If you're going to write a romance novel...

File this in the "you learn something new every day folder."

I found this image of Barbie Romance Novel Collection while looking for an illustration.

If you read or write romance, you are probably familiar with these kinds of thoughts, but it never hurts to refresh your memory.

Author R. Ann Siracusa welcomes you to her blog

Not long ago, I happened to run onto a reader’s comment thread on Amazon.com entitled “Dear Author: Please Don’t…” at the following link.

http://www.amazon.com/forum/romance/ref=cm_cd_dp_rft_tft_tp?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=FxM42D5QN2YZ1D&cdThread=Tx1U9IFOLVQRGXV

There are 62 pages of interesting reading.  Over 1,500 comments from readers.  I had to restrain myself from writing responses.  While some of them are a little [or a lot] off the wall, many of the readers had something worthwhile to tell us.  Many of the don'ts we’ve heard from agents, editors, and other authors.

As authors, we may not agree, but each comment represents the personal reaction of a reader.  To me, they speak volumes about what people read and what is getting published by today’s industry.

Check it out!