I started writing category romance for Harlequin/Mills and Boon in 2019 with my first book published in 2020. Twenty-five plus books and online reads later, I still get the following question all the time: What is category romance? Usually they immediately follow up with: Okay, but why would you write that? The answer to the first question is in the next section, but before I answer that, I have to address the second.
I fell in love with category romance as a teen. I snuck them off my mother’s and grandmother’s shelves (though today’s category does not look like the ones I read under my covers with a flashlight).
Category Romances are what I like to call mental candy. Their whole purpose is to make the reader feel good. Yes, there are suspense categories, and you might jump off your seat a bit, but when you read that last page, you are satisfied. Everyone in the story is happily loved up.
Some big names either started in category romance or still add category books to their impressive list of publications. Nora Roberts, Maisey Yates, Jeannie Lin, Farrah Rochon, Teri Wilson and many others. I will admit that seeing my books on shelves or in ads from Harlequin with some of these ladies was more than a dream come true.
What Category Romance is? And where it exists in trad and indie publishing.
Honestly, the best way to think of category is a romance book not just with a central romance focus (part of the romance genre requirement) but as a romance book taken down to its core—the romance between the main characters. This is the only real focus of the book. Everything else is a distant second.
These books have tight word counts. Most are between 50k and 55k; though there is some wiggle room based on which category you are in. The side characters that are a staple in longer romances (called Single Title) are largely absent. There might be a quirky best friend who runs a coffee shop, but she, or he, is window dressing. No real substance. Everything is drilled in on the main character’s path to happily ever after.
Traditional
The other thing that makes a category romance a category romance are the requirements for the line you are publishing in. Each category line has requirements around the main characters, location, and heat level expected. At its heart, these requirements are promises you are making to the reader.
The biggest name in category romance is my publisher, Harlequin/Mills and Boon. But they are not the only name in the game. Tule Publishing has lines dedicated to locations in the US and more than one of their romances has hit the television screen. Entangled Publishing also has submissions open for their category lines.
Indie
Category works in indie publishing, too. You might not see it marketed as category romance; though a quick search in Amazon generates multiple indie stories mixed in with the trad published books. Why does it work in indie? Because category at its heart is all about meeting reader expectations. So, if you are reliably delivering a short and spicy mafia romance or a lovely cowboy romance or any other consistent short romance type to your readers, you are writing a form of category romance!
Meeting the reader’s expectations
All genre fiction requires you to meet reader expectations. Write a cozy mystery and don’t have your mystery solved? Watch how fast the knifes come out. Romance requires a happily ever after or happily for now ending. It is the promise you are giving your reader.
Category takes the happily ever after requirement and layers in the line requirements. If you pick up a Harlequin Medical or a Tule Montana Born, you know you are getting your happily ever after plus medical professionals or a story set in the hills and ranches of Montana. The reader goes for exactly what they want.
When I write for Harlequin Medical, the main characters must be in the medical field (or veterinarians) but I have wiggle room in location. I’ve set stories in teaching hospitals in large cities and in the Alaskan outback, with two doctors doing their best to serve a community in a harsh winter environment. Medicals also have a large heat difference, so while mine are on the higher heat level, others have no on page intimacy. The Romance Line is all about wealth and fantasy. The locations need to scream power, wealth and privilege, as do the characters. Like the medical line, there is a range of sensuality levels.
You can find the requirements for each Harlequin/Mills and Boon category at this link. Tule is located here and Entangled here. Remember, these are not suggestions, they are requirements. And that is fine because readers eat them up.
Crafting your own story. No, I am not talking about following formulas.
So you’ve found a category romance line that calls to you. You understand the basic line requirements. Now what?
Category romance follows the same romance beats as single title romance, just in a much tighter word count.
Intro to the main characters
A meet cute
The moment where they can no longer go their separate ways
Your main characters grow together, and it looks like everything will work out
But before that growth finishes, they fall back into their old ways (a little)
The black moment: where our main characters fear all hope is lost
Finally, the grand gesture where our main characters proclaim their love and live happily ever after
The best resource I have ever found for reader expectations in romance is, Romancing the Beat, by Gwen Hayes.
But Juliette the heading says you aren’t talking about formulas!
I’m not. There is no formula for a category romance, or any other genre fiction, books. But there are reader expectations or beats, if you are a Save the Cat Writes a Novel fan.
The world is still very much your oyster. As a medical romance author I have stories with a secret prince OBGYN, a former child actress turned GP, a doctor who moved into the research lab and runs into his former college boyfriend, an emergency doctor at the South Pole—my newest release.
In the Romance line, I have a princess lottery that starts with the prince drawing her name out of a giant glass bowl. Book two in that series (yep, you can do series in category romance) has the king choosing his queen by yanking her name out of a hat. Well, technically her sister’s name, but still.
The story possibilities are literally limitless! That is one of the reasons I fell so hard for category romance as a reader. And it is the reason that I continue to come back to the lines as a writer over and over again.
Drop any questions you have in the comment section below. Added bonus, tell me an over-the-top or just regular romance idea you have and I will see which category line I can slide it into.
Opportunity:
Someone who answers the bonus will win free registration to Category Romance: Writing Short for the Win, my August 4-29th email class on crafting your very first category romance where we really dive into how to make the magic happen. Tomorrow afternoon I’ll have random-org draw a name and post it at the end of the comments — so check back then, because class will start soon!
About Juliette
Juliette Hyland has written more than twenty-five books for Harlequin/Mills & Boon, Imprints of Harper Collins. She's given workshops around the country, in person and via Zoom, on writing craft. Her favorite topic of all time is writing tropes - she always finds ways to sneak it into conversations. Her favorite question for authors - why?
Some stories stick with us more than others, and why? The characters. They feel so real. How they view life, the way they interact with others, the beliefs that steer them and their reactions to setbacks…it somehow all rings true.
They might be nothing like us. We may not agree with their choices. But even when they mess up, their behavior makes sense. It’s because their motives and actions are consistent with who they are, making it easy for us to understand them. We feel like we’re spending time with a real person, not a character in a book. That’s the power of authenticity!
Authentic Characters Behave Like Real People
Our own life experiences can help us write these types of characters. In the real world, we feel what we feel and respond accordingly—but our behavior isn’t random, it stems from somewhere. What we do, say, and believe lines up with who we are and what shaped us.
And that’s the key…to feel real, characters need to think and act in ways that reflect their past experiences, core needs, and the defense systems they’ve built to feel safe. Their choices should follow a psychological and emotional logic that’s unique to them, just as ours is to us.
Writing characters with this sort of depth can feel intimidating—especially as most of us are still figuring ourselves out—but starting with personality can give you a big head start.
Personality Is the Filter for Everything Your Character Says and Does
To write characters whose behavior makes sense, we need to understand their personality. Traits—both positive and negative—determine the way they communicate, how they navigate relationships, and their approach to obstacles and goals. No two characters will handle a situation the same way because their individual personality steers their actions and choices.
Let’s say your character wants their brother-in-law to help them get accepted into a prestigious guild. If they’re friendly and confident, they might ask directly—no pressure, just a belief that their brother-in-law will see their potential and offer support. But if they’re insecure, likely they’d hesitate in being so bold. More likely they’d instead ask about the application process, standing out as a candidate, and whether it helps to have a sponsor, hoping that an offer to vouch for them will come without having to request it. And if your character is manipulative, they may demand an endorsement in exchange for continued silence regarding a closely guarded secret. Nothing like emotional blackmail to grease the wheel.
In each case, the goal is the same, but personality dictates how the character tries to secure it. Behaving in a way that is consistent with who your character is will make their handling of situations feel authentic.
Traits Are the Result of What Your Character Has Lived Through
With so many possible positive traits and negative traits to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down which ones fit a character. Are they observant and practical, or strategic and spontaneous? And what about flaws—are they controlling, impulsive, or have a tendency toward violence?
Just as behavior isn’t random, a person’s defining traits aren’t either. If your character is confident and independent, it’s likely because someone important believed in them—positive influences who encouraged their growth. If they’re dishonest and opportunistic, there’s a reason for that too. Perhaps their mentors had different values and lessons to pass on, or life dealt them an emotional wound that left them mistrustful and biased.
Your character’s personality reveals their identity, what they’ve been through, the lessons they’ve learned, and fears they carry. It’s also not fixed. They will develop new traits as they go, because attributes and flaws aren’t quirks…they’re survival tools.
If someone grew up in a chaotic environment, they may prioritize safety and stability needs. Traits that can help them might be ORGANIZED, RESOURCFUL, INDUSTRIOUS, and CAUTIOUS. These traits help them build a life that is consistent and safe. But then one day, a friend betrays them. The pain of this causes them to examine themselves and how their cautious nature wasn’t enough to protect them. Moving forward, they become SUSPICIOUS and MISTRUSTFUL, as these negative traits help them keep people at a distance, so a betrayal doesn’t happen again.
To zero in on what traits are the best fit for a character, ask:
How did they grow up?
Think about what kind of environment they grew up in. Who were their role models—good or bad? Did they experience unconditional love, neglect, or something in between? Did they have enough, or go without? How did relationships and experiences shape their view of themselves? Consider how events in their past (including emotional wounds) affected their self-esteem, caused fears to form, and shaped their moral code.
What do they yearn for?
Life is never perfect, for us or our characters. Look to what might be missing from their life—acceptance, freedom, recognition, safety? Once you know their core need, you can plan traits that will help them pursue a goal that fills this exact need.
What are their blind spots?
Every character will have flaws that hurt their chances of achieving their goal. These are called blind spots—dysfunctional behavior and attitudes they don’t see as negative, but rather emotional shielding that keeps them safe.
A character who once let their loved ones down may become IRRESPONSIBLE, avoiding anything that could lead to them failing others again.
A character whose kindness was exploited may become UNFRIENDLY and ABRASIVE, pushing others away to avoid being used.
A character who was mocked after opening up may become WITHDRAWN and UNCOMMUNICATIVE, fearing ridicule.
Will the character succeed or fail?
Knowing how things will shake out guides you on how to handle a character’s blind spots. If you intend a character to fail, then throughout the story they may become aware of their flaws and try to leave them behind, but fear keeps them from fully doing so. They’ll fall into old, dysfunctional habits, and ultimately that prevents them from achieving their goal.
But if you want the character to win, they must see how their primary flaw is the problem and the only route forward it to let go of what’s holding them back—not just the flaw, but the fear behind it. To change, your character leans into healthy traits and behaviors so they approach the goal from a position of strength, not weakness.
When you know a character’s personality and why it’s there, you’ll have what you need to write their behavior authentically. Readers sense this consistency and relax into the story, trusting the character’s viewpoint, feelings, and experiences, even when different from their own. But when a character’s actions contradict their personality or past, or certain traits feel pasted on—it creates distance. Readers may not be able to put their finger on what’s wrong, but they’ll feel it.
Do you find it easy or hard to write your character’s behavior consistently? Why do you think that is?
About Angela
Angela Ackerman is a story coach, international speaker, and co-author of the bestselling book, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, and its many sequels. Available in nine languages, her guides are sourced by US universities, recommended by agents and editors, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, and psychologists around the world. To date, this book collection has sold over a million copies.
Well, well, well. If it isn’t the good ol’ Twitch.tv. That site where kids watch actual adults who act like babies throwing tantrums over losing video games. How on earth can a weird platform like that be a ‘secret weapon’ for authors?
Twitch may not seem like a place where authors can gain a lot of benefit. But I challenge you to think again! Reframe your mindset as you read this article. I have personally profited greatly from being part of the Twitch community. But you don’t have to take my word for it! Throughout this post, I'll share testimonials from a plethora of writers in different demographics, age groups, and life walks who have adopted the platform as a place to connect, grow, and expand their audience. Before we continue, though, I believe it’s best we clear a few things up…
What exactly is Twitch again?
Twitch.tv was originally popularized by people who livestreamed video games, but that isn’t all the platform is for. In my first article, I talked about how people can do more than just play video games on the site. There are streamers who cook, clean, chat with the audience, craft, or even walk and bike outside in nature. If you can imagine it or do it, it can be done and found on Twitch. Just make sure it falls in line with their terms of service!
Where does the ‘author’s secret weapon’ part come in?
Now we understand what exactly the platform is. Let’s explore how authors can use the site to grow their audience, diversify income channels, and improve their writing.
I've been a part of Twitch's writing community for 8 years. I like using it for the community, whether they share their writings or read mine. Sometimes, you can get quick edits of your work. You can learn about the industry and the entire writing process from prospective and published authors.
An anonymous Twitch streamer and viewer
Though it may seem new, Twitch.tv has been around since 2011. Still, it is something that is only known about in certain circles. Most who are familiar believe it’s all about games, but that’s another misconception. As you can gather from this anonymous streamer, there are many writers and even editors on the platform who you can connect with. Some of these editors may provide free, quick edits as a sample for their services. Others may require a tip or donation.
Real-time Connection
As an author, especially streaming while writing, Twitch has allowed me to connect with a new audience and gain feedback from a diverse readership. I found kindred spirits, and the platform also helped me to encourage other authors.
Twitch brings in that community aspect. Being a viewer and seeing the face or hearing the voice behind words is really nice and helps remind me I am not alone, even though I may be very far away. Being a streamer and having real-time engagement is encouraging, as well as motivating, to sit down and get something done.
Being in chat with others can be really fun, sharing what we write, how we're faring with goals and deadlines, and just reminding each other that other people exist in the world.
Twitch helps motivate me to write by bringing me other people and authors who can encourage me and remind me I am not alone.
I feel Twitch has been a great help by providing a great writing community. The writing streamers I watched shared their knowledge and offered advice that improved my writing to the point where I felt confident to begin streaming on my own and sharing my writing perspective with those who visit my streams.
Communities of any kind always have pros and cons, but the writer’s side of Twitch is very helpful and loving in my experience! I’ve met many people who have since become close acquaintances, friends, and even monetary supporters through this platform. Some have joined my mailing list and read my books, taking interest in my projects and endeavors.
Having a space for writers on Twitch gives me accountability, even if no one sees what I'm writing. This has helped me produce content for my worldbuilding and get my novel drafted.
I mostly used it as an accountability bump. Twice a week I had scheduled streams to work on my writing and art, respectively. Even if no one really watched, the fact that they could helped keep me accountable to a degree.
An anonymous Twitch streamer and viewer
Twitch overall is like an accountability partner you can control. I can go into one person’s stream and know I’ll find productive chaos. I can go to another for a strict ‘sit down and get to work’ vibe. Or another for positive, uplifting, self-care-focused work. When I go live myself, I feel a sense of obligation to be productive. Even when no one is watching, I feel motivated to keep going because it feels like someone is holding my hand, telling me I can do it. Overall, Twitch gives me the feeling that “Someone is out there, and they support you”.
Quill, a Twitch streamer and viewer
Twitch helps me be consistent. Even if nobody is watching, writing on stream gives me a certain amount of accountability and encourages me. The productivity streams help me maintain consistency in a way that no amount of scheduling writing time myself ever could.
Lee, a Twitch streamer and viewer
Being a viewer on Twitch and joining other co-working streams helps me to get a lot done, whether I’m working on my next book or chores and other responsibilities.
Many writers use Twitch for accountability. Finding the time to write can be a pain, but having other people in your corner who share similar goals and interests can push you to do your best and achieve the thing!
Outreach
Twitch doesn't sound like it would be of much benefit to writers, does it? But I've found it to be the best form of social media to expand my outreach yet. For one thing, there's a devoted writing community on Twitch that is happy to join one another for co-working, which is basically a virtual write-in where the streamer is the host. It also gets you out there to potential readers. There are events and groups you can join too, which helps you to connect with other writers, like the Twitch Writers' Network, The Same Page, and Game of Tomes. If you're better at spontaneous chatter than making produced, edited videos, I strongly recommend it.
What I like about Twitch is how it connects you to a community. As an author, it makes me feel less alone, as there are others with whom I can share my writing journey. Sitting in on conversations can give you new insights and perspectives on both writing and writing life, even if you're just lurking.
An anonymous Twitch viewer
The Art of Lurking
If you are shy and intimidated by chatting or interacting with others online, there are a lot of lurker-friendly spaces on Twitch! Many writing streamers will encourage lurkers, or just have a lobby up where nothing is on the screen besides some cozy graphics and a timer to help people who are trying to accomplish tasks have a way to keep track of their progress. You may also find writers who answer questions of others. Even if you don’t chime in yourself, you can observe other interactions and find a sense of community.
Twitch has helped me so much as an author. One of my Twitch streamer friends invited me to be on her Juneteenth stream last month to talk about my pastry chef romance books. It was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but once I eased into it, it was a lot of fun! Everyone was so kind and welcoming and my friend even hosted a giveaway for three copies of Culinary Confessions, and I even got some book sales out of it + got to inspire others from my story as a neurospicy, sweet romance author.
Twitch is also a lovely place to promote your work. If you are a streamer, you can showcase your work on your own stream, but as a viewer, there are often other streamers who would love to shout you out to their circles and support you.
As a writer, I write (obviously), but I like writing with others. Viewing writing streams on Twitch, I get to do that and participate in a lot of writing challenges.
nxncc1701a, a Twitch viewer
Motivation
Sometimes, as authors, we need motivation. There are a lot of writing challenges within the Twitch community that allow authors to hone their skills through prompts, writing sprints, and more.
As an author specifically, Twitch allows me to easily connect with an endless wealth of people and ideas. I’ve connected with everyone from non-writers and new authors toying with their first idea or project, to people who have been publishing novels for longer than I’ve been alive, and I’ve learned something new from every single one of them. A new world of resources, websites, challenges, trackers, and techniques has opened up because of the people I have connected with.
Quill, a Twitch streamer and viewer
Twitch has helped me connect with an incredible community of other authors. While I don't stream myself, I get to co-work with others who help me to be more productive in my writing. It also gives me a place where I know I can reach out if I have questions about any steps in the process, from plotting to publishing. There is always a streamer or viewer out there who's done it before and is willing to offer advice to someone who needs it.
Authorbeth, a Twitch viewer
For me, the biggest benefit to Twitch is the community–the ability to reach out to other writing streamers when I need help, and to readers, writers, and viewers who show up to my stream with questions.
Twitch for me mostly means community. You get to follow and host writing streams that bring people and ideas together, to learn from each other, and spread the writing joy.
Twitch has been a great place for me to explore my outreach. I've discovered (and am still discovering) so many newcomers and already published authors who not only react to their communities, but also work with them with such incredible support that makes me believe they are the best people.
Being a relatively active member on Twitch (both as a regular chatter and semi-erratically active as a streamer) and having so many people drop by to chat and talk about their works or their recent news brings a lot of joy to me as a writer.
The benefits overall, based on my experiences, are that I've been able to expand my reach socially by being able to ask questions to other people about their works and my own, while also learning valuable skills, tips & tricks for writing and towards learning about the creative writing industry via the Twitch platform.
Twitch allows access to wealth of knowledge and a multitude of experienced authors and editors who can help you along your writer journey.
I'm not good at learning new tech anymore. So I'm mostly frozen in like, 2016 or so, but I was able to get help from other author streamers and just figured things out little by little. Babysteps. Also, I have found the Twitch writing community as a whole to be much more encouraging and supportive than traditional, in-person writing groups.
I get it. There are multiple reasons you may still be skeptical about this. With all the change happening in online spaces, you may not feel inclined to add yet another platform to your list of things to worry about. Still, I urge you not to be intimidated by the technology learning curve or the fear of trying something new! By ignoring this wealth of community and resources, you will miss out on valuable experience and growth.
To summarize…
Being an author within the Twitch space can benefit you in several ways:
1. Exposure
You are positioning yourself in a space where other writers and readers can find you so that your audience can grow.
2. Connection
You can network with other like-minded individuals, meet friends, and feel less alone on your writing journey. Sometimes, being a creative is lonely. Here, you can connect with others who understand you, help you when you get stuck, and celebrate your wins when you have accomplished greatness.
3. Productivity
You will find spaces for body-doubling, gain accountability buddies, and establish routines that keep you on track to accomplish what you’ve set out to do.
4. Resources
You may learn about resources, programs, and other communities that may be of value to you. You may also discover people who offer services such as editing, art, and voice-over work.
5. Learning
You can explore a wealth of information and inspiration from thriving creative communities. Hearing the experiences of other writers firsthand, you can compare processes and figure out what works best for you.
6. Boldness
You will be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone. Being bold and trying different things is a great way to feel exhilarated and refreshed. It can spark a new interest and excitement within you about your projects.
7. Consistency
You’ll have opportunities to practice consistency. By establishing a set schedule of when you visit Twitch, you can get yourself into a good writing and editing habit.
And those seven things can all be achieved by simply interacting with others on the platform as a viewer. If you decide to stream on Twitch yourself, the following perks may also develop for you:
8. Increased Value
You can provide value to your current following. Many readers like to engage with the authors they are supporting. Streams can be seen as a behind-the-scenes perk or an opportunity for your fanbase to interact with and relate to you on a more personal level.
9. Branding
You will establish your brand. Customizing your account name and design will help you foster an online presence and make your name, logo, color scheme, and projects known to many.
10. Income
You may make income. Whether running a stream where you are active and present, or providing a lobby where anyone can drop in at any time, livestreams can produce ad revenue or generate money from those who have subscribed to your channel.
How do I get started?
Getting started is easy and free! Anyone can create a Twitch account by visiting the Twitch.tv website. You will only need to set up your username and password. Then, you’re in!
After this is done, you will need to decide what kind of Twitch member you would like to be before navigating next steps. Whether a viewer or a streamer, Twitch can help you as a writer. I have created a comprehensive Twitch for Authors class that will help you ease into things if you still have questions.
So, what do you think?
Which of the benefits in this article seems most appealing to you? And, if you are still discouraged, what is the biggest thing stopping you from joining the Twitch community? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to chat with you!
Feel overwhelmed by the possibilities of Twitch? Ossandra is available to teach one-on-one or in groups, guiding you through the set up of this and many other power-tools for authors. Check out her empowering sessions at No Stress Writing Academy!
About Ossandra
Ossandra White is a Jill of all Trades with too many ideas and not enough time. Lover of all things creative, you can often catch her making or admiring art of every kind. She also enjoys writing in every genre. When she’s not juggling seventy-one projects and working multiple jobs, she helps others as a freelancer for hire and as a teacher at the No Stress Writing Academy.
She can be found online almost everywhere under the username WordiGirl. Her current main project “Secret Agent Someone” immerses its followers in the mysteriously wonderful world of W.I.L.L.O.W.I.S.P., home to spies, lies, disguise, surprise, and a man with malachite eyes. Find books, short stories, audiodramas, games, and more at https://willowisphq.com or visit https://www.wordigirl.com to check out everything Ossandra is up to.
