Let's Talk Conflict

Here is another one of those things that so many of you get rejected on when you submit to me. You have no conflict, or your conflict between the characters is simply too weak. We are talking non-fat milk weak. This is something I have talked about a lot here on the blog as well as on all of my social media channels. What many of you think is conflict is nothing more than a complication. So, let's start with the second one.

A complication is something that is easily overcome. I am going to date myself here but think of those 80's sitcoms where someone overhears their roommate talking on the phone and they hear the person talking about "being pregnant." Oh my God! Now what! So the entire episode is spent thinking the person is pregnant when in reality they are talking about the pet dog. How could this have been solved? By simply asking the person. That my friends is a complication. 

Now, when it comes to romances, this is what I often see. The two characters are just not sure if they want to commit to a relationship. They like each other but... are they ready? How do they over come their "conflict" (as you like to call it)? They just have to say "let's do it!" Sorry, not a conflict. 

A conflict means that there needs to be something truly standing in their way. A conflict means that it is going to have to probably be big enough that someone might have to give something up. We often call this the dark moment. I mean, think about this term. We call it "DARK" for a reason. The reader will figure everything is over!

I always like to think of the final scene in Harry Potter Deathly Hollows Part II when Harry tells Voldemort we're jumping. The audience knows this is the end. Their all dying.

But then...

You have forgotten that dang Horocrux thing. This is a dark moment where you really thought all hope was lost!

Now, let's get back to those romances. 

My wife had me watch Office Romance with Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein a couple of nights ago. This, my friends has a true conflict in it. If you have not watched it, please go ant watch it. I am not going to spoil it for you but let me just say, they have to make a decision between romance and career. Even individually they have to decide between careers and their personal family decisions. (That's the best I can give you without spoiling it).  

So please, when you get comments back from editors and agents about conflict, or we need you to "up the stakes" think conflict. This might be where you are lacking!

There Are No Fixed Rules In Writing - But There Are Fixed Rules

Yes, I know this is one of those weird things in publishing, but let's face it, this is a strange business. One minute a genre is hot and then tomorrow, nobody likes the genre. The same goes with rules of writing.

I think that too often, writers seem to believe that each genre out there has a specific set of rules you have to follow. Maybe it is something that people just pass on through word of mouth. Maybe it is something that people who claim to be "specialists" teach in their workshops (along with this fabulous tonic that will cure all diseases), but more than likely, it is something that writers just "think" they are supposed to do because they "see it" when they "read it." 

But here is the reality. When it comes to telling a story, there really is not fixed rule. Write a great story. Keep the reader engaged. Create strong characters, a great setting, a great conflict and you are off and running. That's easy, right?

HOWEVER...

We can't go crazy here. This is not CALVIN BALL

If you remember the rules, "anything goes and you can change the rules at anytime." Nope! Not going to happen here. We have to have some stability. So, let's get back to our HOWEVER and consider a few rules...

CAN WE WRITE IN FIRST PERSON? You betcha... however, there are certainly some lines that are going to say we are not going to take that type of writing. They never have and they never will. If you have not read their lines, do not expect them to change. If you submit a first person story to them, expect a reject.

DUEL POV IS IN SO WE ALL WRITE IN THAT STYLE Ok, so we see people writing that way. They label each chapter with a character's name and use the whole chapter for that character. SO WHAT?!?! Does that mean you have to do it that way? Sorry to this, but the romance genre has been doing that for A LOOONNNNGGGG TIME but just have not been labeling chapters, or just did duel POV within a chapter (what a concept, huh?). Again, some publishers will say no to this.

NEW ADULT IS ALWAYS IN FIRST PERSON - Again, this is a myth. Writing in first person is based on the story. If the story is best written in first person, then write it in first person. If writing it in third person is better, then write it that way. Don't believe that myth. BTW... the same goes for Romantic Comedies.

EVERY SERIES ROMANCE HAS TO HAVE THE CHARACTERS INTERACTING IN THE FIRST CHAPTER - Here is the thing about a series romance. There is a word count restraint. Part of the reason you see the interaction happening so quickly is that the authors don't have 80-100 K. HOWEVER... It does not mean that your character has to interact with each other in the first chapter, HOWEVER, since you don't have much time, I would not be waiting past the end of chapter 2.

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NEEDS A PROLOGUE WITH THE VILLAIN. Ummm, why? Sure, we want to start with action, but do we really have to see some weirdo with no context? Not necessarily? The question is always, "does the story need it?"

ROMANCE NEEDS HOT SEX Ok, this is one of those where the guys trying to break into the business screw it up. Remember, the romance genre is about following a relationship from essentially nothing to the HEA (Happily Ever After). That's it. If they decide to "do it" and the story needs it then feel free to put in the story. If the characters are fine with out it, then keep it out.

I hope you are seeing what I am talking about here.

Historical Romance Is Not Dead + A #MSWL

 Feel free to forward! 

What We Say We Represent, We Really Do Mean It

I have to post this today because I find it really funny. Now, when I say funny, I mean, it is something I laugh at because I can see how unprofessional, and yes I am going to say "stupid" here, people are in this business. People who think they somehow know better. 

I want you to learn from these people and to NOT do what they are doing. I especially want you to learn from this considering this is another one of those "AGENT" people that someone has gone out and hired to find an AGENT to represent their client. 

When an agent or an editor states clearly on their website (or for that matter anywhere in public) what they represent or acquire. That is it. This is a black and white issue. There are no tricks to this. There are not hidden secrets. We are not like the "secret menu" at Starbucks or any other restaurant. We put that information out there for a reason. To help you make the right decision. To help you decide if we are the right place to send your project to. Here is an analogy.

If you see this...

Are you going to yell at the store manager when they don't have...

I would doubt it. 

You wouldn't even go into the store. You would drive right by it and go find the store that is right for you. Why? Because you used that skill you learned in Pre-school and Kindergarten when you started with...

And yet...

Here we are today. With this nice little rant on a Thursday. When I say I only represent traditional romance and women's fiction. When I say I DO NOT represent movies. What do you think that means? 

So I got one...and I rejected it... Because it was a Mafia, Thriller, Screenplay with no romance at all. 

And the guy proceeded to reply back with how the state of the industry had gone down hill and how on Earth could someone turn down someone who had been represented by William Morrow (OK, so if he had been why isn't he now and why is he selling his soul to this guy?) and he had sold over 20+ books with WM and I can see his success on Google and Amazon (again, if he was that good, why isn't he still there?)... 

But I am getting sidetracked. How is it the industry that is failing. It is the simple fact that we have another case of someone not using their reading skills. What I say I represent, I really do mean it. 

End of story. 

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