Think, Write, Edit, Romance - by KJ Charles (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A practical craft guide for romance writers from KJ Charles, former editor and author of over 30 novels--including The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen--focused on writing, revising, polishing, and publishing emotionally satisfying romance novels.

Think, Write, Edit, Romance is a smart, practical, and deeply reassuring guide to writing romance novels from one of the genre's most respected voices.

Drawing on more than 20 years as a professional editor and the author of over 35 successful romance novels, KJ Charles takes readers through the entire creative process, from the blank page to a clean, submission-ready manuscript. This is not a book of rigid formulas or beat sheets. Instead, it focuses on how stories actually work, helping writers understand character, conflict, structure, and revision at a deep, usable level.

Organized as a "Writer's Progress," the book moves step by step through the stages of writing. Early chapters address generating ideas, shaping premises, and developing character and conflict. The middle sections focus on drafting, including point of view, pacing, dialogue, sex scenes, and getting unstuck when a project stalls. The final section offers unusually detailed guidance on revision, covering developmental, line, and copy editing with clarity and candor.

Written with Charles's signature wit, authority, and no-nonsense compassion, Think, Write, Edit, Romance respects the intelligence of romance writers and the genre itself. It is a craft book for authors who take romance seriously and want to produce work that is emotionally satisfying, structurally sound, and professionally polished.

About the Author

KJ Charles is an internationally bestselling romance author and former professional editor with more than 20 years' experience in British publishing, including a long tenure at Mills & Boon. She has written over 35 novels across traditional and self-publishing, with titles published by Orion, Tor, and Sourcebooks, and has sold more than 600,000 books across formats. Her work has received frequent starred reviews, appeared on multiple "Best of the Year" lists, and includes The Magpie Lord, named by Oprah Magazine as one of the 30 Greatest Romance Novels of All Time. Charles is also a widely respected writing teacher and blogger, known for her clear, rigorous, and generous approach to craft. She lives in London.