It has been a while since I posted due to the holidays, so I thought I would start with this week going over the two genres I represent here at Greyhaus - Romance and Women's Fiction. These are really two genres that I do believe so many authors have no clue how to write. So, with that said, let's start with understanding the basics of Romance Writing.
I know I have said this in the past, but I want the male authors to pay attention to this one especially since too often, it is these authors who are missing the point.
First of all, with romance novels, the central story arc IS the building of the relationship. The story is about the relationship. The romance is not just a side note that happens when you are telling another story. We should see the characters grow in their relationship, essentially, it is moving from nothing to something. You can have a friends to lovers story, or you can have strangers to lovers, but it is still all about the romance and the building relationship.
Secondly, the story is about heading to that happily ever after! Yes, I know a lot of you think otherwise, but we are getting those characters to that point. It is one of the "requirements" of a romance. We want to know that when we close the book at the end, they are going on with the rest of their life in that happily ever after.
But what if we get to the end and one of the characters is dead? Then sorry to say it, this would not be a romance.
The conflict of the story needs to be something standing in the way of them reaching that happily ever after. I don't care if there is a sub-plot in the story with some other conflict (a murder in a romantic suspense of a land conflict in a historical romance) the REAL conflict, the CENTRAL conflict is what would stop the two of them from getting together.
If you have not noticed a pattern here, everything revolves around that relationship!!!!!
So, when we talk about the romance, we're talking about getting the two characters into bed, right? NOPE! Again, this is all about the relationship. If there is sex, then fine, but that is not what makes a romance. We'll talk about that element later in the week. So, if you think you are writing a story and the characters end up in bed, that is not going to make it a romance. Even if they had to get to the point, they accepted going to bed with each other, that does not make it the romance. It might be a step toward understanding each other enough to get to the happily ever after, but that is it. I should also add here that this alone should not be the conflict. Having sex should not be the only thing standing in the way of getting to the happily ever after. This is nothing more than a complication.
I want you all to notice something here. I have not mentioned one thing about age or gender identity. You can write a story such as this with any character type you wish. Just remember that it is all about the romance.
OK, how do you know if your story is really a romance? This is what I focus on during pitch sessions at conferences. First of all, no one reads their pitch to me. They don't even get to share their memorized pitch. I want the author to just tell me about their story. So try it? Tell someone about your story. Tape your self and just talk about the story. What you focus on the most IS the genre of the story. If it is about the relationship, you are on the right track. If you spend the whole time talking about the crime or the paranormal elements, and don't discuss the romance, then that should tell you something.
Hopefully that sheds some light on romance. Tomorrow, we'll focus on the heat level in the romance novel.
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