34. Validating and exploring romance w/ Maria Secoy

Are you curious about writing romance stories, but you’re not sure what qualifies as romance?

In this episode, you’ll get a deeper look into what constitutes the romance genre. You’ll learn what makes a romance novel literary and what distinguishes the 50+ subgenres from each other. 

Joining this conversation is Maria Secoy, a literary romance author and writing coach. Today, Maria shares three story development tips that help you know whether you’re writing a romance story, a love story, or a tragedy.

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• What makes a romance book literary 
• What the Library of Congress has to say about romance
• How many subgenres exist under the romance category
• What distinguishes erotica from romance
• Where to find the LGBTQ+ romance subgenre
• M/M romance and the inadequate classification of LGBTQ+ romance
• What’s happening with the newer subgenre sapphic romance
• The need for more LGBTQ+ categories 
• An overview of 35 other romance subcategories
• Further breaking down historical romance
• Cross listing books in subgenres
• Fantasy vs paranormal romance
• Three tips for romance writers
• What character development means for romance
• The only two ways to develop love
• What romance requires
• How to show happily ever after
• Clarifying happily for now endings
• Does happy for now imply a sequel
• What’s a dealbreaker in the romance genre 

About Maria: 

Maria Secoy has a BA in English and an MEd in Secondary English. She spent more than a decade in the classroom helping students grow as authentic writers. 

She wrote and published her first romance novel, Alongside Lucy, in February 2022, which has since reached #4 on the Amazon Best Sellers List. And she released Gloria’s Gumption January 2023. 

After hearing stories of editors gone wrong, flopped cover designs, marketing struggles, and anxiety over the entire self-publication process, she launched All Write Well, which has grown to include a team of supportive experts who meet all the self-publishing needs of writers.

Get her books:

• Alongside Lucy: https://www.amazon.com/Alongside-Lucy-Trail-Adventure-Adventures-ebook/dp/B09WKYLVVZ 
• Gloria’s Gumption: https://www.amazon.com/Glorias-Gumption-Maria-Secoy/dp/B0BRH2F7WZ/ 

Connect with Maria:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msecoywriter 
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/msecoywriter 
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/awwromance 
• All Write Well (self-publishing support services): https://allwritewell.com/ 

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