While
50 Shades of Grey certainly accentuated the popularity of romantic fiction, the romance genre has been one of the most successful to transition from print to digital, and that presents a huge opportunity for indie authors and publishers. While it's important to find an angle that differentiates you from other authors and works of romantic fiction out there, the wonderful thing about romantic fiction is that it is, for the most part, quite formulaic.
According to
Romance Writers of America, 39 percent of romantic fiction is published in eBook format, and romantic fiction accounts for more than
$1 billion in sales and
13 percent of all adult fiction. Romantic suspense accounts for half of all romantic fiction eBooks.
In a poll on
Goodreads, readers were asked what makes a good romance novel. While there were a variety of answers, the majority of readers agreed:
- you need a great plot
- well-developed characters (preferably wit flaws)
- surprises (including not-so-happy endings)
The biggest flaw with most romantic fiction is the willingness to take the easy road. Flat characters and simple love stories with no challenges or excitement simply can't compete with today's literature.
Today's successful romantic fiction tends to have stronger female leads, more action, less predictability, multiple subplots, and detailed, interesting characters. For indie authors and independent publishers looking for profitable areas in which to expand their eBook efforts, romantic fiction is worth exploring.
