 Romance/Love: May 05, 2010 Issue [#3691] |
  Romance/Love
This week: Edited by: StephBee  
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Spring is in the air. The scents of romance are out – fresh cut grass, blooming flowers, lilacs, and tulips. Baby birds tweet a song of endearment for their parents. Relationships are blossoming.
Today's newsletter is about relationships – specifically, the one between the hero and heroine in your budding romance. We'll take a look at what works and what doesn't. Enjoy! 
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If you think about it, the heart of any romance is the love story between the hero and heroine and how it develops. As a writer keep this in mind: readers buy a book because they want to see the hero and heroine fall in love. They want to see them meet, get acquainted, nourish warm feelings for each other, and then fall madly in love.
What Works
FINDING BALANCE
The hallmark of any romance is the attraction of the hero and heroine and it usually begins with physical attraction. The hero takes one look at the heroine and finds her stunning. The heroine finds the hero alluring, his physique defined. But there needs to be more than just physical desire to build on.
There has to be both logical and believable reasons for the hero and heroine to want to start a relationship. They have to have common values, ethics, and morals. Perhaps they're both longing for a sense of belonging, or they're both ready to start a family.
Elements such as trust, respect, kindness, and the ability to laugh are the building blocks of any relationship. The reader wants to see the hero and heroine learn to trust each other, but also be kind toward each other.
Here are some tips to help you, the writer, keep focused on your couple:
1. Never let the hero and heroine be apart for long – if they are separated by a physical distance have them call or write. Remember, couples falling in love want to see each other often.
2. Find ways to bring the hero and heroine in close contact.
3. Keep the hero and heroine alone as often as you can. If they go to a party, have them sneak off to a quiet corner.
4. Show your couple in a variety of settings. For example, going out to eat, relaxing, at work, chasing a bad guy.
5. Use dialogue effectively. Show them talking to each other about their concerns.
What Doesn't Work
When the hero and heroine meet they shouldn't fall into hate. Hate is such a strong reaction, made on very little evidence, based on misunderstanding. One can overcome the misunderstanding, but this scenario demonstrates that one half of your couple, be it the hero or heroine, is very judgmental. Do you really want your protagonists portrayed as such?
Also, when the hero and heroine meet they shouldn't fall into lust. Physical desire is not love. It's healthy that the hero and heroine have a physical awareness of each other, but lust alone is not the basis of a relationship.
Here are some things to stay away from:
1. Don't separate the couple for longer than 10 pages. How can they fall in love if they are parted for long periods of time?
2. Have the couple talk about each other to other people. Ultimately, you want them to talk to each other about how they feel.
3. Don't bring in a BIG supporting cast.
4. Don't get too technical. If the couple are doctors, don't overload the reader with a lot of medical terms. They might not understand and lose interest.
5. Try not to have the characters think too much. Actions count.
Remember, physical attraction alone isn't enough. Trust, Respect, and Kindness are all essential in building a romantic relationship.
Reference for this Newsletter: On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels, F&W Publications, 2007.
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Your Full Time Romance/Love Newsletter Editors
Crys-not really here 
StephBee
Fyn 
Briar Rose 
Thanks so much for featuring my story in the newsletter!
Great newsletter on the types of male heroes! Way to go! That "omega" type is new to me as well, but makes sense - he's in a category of his own!
I agree - The Omega is a man of his own making.
DRSmith
Two thumbs down
for your newsie I have read.
Now 'fore you crack me crown,
I'm standin' on me head.
I couldn't resist since you're rather well known for the two thumbs "up."
Thanks for the funny! Glad you liked the newsletter.
StephBee is a 911 Dispatcher for LAPD. Her short story, "Matchmaking Amusement" can be found in the Be Mused Anthology released by Desert Breeze Publishing. Her paranormal romance, "The Hungarian" is available through Desert Breeze Publishing and on Amazon for Kindle.
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