Romance Writing Course

Romance Writers Wanted!

Dear Reader,

When I started writing, I wasn’t doing it because I expected to sign a contract worth $97,500.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a top publisher offering me that kind of money -- and the kind of praise that comes with it.

In fact, I wasn’t thinking about the money at all.  $4,000 for my first book? $55,000 for a multibook contract? $97,500 offered in one simple phone call? That was someone else’s life, not mine.

You see, I had no formal writing education. I went to a normal high school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and from there took secretarial jobs, a job as a flight attendant, and eventually a well-paid job as a real-estate investment manager.

It’s when I finally started to make money that I realized how wrong everything was.

I was in a troubled marriage. I was trying to fulfill the needs of my two (adorable) children. And nothing was adding up.

But it wasn’t the stress in my work life that was wearing away at me. And, to be honest, it wasn’t my struggles at home.

It was something else.

It was the fact that I had no way to express myself creatively. So I started writing.

Then I Realized that What I Really Needed to be Happy
Was the Simplest and Cheapest Thing in the World

...a few stacks of blank paper, some pens, and time to write.

Why romance? To me, there’s nothing more exciting than a love story. (More than HALF of all paperback fiction readers agree!)

I had no idea that in writing romance novels, I was tapping into the most sought-after fiction in the world, as well as the most popular and profitable writer’s market.

Romance Novels Generate $1.52 Billion
In Sales Every Year

The romance market is the Donald Trump of fiction. It dwarfs all the competition and it’s unstoppable.

Over 54% of all popular paperback fiction sold is in the romance genre … up from 48% only 10 years ago.

Compare that with detective fiction at only 28%, and science fiction, a mere 7%.and you’ll see that romance gives you the greatest chance for success and a big income.

In 2001 alone, 2,143 new romance novels were published --  up from 1,920 in 1991, and it’s going to keep climbing. The average romance reader devours 10 to 40 books EVERY MONTH!

The Publishers Can Barely Meet the Audience’s
Demand for Fresh, New, Romance Fiction

There are about 40 million avid romance readers out there, yearning for a new voice, a new story, and new characters. Some read a novel a day.

And they’re waiting for YOUR story, a story that will entertain them, help them through tough times, and maybe even inspire them to make great changes in their lives.

Think You Don’t Have What It Takes?

Let me put it this way.

For me, it started with a simple fleeting thought while I was reading a romance novel: “I can do this.”

If you’ve ever had that thought, it could be your ticket to a new, exciting life.

In fact, some of my colleagues say that it’s almost like writing a good, long, love letter, or even a letter to a friend.

As an AWAI writer, you already know the secret hidden power of a simple, direct message.

That’s all you really need to write a good romance. It’s just like talking to a friend.

The first thing I did was take the ideas floating around in my head and get them down on paper.

Then I joined a local romance writers’ group, went to their monthly gatherings, and met some published authors. I learned to make my writing fast-paced and exciting. I also picked up the tricks, the secrets, the themes and plots that work over and over again.

I also learned the most important key of all: I figured out what publishers will buy, and what readers will love.

You’ll Be Amazed at How Straightforward It Is

Of course, writing romance fiction is creative work but it’s also a very clearly marked path. In fact, it may be the only genre left where "new" and "breakthrough" are NOT always good.

Traditional sells! Because the publishers know it will work, and the readers know they’ll get the thrill and enjoyment they expect.

Even better: Since AWAI has already done the hard stuff for you, all YOU have to do is sit down and write!

It’s Really That Simple.  Follow the Clearly Marked Path

That’s why you CAN do it.

In the first two years, here’s what I found:

	A simple, straightforward, and very marketable romance novel can be written in as little as 3 weeks.
	All it takes to jump start your career is ONE editor who likes your work and believes in your potential.
	From that point on, you could be months - not years - away from signing a multi-book contract.

The first book I sold, a light romantic comedy called Daydreams, took me 3 weeks to write. A Harlequin-type publisher called Meteor Books bought it for $4,000 in 1991.

Within a year, I was contracted for 8 more books. Why so many?

Because the audience is guaranteed.

Get Paid Well - Up Front - To Write What You Love!

Imagine a $3,000 advance, with a $5,000 or $6,000 royalty payout. That’s the LEAST CASE SCENARIO for a first-timer. $8,000. Not bad.

And it’s not unusual for a beginning writer to sign for $15,000 up front and earn $20,000 to $40,000 in royalties (for one book).

But the demand for new writers is so great that a beginning writer can even sign for a $50,000 advance and receive six-figure royalties, or higher.

A front list author -- there are more than you might imagine earns in the millions, depending on their track record and how much the publisher wants to print.

The Phone Call that Changed Everything

Less than a year after my first contract, I was contacted by a Random House editor who had seen one of my books on a subway station rack and offered to make me the lead hardcover author for a new women’s fiction line. That offer led to another publisher offering me a contract worth $97,500.

It all happened in one morning! One phone call changed everything.

Magazine covers, book clubs, USA Today best-seller lists, bookstore best-seller lists, all the major bookstore chains, the works. And remember…

It’s All Easily Learned!

Anyone can do it! I name among my successful colleagues: nurses, mothers, lawyers, accountants-even grandmothers!

Write Your Fantasy ... Then Live It!

How much you write, and what you sign for, is entirely up to you.

I know plenty of writers who maintain their primary jobs, ranging from waitress to dental hygienist to lawyer. I also know writers who’ve done so well that they write only six months out of the year, and take the rest of the year to travel and relax.

But let me tell you .

There’s Something Even More Exciting Than The Money!

And more exciting than the freedom.

It’s the excitement of signing your first contract and hearing the editor tell you, .We love your writing. Do you have anything else like it?

Some of my colleagues would argue with me on that point; there is also the unsurpassed high of seeing your name on the cover of books in a big-chain bookstore. (And seeing your name get bigger and bigger, as you become more and more popular.)

What Does It Really Take To Get Started? One Thing…

Determination. Once you start, all you need to do is stick with it. The craft CAN be taught, and you WILL sell your work eventually, if you follow our unique plan.

Tap Into Your Fantasy World and Write a Best-Seller.
Even if You’ve Never had a “True Adventure!”

Now you can propel yourself into the most exciting career out there, with an AWAI-exclusive course called Writing for Love and Money: How to Be a Successful Romance Writer. It’s the first AND ONLY all-secrets-revealed guide to romance-writing ... complete with direct one-on-one work with a successful romance novelist.

With the help of my colleagues (all best-sellers), and the expertise of the AWAI team, you’ll know how to MAKE YOUR WRITING IRRESISTIBLE TO PUBLISHERS AND READERS.  We’ll check and double-check your work until it’s ready to go. We’ll even show you the best publishers to approach ... and the best ways to approach them.

Send Us Your Love Story ... We’ll Give You the
Secrets To Making it a Best-Seller

When you use the secrets in Writing for Love and Money, you’ll work directly with published professionals who’ll show you the fastest way to position yourself for success.

And remember, you’re already getting incredibly advanced guidance from the AWAI team of successful writers. Now you’ll get the streamlined, fast track secrets of top- notch romance writers. An unbeatable combination ... and a sure-fire formula for success!

The writers on the AWAI Romance Board of Advisors write for all the major publishers, including Harlequin, St. Martin’s Press, Signet, BET, Topaz Dreamspun, Leisure Books, Kensington, Waldenbooks, and HarperCollins. Some lecture at universities and seminars around the world, some appear on international television, and some write for film and television. Together, we’ve published over 70 books, with four million copies in print.

This is your rare, exclusive opportunity to join an exceptional group of romance writers.

Nowhere Else Will You Have Access to so Many
Accomplished Romance Writers . All Dedicated
to Fashioning You for Success!

Our world-class team boasts ...

Silhouette Desire writer and Waldenbooks best-selling author Linda Conrad. Just a few years ago, Linda was a stockbroker in southern California. Now she has 9 published novels and over a million books in print, with loyal fans all over the word. She lives with her husband in the Florida Keys, where she enjoys gardening, driving her little convertible in the Florida sun, and of course, reading and writing. She’s an enthusiastic member of the AWAI Romance Board, dedicated to sharing her great passion for writing and life with readers and writers everywhere.

Sandra Kitt, an award-winning writer with 30 novels under her belt. Her newest book "Southern Comfort" was just released this summer. She’s published by Harlequin, Doubleday Star, Signet Books, Harper Collins, BET/Arabesque, and St. Martin’s Press.

Considered today’s foremost African-American romance writer, she was the first African-American to publish with Harlequin, and has received critical acclaim from Library Journal, USA Today, and The Black Scholar. An Essence magazine best-seller, she’s also listed in Amazon.com’s Top 25 Romances for the 20th Century. Her 1995 novel, The Color of Love, is in its ninth printing and has been optioned by HBO. A native of New York City, Sandra lectures frequently at New York University, Sarah Lawrence College, and Columbia University. She teaches a publishing course, and has appeared on Today, NBC, BET and Good Morning America.

National best-seller (and AWAI Student Services Director) Marcia King-Gamble is a Caribbean-American writer who makes Florida her home. She made her official transition from travel industry executive to romance writer in 1998 with her first published novel, Remembrance. As a professional in the travel arena, Marcia has seen more of the world than most of us can imagine, but it’s in her writing that the true adventures of romance and excitement come alive. She’s published over 12 novels, with a new series scheduled to debut next year.

Our board also boasts Kensington and Leisure Books author Sandra Madden, with over 14 novels to her credit; attorney and prolific Silhouette author Carol Stephenson; and Stuart Starr, author of children’s books and district manager for the national bookstore chains Waldenbooks/Borders.

Why Do We Want To Help You?

It’s an unwritten rule that successful writers give a "leg up" to up-and-comers, to help hopeful new writers like you write your own stories, and prepare them for sale to a publisher.

It’s that kind of support that’s gotten us to where we are today. And it’s that kind of savvy you’ll get with the Writing for Love and Money course. You CAN write a real page-turner and give the romance reader what she wants.

	Hook your reader from the first sentence: Check out these examples of great first lines, discover exactly what makes them great ... then write your own!
	Use this amazing “trick” to get your first three chapters written - fast! (The beginning is often the hardest part - unless you have these excellent secrets.)
	Make your audience - and your publisher - love you with these themes and storylines that work over and over!
	Create dynamic characters: A compelling character can drive an entire series. (We’ll walk you through everything, from the way they might dress to their deepest dreams and fears.) This is fun and thrilling stuff for the writer as well as the reader - once you know the tried and true strategy.
	Avoid these first-time blunders. We’ve all made them, so learn from our mistakes, and find out how to transform a sagging plot into a taught, energetic story.
	Write a sure-fire ending that will satisfy your reader, and maybe make her a fan for life! Check out these no-no endings - and then try these hard and fast rules for an ending that will leave your reader breathless and ready for the next novel.

At key points in your writing, send us what you’ve done, and we’ll give you the personalized attention and guidance YOU need, tailored to your talents and ideas.

Don’t worry! We don’t expect it to be perfect. We’ll show you how to shape it and refine it. You’ll have your own complete novel in no time. In fact ...

You’ll Have a Complete, Compelling,
and Saleable Romance Manuscript
With Your Name on the Cover
Ready to Present to the Market.

You’ll be shocked to see how much money you can get for it.

As I mentioned before, the least case scenario is about $14,000 (including advance and royalties). But, as you may recall, I received a contract for $97,500, only two years after I first put pen to paper.

So...

How Did I Get a Contract Worth $97,500
Only 2 Years After My Start?

Until now, nothing like Writing for Love and Money existed. When I started out, it was a confusing mess of phone calls, letters, long hours of industry research, and learning the hard way about fatal writing and presentation mistakes.

Writing for Love and Money cuts through the confusion to deliver the industry secrets that really count.

How to Get Published: Where to Send
You Work and How to Get Noticed Fast!

We’ll tell you -- in clear, no-frills detail -- what editors really want, what they don’t, and what they’ll pay top dollar for. In other words, we’ll give you the tips to make sure your writing gets moved to the top of the pile. We’ve got it down to a simple formula, one that makes it easy for you AND the publisher.

There is no way to estimate the true value of this kind of industry know-how. But these top-notch authors have earned in excess of $300,000 in the past few years alone. They could easily charge $1,000 for a single, individual private critique.

And their time would be worth every penny.

Of course, you’d pay $20,000 to $50,000 for a university writing degree. A degree is a fine piece of paper ... but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll complete your own compelling and marketable romance novel ...

Writing for Love and Money does -- in the fastest, most efficient, most pleasurable way possible.

And AWAI wants to make this special opportunity accessible and affordable to anyone who wants to try it out. For just $290, you can enter the exciting world of romance writing, and get all the tools and guidance you need for real success.

We’ll guide you through the writing, then check and double-check it until it looks like the books that are out there now. And we’ll show you what it takes to sell it for top dollar . STARTING at about $14,000.

Sign up for AWAI’s monthly plan, and pay only $29 per month over a 10-month period to gain access to the secrets to unlimited success as a romance novelist. Or, you can save more than the price of installment – orders paid in advance are only $249!

We’re confident you’ll get results. In a matter of months you’ll have the real thing, ready to go.

Our Exclusive Guarantee

Simply follow our course and let us guide you, every step of the way, and in an amazingly short amount of time you’ll complete your own market-ready romance novel, and know how to get it sold for $14,000, $40,000, or more. If you’re not convinced AWAI has given you absolutely everything you need to get your new romance writer’s career up and running, can return the unmarked materials to AWAI within 30 days for a full, no-questions-asked refund.

But, even if you decide to cancel, we want you to keep the FREE gifts we’ll send you, just for trying out the course. These exclusive AWAI publications reveal secrets you could spend months, even years, searching for. We’ll send them to you absolutely FREE.

FREE GIFT No. 1: The Hottest Romance Markets & How to Break In: Use this gift to get on the ultra-fast track to success. It’s an exclusive romance publishers directory for AWAI members only, that points you to the publishers we know first-hand are looking for the kind of writing you’ll be doing. You’ll also find the publishers who are most likely to accept first-time novelists, as well as those who specialize in “genre” writing, like sci-fi romance or historical romance. Use this savvy resource to zero in on your perfect match (or matches!), and make it all happen faster than you thought possible. You won’t find another resource like it. When you’re ready to submit your book, this FREE gift is your life saver.

FREE GIFT No 2: Keeping it Simple: Publishers’ Guidelines: Each publishing house has its own style, its own persona…and its own distinct guidelines for submission. You MUST know these guidelines in order to get their attention and clear your way to success. You could spend weeks surfing the web and sifting through reference books to get these very important guidelines.

OR…you can have it all at your fingertips, at a moment’s notice. This FREE report lays it out for you, publisher by publisher – from Harlequin to Silhouette to HarperCollins, and everyone in between. It’s comprehensive, easy-to-use, and an AWAI exclusive. Get your hands on it today.

If you order Writing for Love and Money today, we’ll include both gifts FREE, just for trying our exciting new course.

Remember ... you need NO formal writing education to succeed, and there’s no other course our there that guarantees you’ll have your own saleable romance novel written in a matter of months. And, you’re completely protected by AWAI’s money-back guarantee.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Click here to join us today!! We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Marilyn Campbell
AWAI Romance Board Advisor

P.S. YES! You CAN write your own saleable romance novel in a matter of months. We guarantee it. And we’ll go one step further. To help keep your juices flowing as you’re creating your masterpiece, we’ll include a third FREE gift: The Romance Daybook. It’s filled with 365 daily writing exercises, each a half hour long or less, designed to keep you focused on the keys to dramatic, vivid, compelling writing. Try one as soon as your Daybook arrives. Bump yourself up to an even higher level! You’ll surprise yourself, in no time.

P.P.S. Don’t wait. NOW is the time to act. Here’s why: AWAI’s own Marcia King-Gamble recently returned from the Romance Writers of America conference in Dallas, where she rubbed elbows with editors who were given orders from their higher-ups to “Find the hottest new voices out there and bring them home!” The market is hot, and it’s about to get hotter. There’s never been a better time to make your grand entrance onto the playing field!

Click  here to order via our secure online order form!