Psychological research shows a mere three things are crucial to human happiness, and one of them is love.

Every archetype has a positive and a negative side. As we saw in the Three-Dimensional Villains article, the villain is the negative aspect of the shadow, while creativity is the positive.

Emotion is the backbone, the driving force that makes plot work, that gives your characters depth and dimension.

Everyone loves a love story. But this apparently simple tale may be the most difficult form to write well, for a number of reasons.

Know and respect your readers—choose the most recent novels and read widely across the romance market. Then target the series/genre that excites you and suits your voice.

Writing a romance novel means meeting reader expectations for the genre in addition to the preparation and actual writing you need to do.

Books are magical. They must be. What else could explain our reading words on a page and those words firing our imaginations, transporting us into living an adventure ...

What attributes and characteristics make a romantic hero? Does he have broad shoulders tapering to a trim waist? Is he tall and dark? Is he blond and witty?

Man of action, man of steel, master of his own destiny. All these descriptions fit the historical hero, a hard-edged, dominant male who is willing to take enormous risks to protect his property...

The earl towered over her lithe form, broad shoulders blocking her view of the glittering ballroom. With his lazy smile, white teeth gleamed, almost feral in the candlelit corner.