Parents Who Write logo
34. Validating and exploring romance w/ Maria Secoy
  • Erin Canning
  • February 14, 2023
  • 8:01 am
  • 0 comments

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
Connect with Maria
Connect online

Let’s connect via my Facebook group, Parents Who Write, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite.

Listen or Watch

Listen to Parents Who Write on Apple Podcasts
Listen to Parents Who Write on Spotify
More button

Feeling stuck in your author journey?

As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.

Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.

Bonus: Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.

Posted in Podcast

Related

Unlocking the art of book cover design with Katia Balab, episode 59 of the Parents Who Write podcast
59. Unlocking the art of book cover design: Expert insights w/ Katia Balab
Katia Balab from MiblArt, a Ukraine-based book cover design company, offers insight into effective cover design practices, including how to foster a good working relationship with your designer and a plethora of online resources to help you tackle as much as you want.
Setting up your writer’s profile on Facebook
33. Setting up your writer’s profile on Facebook
Have you contemplated creating a writer’s profile, but you aren’t sure if that’s necessary, what the benefits might be, or when would even be the right time? Listen to learn these answers and more.
Unearthing my identity beyond mom
21. Unearthing my identity beyond mom
With Maria Secoy as guest host, Erin P.T. Canning shares the lead up to losing her identity and motivation for writing after parenthood—and the resources she used to find both again.