
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Jennifer’s Answer

Hi Charlie,
An incredible professor at Michigan State once shared a valuable tip in my creative writing class: establish a daily writing quote for yourself. Setting a writing goal can prevent feelings of being overwhelmed and can also help combat writer's block. For instance, if you commit to writing 500 words a day for five days, you'll accumulate 2,500 words—equivalent to 10 pages. By following this approach consistently, you'll find yourself with your first chapter, and before you know it, your novel will come together in no time.

Best of luck
Jennifer
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Dea’s Answer

You have to get inspired by something. For example from another book. Also you can be inspired by some people's love stories. Ask everyone about there best love stories and your book story will come to you by itself. Also you can get inspired by film, painting. When some story will come to your mind, write it down and the rest of it will come to you easily.
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Tami’s Answer

Practice is key to success, but learning new ways of approaching topics will build know-how and help you develop a unique voice that resonates with readers. You want to stay genuine, interested, and trustworthy with information that helps you continue to learn and adapt with current events.

Tami recommends the following next steps:

Lure the readers with cliffhanger type scenarios that leave plenty to the imagination when it comes to building a plot structure.
Keep readers engaged with characters that resonate by realistic descriptions and portrayals.
Use moody scene setups that help readers sense and feel the characters' environment.
Grab books to read for inspiration without adaptive writing or copying. This will keep you interested as a reader.
Look for fresh ideas and do plenty of brainstorming, even if you are people-watching or relying upon your own memories.
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Larry’s Answer

First thought that comes to me is ask yourself why you want to write romance. Is it because you like to read romance or is it because you have experienced romance and want to share it with the world. What works for me is to write from personal experience and take the story off into whatever excites you whether it's true or not. I've read what the others have said and agree with them all. But my emphasis is on writing from a place deep inside you... your most authentic self. If you are young, then write from a young perspective. You may not have a lot of experience but you may still have a lot of emotion about the subject, whether it's painful, confused, passionate, questioning, etc. Follow your heart deep into yourself and write from that place.
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Ratika’s Answer

Hello,

I will start with what I will call- The Process.

To become a good speaker you need to be a good listener, similarly to be a good writer start by being a good reader. Read daily a page of a book, a book, or a few articles. Ensure to read daily; once you build that habit, it's time to start writing down your thoughts. Write at least 500 words daily, It can just be writing a word 500 times but sit with a pen and paper and write. Also, don't use the Genz language use complete words.

With technology being at our fingertips we are getting away from our old paper and pen. But, you know there's something about holding a pen in your hand that can kick in the creative writer in you.

Sit every day, follow discipline, and ensure that you write daily. Once you start doing that you will start seeing the changes in you. The way you write, and the way you think will all start to improve.

I will leave with a phrase I read somewhere - " When you throw a splash of water at a rock nothing changes, but if a drop of water falls at the same rock everyday at the same point it creates a hole." Consistency is the key.

Hope this helps.
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Kimberley’s Answer

There is great advice here on honing your craft, developing discipline, and all the elements of becoming a writer. Because you asked specifically where to start when you don't have any idea of the plot, I'll add this: I think a good way to start writing fiction is to decide on one great scene in the middle where something unexpected happens. Since you want to write a romance novel, you already have a loose outline. Most love stories follow the formula of "they meet, they break up, they get back together." I'd suggest you start with the scene where love goes bad--because falling in love is easy, but falling out of love requires something dramatic to happen. So these two are madly in love, but uh-oh. One of them discovers something about the other, or war breaks out, or one of them does exactly the wrong thing at a critical moment--and suddenly, love is not going to be easy. What happened? What do they say? How do they feel? Why is this turning point the last thing readers would have expected? Write it out as you imagine it might unfold. Then all you have to do is write scenes that show us who the characters are, make them meet and fall in love, get them to that scene where they break up, and then get them back together. I'm not saying any of this is easy, but if you start in the middle, your story will have structure and direction that it wouldn't have if you started at the beginning. This is useful if you are still figuring out the plot, because once you get this plot point nailed down, you'll have a good idea of where this story might have started and where it might go.

Kimberley recommends the following next steps:

As you read a book in your preferred genre, notice the plot. Read how the book publisher described that plot.
Think of a sentence that would briefly describe the plot of the book you want to write.
Start thinking about scenes you are excited about, and write those first.
Feel free to change out ideas as you think of better ideas.
Write a rough first draft and put it aside for a few days. Read it and make needed changes. Repeat.
Thank you comment icon Your advice was so helpful! Charlie
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