I'm a romance writer. That's my excuse for everything sentimental that I may do. I went to a lovely wedding this weekend. Did I cry? Of course, I'm a romance writer.

Writing romance is also a great topic for small talk at weddings (or other functions when you have to converse with strangers). I usually get the same brand of questions. Where do you get your ideas is number one, ask any writer. And as much time as I spend answering that question, I end up explaining that it's okay that you yourself don't read romance, the fans are very loyal and those that do read it read enough of it for all that don't.

When I explain that romance is the top selling genre for all mass-market paperback fiction, then I often get the question how does one go about selling a romance novel? This weekend I was asked this question by a white haired gentlemen. I answered, the first thing you need is to be a fan of the genre. Sure, it sounds like they should be easy to write and if they're well-read, anyone can knock them out, right?

Well, anyone who reads romance or has tried to write it knows... it's not trashy, it's not smut, and it's not that easy to write. In fact, because it's so well-read, everyone and their brother is trying to write them. There's a lot of competition. And if we realized just how difficult a task it really is, then we probably wouldn't do it.

Of course, I would, I'm a romance writer.