By Valerie Parv AM
I’ve been asked many times why I still buy books on the craft of writing at this stage of my career. “But you have nearly a hundred books published and you write how-to books yourself. Don’t you know all that by now?”
I do write how-to books. My Art of Romance Writing is still out there in print and ebook, revised and updated and going strong. Giving lectures and masterclasses for writers here and overseas keeps me busy. I was even co-opted onto a panel of “legends” at the Romance Writers of Australia national conference last month, although I don’t feel especially legendary.
It’s true that I know a lot more than when I started out. But writing is a slippery customer and we have to keep up. In my first romance novels, exotic settings were the norm, lovingly described to take readers on a journey along with the hero and heroine.
In the Google and Netflix era, most people have visited or can picture a castle in England, a ranch in Texas, or life aboard a space station. Book lengths have reduced significantly, too, keeping reader focus firmly on the lives and loves of our characters with the setting used as spice, with a light touch.
These are the big-picture changes. Subtler changes include the style of dialogue, to the relationship itself. Reflecting modern mores, being a single parent is a lifestyle choice rather than a source of conflict. Heroes are no longer gruff authority figures who know what’s best for the heroine. Or if he pulls that one, she soon sets him straight.
I’m using him and her as defaults, but they can just as easily be M/M or F/F or any combination. Diversity is the keyword, not used as tokens, but as real people who reflect the diversity of our society.
As well, my characters tweet, Insta their meals, post on FB and live on their phones. I love that one of this year’s Valerie Parv Award finalists used a hashtag as her book title. Reading blogs and watching podcasts and my Kindle stocked with the latest craft and psychology info keep my writing senses honed. If I gain one new insight or piece of information from them, I consider the time well spent.
You can never know it all – and I’m delighted. It’s what keeps my writing - and me – excited by what I do.
How does that work for you? What changes are you most aware of in your writing? How do you keep up? I’d love to know what you think.
My new workshop, 'Romance Writing Rebooted', is on October 27 at the ACT Writers’ Centre, Canberra. I look at these issues and more with the aim of taking away a synopsis of your novel by day’s end. Please click on the link above if you'd like to know more.
Valerie Parv AM was made a
Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the arts as a prolific
author, role model and mentor.
With more than 34 million copies of her books sold and
translated into 29 languages, Valerie is an Honorary Life Member of Romance
Writers of Australia.
She
loves connecting with writers and readers on www.valerieparv.com Twitter @ValerieParv, and Facebook and is represented by The Tate
Gallery Pty Ltd, Sydney.
I love to love…real-life relationships where the love stays strong no matter the years.
I love to laugh…at daggy jokes and puns such as the medium who writes best-selling séance fiction.
I love to learn…obscure bits of trivia like the Mandelbug computer virus I used in my sci-fi romance Beacon 3: Homeworld.
Hi Valerie. Thank you for a very informative post. You are so right. The writing world is ever changing. New subgenres, trends, keeping up with the times. And craft books are there to make it all clear. We may not read all of them but sometimes we come across something, it may be only a sentence, that just resonates and everything suddenly makes sense. So craft books are invaluable.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, congratulations on your many achievements. So proud of you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Enisa for the compliment and comment. I find many non writing books helpful as well such as Linda Seger's Making a Good Script Great, and Eugene Gendlin's Focusing, a psychology book with much to say about making creative choices within and outside our books.
DeleteI love the way romance fiction has kept up with trends and changes. When I first started reading romance it was vastly different. Some books that were favourites way back when now seem - dated, and perhaps not terribly PC (especially with the Me Too Movement). Heroines now save themselves. Technology moves on at an exponential rate. But, thanks to wonderful authors - such as yourself - who keep on trend, our romance reading/writing world is still fabulously in touch with today. I enjoy craft books, even the older ones. As Enisa commented above, there's always some words of wisdom, a gem or a nugget to hang onto. Thanks so much for your wonderful books, I've been reading them for years. And thanks for your amazing workshops - having been to a couple I'd highly recommend them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Malvina, big hugs for those lovely comments. Yes the #MeToo movement has made us more aware of how we structure relationships in stories. I for one am delighted because the old authority figures (male) never sat well with me. I also had a system of making all my lawyers, doctors and other professionals female on principle.
DeleteHi Valerie! I'm a great believer in keeping up with change. I am constantly buying writing craft books and doing on-line courses to both improve my writing and to keep up with the latest trends in writing and publishing. I also love attending information panels, live appearances, live workshops etc. with authors I admire. (Your workshop in Canberra next month sounds great!) Let's face it, we all need inspiration at times and, as you so rightly said, we can never know it all. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Marilyn, so true that we all need inspiration. There's also the fear that "this time" we won't be able to Do the Thing (writing). Mixing with other writers and reading craft books keeps us grounded and knowing we're not alone in these feelings.
DeleteHi Valerie. I totally agree that writers never stop learning about their craft not to mention all the research. I don't think readers realise this sometimes. I love learning new things so I don't mind buying craft books.
ReplyDeleteAgree, Cassandra. IMO readers don't need to know our struggles. Our art is to make the words "disappear" and readers immerse in the experience. But we as crafts people are very aware of every word, sometimes like pulling teeth. It can be frustrating to have a reader say they have some spare time, they might write a book. All together now - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh.
ReplyDeleteAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! LOL. SO true!
Delete:-) As Eileen Dreyer put it, "I have a free weekend, I think I'll be me a lawyer."
DeleteThanks for the insights into how you "keep up to date"with changes in romance novels, Valerie. I remember the film "Sleepless in Seattle"being discussed many years ago in terms of changes to the romance genre. Still a great movie - partly because it is so engaging and so different.
ReplyDeleteGood point Sharon, I loved that movie but hadn't seen it in light of changing the genre, though of course, you're spot on.
DeleteFabulous post, Valerie! I was reading a contemporary romance this week that was written 18 years ago and it was a real eye-opener as to how technology has changed and how much more assertive our romance heroines are these days!
ReplyDeleteLove your craft book, by the way!!