The Business of Romance

When you get into marketing strategies, especially in the self-publishing world, you’ll quickly find there are a billion different things you can do to market your book. It gets overwhelming fast. In honor of the release day of my own book - The Art of Second Chances, I'm sharing my list of book launch essentials. These are the ingredients that, in my experience, make up the recipe for a successful launch of a new romance novel.

A common question I get is: How can I, as a woman, write from the male perspective? Rotating POVs are so common in the most popular romance novels today, but to accomplish this - you have to feel comfortable writing from the male POV. So today's episode dives into why this is such a fun topic to think about and explore, and my top tips for developing and writing your male characters with confidence and ease. 

SudoWrite has an amazing new feature called the Story Engine! Get the rundown on what it can (and can not) do in this episode of podcast, followed by a limited time special offer from RFQ Consulting. Even if you're not in need of our services, this one's packed with industry tips and insights as always that will help you no matter what aspect of the romance publishing business you operate in.

To get the special offer from Sudowrite, head to: https://www.sudowrite.com/?via=romancefictionqueen

To learn more about receiving a free business audit for your romance self-publishing business, reach out to me at [email protected]

In Episode 6 we dive into some industry news from the past week like the sudden shutdown of Scribe Media and KDP's changes to its categories, plus I'll do a comparison between Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing - weighing the pros and cons so you can decide which one is right for you. Doors to the Romance Fiction Queens community remain open for just a few more days! Check it out at: www.fictionqueen.com/rfqmembership

This episode is a bit different... because it's part writing prompt, part lesson on writing and storytelling craft. I've spent the first few episodes of this podcast talking about some of the business aspects of the romance novel industry, which are all super important. However, the business strategy ultimately means nothing if you can't deliver a story that readers are craving. So I thought one of the best ways to demonstrate how to create that kind of story was to share one of my own. And then break down for you some of the key things that make this the kind of story that people want to read. So gather round and settle in for grown-up storytime!

I’m excited to share with you our first ever guest expert session here on the podcast! I had the opportunity to have such a great conversation with Emily Enger of Good Enough Book Marketing. Emily is a book marketing and publicity coach, and She teaches poets, fiction, and creative nonfiction authors how to incorporate minimalist marketing strategies into their creative process so they become successful without feeling overwhelmed. We talk about everything from how to sell your work without feeling like a sell out, do writers really need social media in their marketing strategy, and even - cycle synching - which if you don’t know what that is, I have a feeling you’re going to be just as thrilled about this concept as I was. Be sure to snag Emily’s free guide: "7 Book Marketing Activities You Can Stop Doing Today” at [https://www.goodenoughbookmarketing.com/](https://www.goodenoughbookmarketing.com/)

I’ve touched on what the business of romance is, how lucrative it is, and some of the different ways you can make money in this industry - one of those ways being the obvious: to write and self-publish your own romance novels. So if you love writing and reading romance novels, and I’ve piqued your interest so far - Your next question is probably: how do I get started? That’s what I’ll be answering for you in this episode!

Some of the resources mentioned in this episode:

The Romance Novel Planner + Workbook: https://www.fictionqueen.com/novelworkbooks

The Launch Your Pen Name Checklist: https://www.fictionqueen.com/pennamechecklist

IG Live Session - Marketing Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr3bwIOKHz6/

DIY Romance Publisher Waitlist: https://www.fictionqueen.com/pennamelaunchpad

In this introductory episode, I dive into just a few of the reasons I'm so passionate about the world of writing and self-publishing romance novels. As someone who has been immersed in this industry for the past five years, I've seen firsthand how it can be a life-changing opportunity for aspiring romance writers. From the low entry point and low upfront investment to the high profit potential, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider starting your own romance publishing business. But where do you start? That's where I come in. Throughout this podcast, I'll be sharing my own expertise, tips, and strategies to help you succeed in this competitive field. In this first season, we'll cover everything from the basics of how to get started to more advanced techniques for building a sustainable career in the romance writing industry. So whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, I hope you'll join me on this exciting journey into the Business of Romance.

In this first official episode of The Business of Romance, I'll be discussing the lucrative world of writing and self-publishing romance novels online, specifically through Amazon KDP. I'll explain what the business of romance is, how people make money in the world of self-publishing romance novels, and how you, as a listener, can make money in this industry. 

Here's the link to access some of the resources mentioned in this episode: fictionqueen.com/resources

In the first official episode of this podcast, I talked about how to make money by self-publishing romance novels. Well, today I want to go deeper into one of the best marketing strategies for self-publishers - putting out a new book every month! Now, I know some people might feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing a book every month, and wonder if it's even possible to write a good book that quickly. But trust me, it's totally doable! In fact, that's what we're going to talk about today - how to write fast and still maintain quality. So get comfy, grab a cup of tea, and let's dive into it!