Do I need an agent to get published? If so, how do I get one?
TIP: My first four books were published without an agent, so you don’t need an agent to get published. Agents, however, can provide a great service by being a valuable middleman between you and your editor. On the other hand, the advances and royalties earned by newly published romance writers may advise against an agent (and their 15-20% commission). But, the more involved I get in the romance industry and the more I think about long-term career goals, the more I realize how much I need an agent. The agent question is a tricky one depending on your own career goals and patience with the industry.

Finding an agent is the same arduous process as finding a publisher. Finish your novel, find specific agents to query in Writer’s Market or another reputable publication and then send in your masterpiece.

Where can I find help on writing my romance novel?
TIP: There are several places to learn more about the craft of writing: Romance Writers of America is a national organization devoted specifically to the craft and business of romance writing (RWA has local chapters and more likely than not there is one near you, but you must be a member of the national RWA to join the chapters); magazines like Writer’s Digest and Romantic Times Bookclub; and, the reference section in your local bookstore, which should have a heap of how-to books (Writer’s Digest has published numerous how-to books that are usually easy to read and helpful). Also, never underestimate the power of reading other romance novels. I believe you can learn more from studying books you like and books you don’t like than reading a bunch how-to books.

How should I submit my unagented romance manuscript to a publisher?
TIP: Most romance publishers request unpublished writers send a "query" before sending in the entire three-hundred plus page manuscript (plus, it saves a few trees if the editor is not interested). A query is a package that consists of (1) a short, one-page letter introducing yourself, your book (the subgenre, the word-count and the title) and, if relevant, any writing background, (2) the first three chapters of your book and (3) a detailed synopsis that gives the plot of your book from start to finish in thee-to-five pages (the shorter the synopsis, the better). The query is intended to spark the editor’s interest and should be professional and concise. Editors are very busy people who get mountains of query letters and manuscripts every week; therefore, you want to catch the editors’ attention in the short time she has to read your query. There are numerous books devoted to the art of the query letter alone – check your local bookstore.