Writers in the Storm

Even though it's close to Valentines' day, this post isn't going to be flowery, romantic, or sexy. But it is essential for every author to know.

This publishing industry has a lot of terminology that every author should know. Just like visiting a new country, if you don't understand the language, you'll get lost. So, today I wanted to take some time to go over some of the most popular terminology you will encounter on your publishing path.

Here is a list of common terms that will help you understand the way the water flows in our virtual landscape, the way this industry functions, and where you can focus your efforts most profitably.

Common Publishing Terms

ISBN—International Standard Book Number—this number specifies a specific work and the specific format that work is in. A hardcover book has a different ISBN than a paperback. A large-print edition gets a unique ISBN number, as does an EPUB. There is only one legal place to purchase ISBN numbers in the US: Bowker.

PCN and LCCN—Library of Congress Control numbers. The PCN is a Pre-assigned Control Number. This is what most indie authors are going to have in the US. You may choose to get a PCN or not.

There is no cost associated, but you are required to send a printed copy of the book to the Library of Congress after you have completed it. These numbers apply to printed, physical books, not ebooks.

You can sign up for the program for free at the Library of Congress.

EPUB—this is the widely accessible industry format for ebooks. Not all ereaders can read an EPUB, but many can. I suspect in the future, those that do not read EPUB will move in that direction. EPUB is not a software, but a format.

MOBI—the standard format used by Kindle and Amazon devices. Amazon can convert your EPUB to MOBI during the upload, or you can convert it yourself using Calibre or other conversion software. I find that Amazon does a good job with basic conversions as long as I keep my styles clean and straightforward. Smashwords and Amazon will create a MOBI file from a DOC file.

*note: amazon has since stopped using this format and moved to EPUB, but this term is still thrown around from time to time.

Time for a breath...

PDF—portable document format. This format is best for print and is what you will be sending to your printer. PDFs come in different "standards"—what is encoded in them is different. Your printer will likely request a specific standard. Don't worry too much about this. If you find that you need a specific standard, most likely your software will be able to export in that format. It is just a matter of clicking the right buttons during export.

Copyright Page — This is where you put your copyright, identification numbers, and disclaimers. You may also list credits for cover artist, fonts, or other specialized information here.

Front matter—the title page, copyright, dedication, table of contents, etc. Basically, the information that goes in the front of the book, before the story starts. Some authors include reviews in this space.

Be careful. Most online vendors allow readers to sample your book. If you have too much front matter, they may not get a good taste of your book, and that can cost you sales.

Back matter—the material that goes after the end of the book. This may include sample chapters, acknowledgments or advertisements. Use caution with advertising in your books. Advertising a Nook book in a Kindle book will get you in trouble with your vendors. When in doubt, don't. DO link back to your website.

And there is still more...

HTML or XHTML—HyperText Markup Language or eXtensible HyperText Markup Language—the language of the Internet. 

CSS—Cascading Style Sheets—these go with HTML. A style sheet will define how to display the different parts of the document. For example, it may say that the chapter titles should be in a larger font and centered, while the paragraphs are left-aligned with first-line indents. These can be fancy, but simple is often better.

Distribution—the process of getting books to buyers. While it is possible to sell your book directly from your website, this is not going to get it in the hands of enough readers unless you are JK Rowling. You'll be giving your book to a distributor to send it out to bookstores, both physical and virtual. 

Distributors are companies like Smashwords, CreateSpace, Lightning Source, and many others that take your book and get it listed where you want it. In a perfect world, those distributors would also get the books into bookstores, but that is extremely rare for an indie-published book

POD—Print on Demand—this is the physical portion of our modern publishing environment. Books do not have to be purchased by the carton. As a writer, you no longer need to order $10,000 worth of books in advance. Books can be purchased by the readers through various venues. The book-seller will order the book through your distributor. The distributor will have the book printed and ship it to the consumer. You will be surprised how quickly this process happens. 

Whew. That's quite a list. And while the above list is long, I am positive I have forgotten something.

I have to thank the wonderful Lisa Norman for some of the information in this post because some times it takes a team!

Let's help educate each other. If you can think of some other terms I should add above, let's move the conversation to the comments.

by Sylvia McDaniel

It's February, the month of hearts, flowers, and love. In 2022, romance novels generated over $1.44 billion in revenue according to Wordsrated.com. BookTok has been attributed to the increase in sales and the most popular romance genre led the way with $610 million in revenue. So how did we get here?

A snapshot of my journey

I was nineteen when I first read The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss, and I was hooked. In high school, I devoured gothic romances—Victoria Holt was my gateway drug. But The Wolf and the Dove? Then The Flame and the Flower? Shanna? Oh, Ruark, take me away… I was a goner.

Fast-forward twenty years. One day, I hurled a romance novel across the room and thought, I can do better. Spoiler alert: I couldn’t. Not at first. Writing a page-turning romance was much harder than I expected. That was back in 1990. Yes, I’m that old.

But romance has evolved.

Today’s readers are more sophisticated. They’ve read thousands of romances, and they know what they want. Historical romance—once the foundation of the genre—has dwindled, though bless the readers who still love it.

So, what’s hot in romance right now?

At last year’s Novelists Inc. conference, a writer's conference for career novelists, Alex Newton of K-lytics presented a deep dive into the market. If you haven’t checked out K-lytics, run, don’t walk. (That’s right, a cliche). It’s a goldmine of insight, showing which Amazon niches are thriving and which ones are in a downward spiral. This data is available for all genres and categories.

Most Popular Romance Genre

The verdict? Romantasy—fantasy meets romance—dominates. Think Sarah J. Maas or Rebecca Yarros. Since Game of Thrones, readers have been hungry for sweeping, magical love stories, and authors are delivering.

Romance is bigger than ever. In the past five years, Google searches for "romance books" have doubled. The genre leads the way in self-publishing, with many indie authors earning six figures annually. (You go. You rock.)

Other trending subgenres?

• Mafia romance—dark, edgy, morally gray heroes. Not my cup of tea (how do you redeem a bad guy who doesn’t give up crime?), but readers eat it up.
• Ménage romance—still a strong seller, though Amazon’s content guidelines can land you in the dreaded dungeon. And with some states enacting terrifying laws for authors of steamy books? No thanks. I don’t look good in orange.
• Contemporary western romance—cowboys remain irresistible. Add billionaire status and a baby, and you’re ranking.

Want to succeed in romance?

#1 Success Tip

Master tropes. The best romances weave in at least two—three is even better. Secret baby + enemies to lovers + a brooding billionaire? Readers will gasp as they turn the pages. Cindy Dees has a whole series on tropes. I’m hooked on these reference books.

#2 Success Tip

And if you want to level up your writing? Study emotion. Margie Lawson’s courses are game-changers, and her retreats will push you to exhaustion (in the best way).

Romance isn’t going anywhere. I have readers—men and women—who love my ranch-set family dramas with a matchmaking ghost and billionaire cowboys. (Did you catch the tropes?)

What’s next for romance in 2025?

I don’t know, and I’ve stopped chasing trends. I’m old, set in my ways, and focused on what my readers love. Maybe it’ll be second-chance love stories for older heroines. Maybe rom-coms (because we all need to laugh).

In K-Lytics' latest report, women’s fiction was once again on an upward trajectory. Go beach books!!

But one thing’s for sure: Romance deserves respect.

Romance is number one on Amazon. It’s the biggest genre in publishing, yet it’s the most dismissed. No more Fabio-on-a-talk-show clichés. No more mocking a book you’ve never read (Yes, I saw you SNL). I think the Fifty Shades author is laughing all the way to the bank.

True Story

Once, I almost got into a fight at a baseball game over a woman dissing romance. I’m short, not particularly intimidating, but that night, my husband grabbed my hand and said, Let’s go. He saw it in my eyes—fists were about to fly. Don’t make fun of my genre. Go write one and see if you still think it's easy.

Final Thought

February—the month of love, weddings, happily ever afters, and connection. Add romance to whatever you’re writing. Your readers—single, married, longing for hope—will thank you.

Because, at the end of the day, that’s what we all want. To feel something. To connect. To believe in love. You can still blow something up, just do it with emotion.

About Sylvia

USA Today Best-selling author, Sylvia McDaniel obviously has too much time on her hands. With over seventy western historical and contemporary romance novels, she spends most days torturing her characters. Bad boys deserve punishment and even good girls get into trouble. Always looking for the next plot twist, she’s known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances.

Married to her best friend for over twenty-five years, they recently moved to the state of Colorado where they like to hike, and enjoy the beauty of the forest behind their home with their spoiled dachshund Zeus. (He has his own column in her newsletter.) Recently they bought a puppy, Bailey who is terrorizing their home and keeping them entertained.

Their grown son, still lives in Texas. An avid football watcher, she loves the Broncos and the Cowboys, especially when they’re winning.

Sign up for Sylvia’s newsletter, or find her on Facebook.

Photo Credits: Top photo purchased from Shutterstock by S. McDaniel. Valentine's Day photo purchased from Depositphotos.

by Tari Lynn Jewett

We’re coming up on Valentine’s Day, which seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it holiday. I’m on the love it side, but I write romance, and more specifically romantic comedy, so loving Valentines is almost a job requirement. #PleaseSayYes, the first book in my romcom series #HermosaForTheHolidays is a Valentine’s story. But so far, all of my stories are romantic comedy, and have taught me a little about myself and my writing style.

My Ten Writing Lessons

The last time I was at Writers in the Storm, I wrote 10 Things About Being a Hybrid Author. I thought I’d stick with my blog theme and discuss ten things I’ve learned writing romcoms.

1. Writing non-fiction has its own rules.

I started out as a columnist and freelance writer for magazines and newspapers and writing nonfiction has its own rules. One of them is that you write short. When your word count goal is 800 – 2,000 words, you learn very quickly to ‘cut the fluff’.

I know many fiction writers have to cut words from their stories, but because of my freelance background, I always have to add. And I’ve found that what I’m adding is generally emotional description. I know how the characters feel. I’ve been living the story with them as I write it. Now I have to make sure the reader feels what the character feels.

2. Real life is funnier than we realize.

Many of the scenes readers tell me “made them laugh” come from real life. Sometimes I think that’s what makes them funny. Those scenes are relatable because they’re real. And every now and then we need to laugh at ourselves.

Of course, there are twists to the scenes, that make them fit with the characters’ lives, but real life is often the best place for inspiration. So, when you read my stories, I’d love to know if you can figure out which scenes are from real life.

3. RomComs are a Feel-Good Genre

I love watching romcoms, and I love reading romcoms…they make me feel good. When I need a book to escape from the chaos of real life, I’ll curl up with a cup of cocoa, a plate of cookies, and a good romcom. And when I’m writing a romcom, I get the same thing.

I’m rooting for my characters. I laugh at the funny things that happen in life, and I’m hoping that’s what I give the reader. Something to feel good, something to make them smile.

4. Wine, chocolate and girlfriends are important.

This is true in real life, and in romcoms. Dialogue is often the best way to keep things moving. And the best dialogue in a romcom, besides conversations with the hero is with girlfriends.

Just like in real life, these girlfriends talk about the guy. How cute he is, how smart he is…and always how much trouble he is. These conversations, in addition to the humorous situations in addition to a nice glass of wine, keep the tempo moving.

5. Romcoms are also a way to create the romantic fantasy that we’d like to have ourselves.

There are so many tropes to romance, and tropes are popular because they’re the fantasies we’ve created for love. Do you want a romance with a Rockstar? A Billionaire? Would you love to be snowed in with your secret crush?

I tend to write romances with everyday guys: bistro owners, police officers, firemen, construction workers. And part of that is because I married my own romance hero – my construction worker, Hunky Hubby. If you’re writing romcoms, or really any romance, writing your own fantasy can be the key to your readers’ fantasies.

6. Setting is important in any story.

So of course, it’s important in a romcom. Is your story set in a small town, in a school, in a hospital or at a comic convention? Wherever it’s set, use the elements of that setting to develop the romance and the humor in your story. This would of course be true if you’re writing a thriller or a twisted fairy tale.

In #PleaseSayYes, and throughout the #Hermosa series, which is set in Hermosa Beach, California, rooftop patios bring romance, offer a place of solitude, and some humor to the story. In the 3^rd book in the series #FireworksInTheFog…well, I think the title is self-explanatory.

In romcoms as in real estate, it’s about location, location, location.

7. Some words about Subject Matter.

While writing #SilverBracelets, I found my story wandering into a darker area, cancer, and death. And while I thought the story was good, I realized I’d wandered out of romcom territory. So I rethought the story.

This is not to say that the darker side of life can’t be included in a romcom, but that it can be a lot of work to keep that story light and funny. So, stay aware of the main goal of the story, and how those scenes help to develop your theme.

8. The Grand Gesture is important.

We all love grand gestures. It’s the reason we still talk about the boom box scene in Say Anything, and when Julia Roberts stands in front of Hugh Grant and gives her “Just a girl standing in front of a boy speech.” (Yes the woman CAN make the grand gesture.) And when the beast gives Belle his entire library in Beauty and the Beast…now that’s the way to win the heart of a book girl like me.

Did I mention that Hunky Hubby built me a library in our new home?

9. Food and Fashion are great tools.

I’ve found that food and fashion can be a great way to create mood, bring people together, add romance, and sometimes a good laugh. As a former food columnist, I’ve written a lot about food, so it’s not surprising that food plays an important part in my stories.

My romcom, Love and Mud Puddles is all about the food. Well, cookies to be more specific. And even includes one of my favorite recipes. Baking cookies, or the inability to bake cookies, creates some what I hope are hilarious moments in the story…several from real life. It also is the catalyst behind the romance.

In my #HermosaForTheHolidays series, there’s plenty of food, but one of the characters owns a beach boutique, and I have a lot of fun with fashion. These are just elements of description that can be used to make the reader picture the story, smell and taste the story…and sometimes laugh at the story.

10. The HEA.

No self-respecting romcom would be complete without the “Happily Ever After,” or at least a satisfying “Happily for Now.” After all, this is a story meant to make you smile, warm your heart, and leave you feeling good. My stories tend to end with a kiss. Often the couple’s first kiss but, as long as the ending is romantic and makes me smile, I’m left satisfied (and hopefully so are my readers)!

So, what are your favorite romantic comedies? Books or movies? What would be your perfect Grand Gesture? And most importantly, do you have a date for Valentine's Day? (That date can be with a book or movie…and there’s always: wine, chocolate and girlfriends.) Please do share in the comments!

About Tari

Tari Lynn Jewett lives in Arizona just off Route 66 with her husband of thirty-five years (aka Hunky Hubby). They have three amazing sons, and two beautiful grandsons. For over twenty years, Tari wrote freelance for magazines and newspapers, television commercials, radio spots, numerous press releases, and many, MANY PTA newsletters. As much as she loved writing those things, she always wanted to write fiction…and now she is.

Tari writes light, fun romcoms, but she is also working on a historical women’s fiction series set in the Los Angeles area, spanning from the late 1920’s to the ‘50’s. These are darker, edgier full-length novels. 

A voracious reader, Tari’s favorite treat is to turn off her phone and computer and curl up with an un-put-downable book. 

She also believes in happily-ever-afters,

…because she’s living hers.

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