Tips of the month are to ROMANCE authors: This is February so I am dedicating this new feature to you. Each month I will try to put some kind of writing tips here.

Here are some tips for getting published:

1. Keep your word count reasonable. Some romance categories end at 50,000 words, others 90,000. Edit, edit, edit

2. Decide at the beginning what category of romance you are writing: sizzling hot sex? intimacy but no sex until the end? dark sex? Yep, romances are mostly about a degree of intimacy and when it happens.

2. Decide on what readership you are writing for: escapist females? tweens and young adults? crossover for both men and women?

3. Decide on genre of romance: category? western? intrigue? mystery? paranormal? fantasy? other?

4. Decide on the formula: usually a strong, virile, somewhat arrogant man decides he wants a woman. The woman on the other hand wants to be woed, not ordered around. This is what most editors want in an interesting story and environment. (To tell you the truth I am longing for an author who can create a male character that "pops" but is respectful, humble, and gentle with women. I lost my interest in arrogant males of all types long ago. Are you the author for me to read?)

5. Read some romances and then look up thier publishers on line. See what other books they have. If you believe you are writing for a particular publishing house, tell me when you query. Some may invite direct author queries, but it is my perhaps biased opinion (I am an agent) that your chances go up considerably with an agent.