Daily Archives: September 21, 2007

Lucky Sevens- How to Become a Romance Yoda

Hi! I’m Dana! I’m a (relative) newbie to romace writing. The good thing about being in my position is that nice people in the industry, particularly in OCC, take pity on me and explain things. Unfortunately, it also means I’m unpublished and constantly have to justify to my friends and family 1) why I’m still unpublished, and 2) why I’m not best friends with Nora Roberts.

After months of answering questions, I finally streamlined a hierarchy of romance writing and my place in it so I could copy, paste and email it to people. It’s worked really well for me so I decided to share.

1. Have an idea. Step 1 is fun and easy. Anyone who has ever said, “Wouldn’t XX be a neat story?” has achieved step one.

2. Write your book. I know it sounds like a jump but it’s not. You either have a book…or you don’t. Scary but true.

3. Submit your book for rejection…I mean publication. A majority of first books are rejected but the key is getting to a place where you have something you can submit. Basically, you’re Anakin Skywalker chafing at your boundaries and wishing you could fly.

4. Once you’re rejected (odds are you will be) you submit a copy of your manuscript and proof of submission to your local RWA chapter for Pro status. A “PRO” designation means you get a pin and are considered one of the “in” crowd. You’re Luke Skywalker and someone handed you a lightsabre. You don’t know what to do with it but you feel cool and that’s all that matters right?

5. If you are published you get a PAN designation and your very own book! With your name on it!. “PAN” stands for Published Authors Network. That means not only are you a member of the “in” crowd you are one of the cool kids and other writers look to you for help. Yup, you’re a Jedi.

6. Multi-published? Then you’re a Jedi Master. People ask your advice and you (probably) secretly refer to yourself as Obi-Wan.

7. So what’s left? Hit the bigtime and the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Your books sell thousands of copies even if people don’t know what the plot is yet. You’re Yoda, who cares if you’re less than three feet tall? People stalk you in elevators at conference.

Wouldn’t that be a great biography? “The Inner Yoda: My Journey to Romance Superstardom.” If someone beats me to it I expect full credit for the title!

Dana Belfry is an aspiring author and a proud member of the OCC/RWA. She happily lives near the beach, rollerblades as often as possible and constantly comes up with story ideas. She is currently working on a contemporary single-title. Visit Dana at her blog at http://www.danabelfry.com/blog/