From the best selling author of more than 60 romances, Liz Fielding's Little Book of Writing Romance is a primer - an entry level aid for the writer who has a story to tell, but is struggling to get it out of her head and onto paper. She explains, in the simplest terms - no jargon - and using examples from her own work, how to make the transition from the story in your head to words on paper. How to write a compelling opening, deepen conflict, write honest emotion, hopefully with a touch of humour to leaven the mix. How to write crisp dialogue, develop the romance, add a little sizzle. From Liz - This little book is a primer, an entry level aid for the writer who has a story to tell, but is struggling to get it out of her head and onto paper. To quote the theme song for the movie of Erich Segal's bestselling book, Love Story, "How do you begin..." I know how that feels, I've been there and I have written the book I wish I'd had when I was starting out. My purpose is to explain, in the simplest terms - no jargon - and using examples from my own work, how to make the transition from the story in your head to words on paper. How to write a compelling opening, deepen conflict, write honest emotion, hopefully with a touch of humour to leaven the mix. How to write crisp dialogue, develop the romance, add a little sizzle. It will be useful to anyone who wants to write popular fiction but, before we get down to the nitty-gritty, I'd like to say a few words about romantic fiction in particular. Why readers love it and come back for more. The primary purpose of a romance novel is to elicit a positive emotional experience for the reader. Make her smile, make her cry, make her sigh with pleasure. To put it in a nutshell, give her a good time. To achieve that, you must give her characters she will root for, characters who are pursuing a heartfelt passion, a compelling goal, something that really matters. It might be her career that is driving your heroine, or the protection of her family, or something as basic as survival, but it will be a goal that the reader understands, that she will empathise with, that she will care about. You must give her characters with whom she's happy to share hours of her precious time, characters who, no matter what their faults may be - and perfection is so dull - are likeable. Give your reader a hero and heroine who had a life before your book begins, who are meant to be together - who don't just fall in love because you put them together in a book - and who your reader can imagine having a life after the last line. Real people, taking the journey of their lives.