Avoid "But Wait" Moments

I have a seen a ton of stories recently that have fallen into this category. These are stories that come across to the reader as being VERY forced, not so much with the voice of the story, but the plot of the story. The best way I can describe this issue is "But wait, and then THIS happened" moments.

Essentially the story goes something like this. Hero and heroine are merrily heading toward their happily ever after and then "Oh no! Something happens." Now the characters deal with this and off they go toward that HEA again and then "Oh no! Something happens!" These moments tend to be things such as"

• Store character works at goes bankrupt.
• Kid gets sick
• Parent gets sick
• Work calls
• Flat tire
• Broken arm, leg, etc.
• Passes out due to not eating

Do these things happen in life? Yes! But these are nothing more than complications and irritations. These ARE NOT conflicts.

What I am finding is that, more often than not, the real reason authors use these complications is that there is simply no significant conflict for the characters. In the case of romance writing, this means there is nothing stopping the characters from getting together.

Oh sure, authors try to make something of it. In one of the last cases I read, the author kept trying to use the phrase that "it had always been that way" for the other character as to why a relationship would never work. Nope! Just an excuse.

I should also add here, that if the character always knew that about the other character, then a relationship would have never been a consideration in the first place.

The reality is that when you start into this style of writing, you are really falling into the same trap as a soap opera. Think of it... How many times did Erica Cain fall into the same mistakes?