So you want to know how to write a romance novel. That's great! What most people don't know is a huge portion of average readers are romance readers (whether they admit it or not).

A lot of beginning authors think there is a magic “formula” for writing romance fiction. This may be due to the series romances like Harlequin which seem to follow specific guidelines. Actually some of those series novels do have some guide sheets you can ask for but there is not one formula that encompasses all of romance writing, and nothing that you can follow that will guarantee fame and fortune as an author.

Even the “formula” series novels are a lot harder to write than they appear to be when reading them. Ask anyone who has sat before a blank sheet of paper with “chapter one” written on it.

It's also a common misconception that readers of romantic novels belong to a certain age group or demographic. Women of all ages (and men too) read these books.

Anyway, the first thing you need to do to get started writing is simply that….get started. But it's also what most people find the hardest, most difficult thing about writing. They simply can't get going!

So to get you going on your way to a successful writing career, try this exercise. Find a magazine or newspaper or a box of old photos, but they must be people you don't know. If it's your family photos, it won't work. If your parents or grandparents have an old box of photos with people you don't know, that would work perfectly. You can ask friends as well. If you can't find any photographs you can use a magazine or newspaper.

If using the latter, cut various pictures out. Find the ones that appear interesting with more than one person in the frame. If using photos, just pick out some of them that are interesting to you.

Now, go ahead and take one of them and give them names, and then write a short story about them based on what you can see in the photo. Use your imagination. Give them a background and a reason for being in their current situation.

You'll be amazed at how much your imagination will be engaged just from looking at a “real” picture rather than trying to think of things in your head. Do this exercise anytime you feel stuck, or even make it a ritual and do it each morning before you start writing (or evening if you're a night owl). This is a great way to learn how to write a romance novel or any other type of novel. Keep a file of these short stories you write as exercises, and you'll be able to use them later in your manuscript.