Book review: Love Writing by Sue Moorcroft

By Shelley White

I THOUGHT I’d written a red-hot love story until I read Sue Moorcroft’s book.

Then I discovered that my effort at romantic fireworks was merely a damp squib. My Heathcliff and Kathy had more in common with Kermit and Miss Piggy, my scrummy Mr Darcy was akin to a sex-starved Mr Bean and my teasing Lolita was more teacher’s pet.

I had lots to learn.

Sue Moorcroft, the romantic novelist and creative writing tutor, proves to be a good teacher but above all, she’s generous with her writing tips and advice.

She spills the beans on everything – and I mean everything – that the writer needs to know about how to make money writing romantic or erotic fiction.

She guides you all the way through the writing process from the beginning where you simply have a germ of an idea for a story, to the end where the story is complete, you have an agent and or a publisher and your book is heading for the top of the best-seller lists. Well, we can dream, can’t we?

There are question and answer sessions with published romantic novelists, helpful exercises and examples, all in straightforward language with which you can hone your romantic writing skills.

The book is organised into a neat structure of clearly-headed chapters. Each chapter, for example: Heroes and Heroines, Viewpoint and Voice, What’s the Plot, Genre etc is divided into useful sections.

The calculated way each chapter is split into its component parts is helpful because it means you can dip into the book for just one aspect you need to concentrate on.

For example, you may need to polish your ‘ins and outs’ (sorry, couldn’t resist!) of erotica. Don’t be afraid. Sue reveals all in the chapter ‘From Sensuality to Sizzle to Erotica’.

Basically, write from the heart. Some essential points are made in the book. The highlight for me is the explanation of that thorny nugget, ‘Show don’t tell!’ Thanks to Sue, I now truly understand what that means. We should imagine a play in the theatre – the narrator does the ‘telling’ and the actors do the ‘showing’.

Yes, it all clicked nicely into place after I read the chapter ‘Act, React and Interact.’ I’ve also learned the importance of plot and making use of a spider plan or mind map.

Stories should have the basic beginning, middle and end structure and of course, conflict, turning point and resolution.

I make a mental note to try to apply this advice to all my fiction, not just romantic. Sue doesn’t say this is easy – but these are good habits to adopt and perseverance usually pays off.

This book does what it says on the tin – in bucketfuls.

Any writer of romance and erotica would find it useful.

Priced at £9.99 for 250 pages, it’s excellent value for money.

Now, where did I put that romantic masterpiece of mine?

Love Writing (How to Make Money Writing Romantic or Erotic Fiction)

Author: Sue Moorcroft Price £9.99 Publishers: Accent Press Ltd – 2010 ISBN 9781906373993

Five stars out of five 

* Buy Love Writing in the Judith's Room bookshop for just £5.48. 

Comments

[Penny]

I enjoyed this review!
Sue's book is invaluable, and I've found it easy to read. And yes, it certainly makes it that bit easier to see those Kermit/Miss Piggy moments...

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