FEATURE AUTHOR: Michelle Monkou Michelle Monkou began writing historical romances in the early '90s after joining Romance Writers of America's Washington Romance Writers, located in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Around the late '90s, she began writing contemporary romances with African American characters because of the emergence of this sub-genre from Kensington Publishing. Her first manuscript - Open Your Heart - was purchased by BET Books for the Arabesque imprint and published in November 2002. It earned an Emma Award nomination for Favorite New Author at the 2003 Romance Slam Jam Conference. Since then, Ms. Monkou has written Finders Keepers, published in June 2003, which received a Romantic Times Bookclub Top Pick and a novella in the Give Love Holiday Anthology, published in October 2003. Ms. Monkou describes her stories as lessons in forgiveness, redemption, and renewal of spirit. ON ROMANCE WRITING: Since I am an avid romance reader, even before I ever thought of writing, I have a healthy respect for the genre. I absolutely love the nuances in telling a story where you know the end -- woman and man fall deeply in love. As a writer, it is my duty to maintain that integrity to the story. You cannot cheat the reader from their exploration of the characters' strengths and weaknesses, how they overcome the conflicts, and how they reach their ultimate goals. I continue to read new authors, veteran authors, best selling authors in various genres, using their works as text books for me to learn and stretch as a writer. GETTING STARTED I got started after I joined a writing group. This does not mean that I knew what I wanted to write or even how to start writing. But I placed myself in a learning environment. Eventually I joined a critique group, which has its advantages and disadvantages. However, if you have never joined a group, don't let someone else's experiences stop you from doing so. It is a very individual decision, but can have a very positive impact by keeping you on track to finish the book. My biggest obstacle was not finishing my work, so I would start writing and then three chapters later, set it aside and start another story. I was on the slow track, and it took several years to get my act together. One day it all clicked. I made it a goal to write the complete book. I work at another job during the day. In the evenings, I wrote from around 8 until midnight every night. I wrote on the weekends, also. Six months later, I had my story. GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS There is no hard and fast rule to getting into the business. You can have all the contacts, know the top selling authors, and go to every writing workshop available. But if you do not write, if you do not complete the book, if you do not polish that work, then nothing will help you to get published. When you are a first time author, most of the editors will ask for a completed manuscript. You can look like a million bucks, talk with all the eloquence of a public speaker, have several degrees and titles to go with your name, but nothing kills the light in an excited editor's eyes than a response that your book is not past the synopsis stage or that you don't have the manuscript written.

TIPS FOR THE FIRST TIME WRITER 1) Stay motivated - You will be your biggest obstacle. Self-doubt will creep in at every chance. Find the thing or person that can keep you focused, inspire you, or give you that kick in the pants when necessary. 2) Read - Writers read. Get in the habit of reading everything. It helps with increasing your vocabulary. It helps you to think outside of the box in terms of how you can tell the same story in a different way. It can help stimulate your imagination. 3) Develop self discipline. You will eventually have to set goals - short and long term - in terms of your writing. In order to achieve them, you will have to create an action plan. The reason why you should be so methodical as a first writer is because you are writing without a contract or deadline. So your only motivation is the possiblity of a publishing contract. On some days that may seem like an insurmountable task. This is why it is very important that you decide that starting today, you will write for an hour, three pages, or until your eyes close. 4) Join a writing organization. In the romance fiction industry, it is very organized with the biggest organization being Romance Writers of America. Remember your goal is to be a published writer, so don't get caught up in the politics or goings-on of any group. Focus on getting information, making contacts, and using the network to help you on your quest. 5) Get rid of the nay sayers. You'll come across them. They can be your family, friends, and even strangers who once they hear that you want to be a writer can give you all the statistics about how difficult it is or how many people actually get published. With family and friends, they have seen you try different things, heard you say that you will do something and maybe didn't complete it. So to them, this is just another "thing" that you are going to try. With regard to strangers who give their two cents, well, there is always someone ready to rain on your parade. Then you will have your author friends who may be critical without being constructive and this can demoralize you instantly. This is why Tip #1 is so critical. Keep your mental/emotional storage space healthy and full because it is a journey to publishdom and no one knows how long or hard it could be, so stay strong, focused, and just do it.