I recently received an email from Eileen, a reader who is writing her first romance novel. She said: “I love the way you write romances and how they are so intense, I have few questions that I hope you can help me with.”
The questions were definitely thought-provoking! And since so many of you are romance lovers (readers as well as writers), I thought you could chime in the comments with your advice!
1. How can I make the romance difficult and unpredictable?
Some might say romances are predictable. Probably because the hero and heroine always fall in love and live happily-ever-after (HEA). And yes, the destination in a romance must always land on a HEA. Romance readers will throw the book against the wall (or burn it!), if a writer doesn’t bring the couple together in the end.
However, even if the destination is predictable, the journey there doesn’t have to be. In fact, I might even go as far as saying that romance fans read mostly for the journey—seeing how the couple maneuvers the ups and downs of the relationship-building.
That means a romance writer needs to focus on making the journey memorable and unique, with plenty of romantic sizzle along the way.
The tricky part of the journey is keeping the couple moving forward in their attraction to each other (especially growing in genuine friendship) but at the same time ramping up conflict to hold the couple apart.
If a writer doesn’t develop enough attraction at the beginning, then readers will think the romance moves too slowly. But if a writer allows the couple to fall in love too soon and has no barriers holding them apart, the romantic tension dissolves and readers lose interest.
In a romance, the push and pull energy between the couple is key and needs to be very carefully balanced in order to produce a satisfying romance.
2. What do you do when plotting your romances?
Obviously, the “romance” part of plotting is just one aspect among many I consider in addition to character development, research, external plot, setting details, etc.
But because I’m a romance writer first and foremost, I make a special point brainstorming the romance aspects of the book before I sit down to write. I keep in mind both CONFLICT and ATTRACTION.
First I ask myself, what CONFLICT will push the lead couple apart? I list all of the possibilities: external (from an outside source or antagonist), internal (from emotional/psychological issues), or spiritual (having to do with spiritual growth matters). I always try to have a combination of the three conflicts, relating and intertwining them.
I don’t actually end up using all the ideas, but the list helps ensure I have believable and sustainable obstacles. (And not just simple misunderstandings and miscommunication.)
Second I ask myself, what ATTRACTION will pull the couple together? Again, I brainstorm a long list of possibilities. I take into account their personalities and interests, along with the setting and historical context.
For example in my upcoming release, A Bride of Convenience, set in the mountains of British Columbia, I listed things like: hot spring, broomball, snowshoeing, sledding, and many other things unique to that area. Then I turned to that list to create romantic scenes that put my couple together in ways unique to the book.
The simple truth, however, is that no matter how much I plan ahead, the story always takes a life of its own once I begin the writing. My characters often surprise me by doing and saying things I don’t anticipate which takes the story into different directions I didn’t anticipate but that are even better than I could plan.
All that to say, my biggest encouragement for budding romance writers is to READ a zillion romance books and start paying attention to the push and pull of the lead couple and how authors handle the balance between conflict and attraction. And then just WRITE. There’s no better way to develop creative muscles than by working them hard. Your creativity will thank you for it!
YOUR turn! What’s YOUR advice for romance writers? What do you think a romance novel needs in order to be satisfying?
Jody Hedlund
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When reading romance books, I sometimes hope the couple aren’t so quickly revealed. If a whole chapter is written about a girl thinking about a boy and another vice versa, then the readers will know that this guy is going to marry this girl.
It’s hard though, because if the girl seems to love a guy at first (or vice versa) and changes to love someone else in the middle or in the end, readers might think that it is too sudden and unreal, or they would hope the girl to marry the original guy. I don’t mean you should write what readers would like to read just for the sake of the readers, but it is much easier to feel for the person who appears first.
Besides, I really agree with you about what you wrote in this paragraph. That’s how my stories go too.
The simple truth, however, is that no matter how much I plan ahead, the story always takes a life of its own once I begin the writing. My characters often surprise me by doing and saying things I don’t anticipate which takes the story into different directions I didn’t anticipate but that are even better than I could plan.
If ever there were a formula for writing romance, I think yours should be universal. I don’t write romance but I’ve read quite enough to know that this is the best advice for developing a romantic relationship between characters. I also agree that people indulge in romance novels for the sake of the journey between two lovers. It mirrors the ups and downs of reality and inspires hope that we’ll have an HEA too! Thank you for this!
I sometimes get frustrated with romance novels that feel the couple always has to split up and not be together through the whole story. I like how in Hereafter, the couple was married early and had to figure out how to stay together. I’ve read other stories where the conflict (all three types) tried to pull them apart, but they refused to allow it to. There were many conflicts and problems, but they dealt with them together. It was different and enjoyable. The tension was in keeping themselves apart until the wedding and solving all the other problems that came up. Congratulations on the making the Carol finals.
Real clean site, regards for this post.
Thanks for this – especially as I’m working on a romance I began to write years ago.. Since reading Persuasion as an A level set book, my favourite romances are almost always ‘ second chance’ – either with a lost love or somebody new –