OUR STANDARDS

How We Define Success at Paige Turner Romance

At Paige Turner Romance, we believe that great books are the result of clear expectations, professional process, and mutual respect.

This page outlines the standards we use to evaluate work - not to police creativity, but to ensure consistency, fairness, and alignment across writers, editors, and clients.

If you’re considering working with us, please read this carefully. These standards apply to all projects and all writers, including paid trials.

1. What We Mean by “Commercial Romance.”

We write romance for real readers in a real market. Primarily the US Kindle Unlimited ecosystem.

That means our work prioritises:

  • Clear genre and trope signalling

  • Consistent tone and heat level

  • Emotional payoff aligned with the promise made in the blurb and cover

Commercial romance is not lesser romance. It is reader-centred romance.

Writers are expected to deliver the experience a reader believes they are buying—and to maintain that experience from the opening chapters through the ending.

2. Story Execution Standards

These are the core craft expectations we apply across projects.

Chapter Intent & Hooks

Every chapter must serve a purpose:

  • Advance plot, character, or emotional tension

  • End with a reason for the reader to continue

Chapters that merely describe, summarise, or restate without forward momentum fall below standard.

Pacing & Momentum

Our stories prioritise immersion and flow.

This means:

  • Scenes earn their place in the narrative

  • Momentum is valued over ornate prose

  • Emotional beats are clear and purposeful

Beautiful writing is welcome but never at the expense of clarity or pace.

Dialogue & Character Dynamics

Dialogue should:

  • Reveal character

  • Advance relationships

  • Reinforce tension or intimacy

On-the-nose dialogue, excessive exposition, or filler exchanges may be flagged for revision.

3. Heat Level & Content Alignment

Heat level is not subjective once agreed.

Writers are expected to:

  • Adhere to the defined heat level for the project

  • Maintain consistency throughout the manuscript

  • Deliver intimacy scenes that match genre expectations

If a project is steamy or erotic, intimacy scenes must:

  • Be purposeful, not gratuitous

  • Reinforce character and emotional stakes

  • Align with reader expectations for that sub-genre

4. Writing to Outline (Non-Negotiable)

All projects are written to a provided outline.

The outline exists to:

  • Maintain narrative structure

  • Ensure trope delivery

  • Protect reader promise

Writers are expected to:

  • Follow the outline closely

  • Flag concerns before deviating

  • Never unilaterally change major plot points, tone, or dynamics

Creative problem-solving is welcome. Silent deviation is not.

5. Process & Professional Conduct Standards

Deadlines & Checkpoints

Deadlines are commitments, not suggestions.

Writers are expected to:

  • Deliver checkpoints on time

  • Communicate early if issues arise

  • Take ownership of timelines

Missing a deadline without communication is a serious concern.

Communication

Professional communication is calm, clear, and proactive.

We value:

  • Early questions

  • Transparent updates

  • Solution-oriented problem solving

Silence, avoidance, or defensiveness undermine collaboration.

Feedback & Revisions

Editorial feedback is part of the work.

Writers are expected to:

  • Review feedback carefully

  • Implement requested revisions professionally

  • Ask for clarification when needed

Feedback is about alignment and quality—not personal critique.

6. Quality Thresholds

Before submission, work should meet these baseline standards:

  • Accurate word counts per brief

  • Clean formatting and file naming

  • Minimal grammatical or structural errors

  • Clear scene transitions and narrative flow

Drafts do not need to be perfect but they must be professional and complete.

7. When Standards Aren’t Met

Our goal is always resolution and improvement but standards matter.

If issues arise:

  1. Feedback and revision guidance is provided

  2. Support or clarification is offered where appropriate

  3. Timelines or scope may be adjusted if needed

Repeated misalignment, missed deadlines without communication, or resistance to process may result in:

  • Pausing assignments

  • Ending collaboration

Clarity here protects everyone involved.

8. Mutual Respect Is the Foundation

We hold ourselves to standards as well.

Writers can expect:

  • Clear briefs and expectations

  • Paid trials and transparent rates

  • Respect for time, boundaries, and professionalism

  • Honest communication

Our standards exist to create stable, sustainable working relationships. Not pressure or fear.

—

If reading this page feels reassuring, you’re likely a strong fit.

If it feels restrictive or frustrating, this may not be the right environment—and that’s okay. The right match benefits everyone.

Professional work thrives on clarity.

These standards are how we provide it.

—
 Paige Turner Romance