5 Tips for Writing a Contemporary Western Romance

Readers of contemporary western romance sure do love their cowgirls and cowboys. With two western series under my belt buckle, and a third on the way, I’ve got a few tips to share that might give a romance author new to writing in the genre a cowboy boot up.

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Many contemporary western romance covers are graced by strong-jawed, handsome men wearing an iconic cowboy hat. But readers know there’s a lot more to a cowboy than a perfectly shaped Stetson. Real cowboys might be rough, rowdy, and rugged, but underneath all that swagger, they’re loyal, chivalrous, and have great respect for the land they call home.

And just because you’re writing a western, that doesn’t mean your main characters have to spend all of their time in the saddle. Though many western romances feature tough-as-nails bull riders, barrel racers, and ranchers, many others revolve around sheriffs, veterinarians, bartenders, military men, and more. No matter what kind of main characters you decide to write, in a contemporary western romance, usually one of them has some tie to a western setting. Which brings us to…

If you do a quick search for the bestselling contemporary western romances, you might notice the vast majority of them take place in just a few places, with Texas, Colorado, and Montana being at the top of the list. Not every western romance has to be set in one of those states, but readers will expect some type of a western locale in their western romance. Whether you set your story on a working cattle ranch or in a quirky small town, you’ll want to make sure you carry through the western theme.

Thanks to the internet, there’s an unlimited amount of information readily available. From Google street maps to vlogs detailing the daily life of cattle ranchers, or documentaries following professional bull riders to books full of western wisdom and slang, information abounds. Take advantage of it to craft rich, descriptive settings your readers will wish they could visit in real life.

In a western romance, the storyline needs to incorporate plot points that would apply to someone living in small town or western setting. Characters in these books tend to have a strong relationship with nature and are passionate about protecting their land and their families. Oftentimes, they’re resistant to change. Depending on the tone and theme of your romance, your plot might feature a hero trying to settle back into small town life after being away for years or a heroine attempting to save her homestead from developers.

Whatever story you decide to tell, you’ll want to insure you work in elements that take advantage of your western setting. Have your characters spend some time in nature, working with animals, or helping family and friends.

Contemporary western romance readers are super savvy and will be able to tell if you haven’t done your research. It only takes a little bit of time to make sure you get the details right, but it will go a long way in building trust with your fans if they know they can count on you to deliver an authentic experience.

Make sure you check out the location where you plan on setting your book. Even if you’re planning to use a fictional town, you’ll still base it on a real place or a combination of real settings. Take the time to look up weather patterns, landmarks, and geographical features. For example, if you’re setting your story in the Hill Country of Texas, the geography and weather will be vastly different than a romance that takes place on the dry west Texas plains or the mountains of Montana.

If you’ll be incorporating animals or ranch life into your book, get the facts. You don’t want to have your ranchers delivering calves if it’s not calving season or your bull rider riding in the finals in the middle of July.

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No matter what elements you choose to incorporate into your story, it’s important to meet your readers’ expectations. In a contemporary western romance, that includes: developing rich settings with lots of vivid description, writing layered characters who are loyal to their family and the land they love, telling a story that tugs on their emotions, and most importantly, providing a satisfying happily ever after or happy for now.

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