Tips for Avoiding Romance Cliches
1. Don’t accept the first idea that pops into your head: Undoubtedly,
your first thoughts are the easy solution to story plotting, phrasing or
wording. Stretch yourself and your writing by coming up with alternate
ideas.
2. Don’t read romance only: Read enough to know your market(s), but
mining other genres, classic literature or non-fiction for ideas (or simple
reading pleasure) can be more productive.
3. Don’t write a romance: Write a love story with a happy ending.
Calling a novel a romance is in itself limiting, as it conjures up in the
mind all the conventions and taboos of the genre.
4. Don’t join a critique group: It is simply a matter of group dynamics
that all collectives tend toward homogenization. And as some wise person
once said, you can’t write by committee. Learn to trust your own abilities.
5. Don’t follow the trends: Don’t jump on the nearest bandwagon just
because a particular type of novel is selling. Every trend starts somewhere.
6. Don’t get locked into telling one particular story: If some new and
interesting plot twist pops into your mind, follow it for a while to see
where it leads. It might be a dead end, or it might be just what the editor
ordered.
7. Don’t rest on your laurels: Strive to develop your craft, your
vocabulary, your voice with each manuscript you work on .
8. Don’t give up: It’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t find success
right away. But remember: Dr. Seuss was turned down 23 times before he
found a home at Random House. 23 times. Imagine if he’d thrown in the towel
(or in his case, the pen) after publisher number 22!!
