A Man Writing Love Stories In A Woman's
Publishing World
Author: Rob Costelloe

My publishing journey has been unusual enough that friends and
publicists alike have suggested I write about it, especially the
part about being a man writing love stories in a woman's genre.
But it's not just the genre. The whole publishing and agency
world I encountered was dominated by women. Sound interesting
enough? Okay. There's just one little hitch. Now that I'm
sitting in front of the keyboard, I find that there's not much
to tell that's dramatic. Most of the women editors treated me
fairly, and I worked well with the ones who gave me room to turn
in.

If anything, being a man may have given me a certain advantage,
you know, from a novelty standpoint. Not only was I a male
engineer (of all things!), with no detectable writing
credentials, daring to show up with a love story, but I was
touting it as a love story unlike any other, one written of love
at a higher level. Well, at least it made them look up from
their keyboards. Even from clear across the Internet's vast
ether, I could feel their skeptical smiles.

I did have advantages related to temperament. Women have always
been my epitome of beauty, and I have long admired the feminine
spirit and disposition, the nobility of her biological calling,
the sophistication of her romantic instinct. As a result, I have
always worked well with women. Plus I am grateful. Everything I
ever learned about romantic love at a higher level I learned
from a woman.

The other advantage I had was acquired: I had studied love
stories for decades and I knew the intricacies and jargon of the
genre. At one point, an editor who was intrigued by my sample
chapters started an e-mail conversation that escalated to a
phone discussion. I knew this was curiosity bringing opportunity
to my door. She was a Romance novelist as well as a Romance
editor, so I was nervous as I dialed her office number. I could
tell that she was surprised then delighted to meet a man who
could discuss nuances of love story plot and characterization
ranging from risk factors in portraying heroines as less than
physically perfect, to pet theories for best lead up to
denouement. I knew before the conversation was over that she
would offer a contract. Not only did I address some reservations
she had about my characters, but I had done so in the
professional jargon she knew. As a result, she knew she could
work with me for the editorial portion of the project.

With all this said, let me offer an opinion based on what I
experienced. To the question about whether the bar is higher for
a man writing in this genre, I would say yes, at least in a
certain sense. If you are a man who writes mediocre romances,
then I think it will be harder for you to get published than a
mediocre woman writer. But if you are a man producing material
that matches the top ten percent of the genre, then the
reservations that woman editors naturally have about you won't
matter. You will get the consideration you deserve. Know the
audience you are targeting. That counts for a lot. And be sure
you can defend the theory you have chosen for how you spun your
characters and how you wove your plot.


About The Author: Coinage of Commitment is a love story about
the challenges of characters who love at a higher level than the
world all around them, a level requiring mental preparation as
well as emotional commitment. To learn more, visit
http://www.rcostelloe.com