Romances account for almost half of the paperbacks sold in the world today and new writers are always needed to meet reader demand. Based on her ten years of experience and more than 30 novels, Valerie Parv has written a comprehensive guide for new writers contemplating reaching the lucrative romance market. Step-by-step, The Art of Romance Writing explains exactly what works, what doesn't and why. There are chapters on creating believable characters, writing dialogue, choosing settings, identifying workable conflicts and constructing effective plots. A plot chart is provided to show how to keep the story moving and there are detailed sections on marketing, including a directory of publishers and their requirements. And for anyone who has had a book rejected there is a checklist to help you pinpoint where you went wrong and how to get your book back on track.