Kimberly Llewellyn's Blog - Posts Tagged "how-to-write"
So, you want to write a romance novel?
So, you want to write a romance novel? Before you do, be sure to understand the “obstacle” in your love story. A romance novel focuses on the romantic relationship between the hero and heroine as they reach their happily ever after (HEA). The journey toward getting there however is not an easy one as these two characters must overcome one or more obstacles to love.
The obstacles that stand in the way of a romance make a character resistant to love. Obstacles are both internal and external conflicts that keep the hero and heroine emotionally apart until the very end of your story. Internal conflicts include emotional issues or fears, such as wounds from the past or fear of getting hurt.
External conflicts involve outside circumstances. Perhaps the heroine is engaged to another or the hero is taking over the heroine’s company. Often these issues/obstacles are right out in the open; other times, they involve a painful secret.
Conflicts need to be emotionally compelling. For example, how can the heroine possibly be falling in love with the hero when he is responsible for the death of her father? It is up to you, the writer, to explore this relationship and discover how she overcomes such an emotional hurdle. Nothing can bring back the heroine’s father, making this an insurmountable obstacle. Only through the growing relationship -- and the power of love -- can the heroine overcome the pain of her past to have a future with the hero.
In my medical romance, Playboy Doctor, the heroine, Willow Brady, cannot conceive children. She hides this painful secret from the hero, Shayne Edwards. Shayne wants children and wrestles with his feelings for Willow due to his hardened heart. He’d been left emotionally devastated by another woman’s painful deception; can he risk his heart again? Heartbreak and lies keep these two apart emotionally until almost the last page as they face very real conflicts.
Elements that don’t constitute conflict include small setbacks like a flat tire, bickering, or a simple misunderstanding. These merely complicate matters. In a misunderstanding or miscommunication, if the obstacle can be cleared up in a few sentences of dialogue between the hero and heroine, then the conflict isn’t strong enough. Complications can be in your story, but take a good look at your deeper, emotional conflicts. If they aren’t strong -- if they don’t cut to the bone -- then do your best to strengthen the conflict. Doing so will raise the stakes in your story and ultimately provide a more compelling romance novel for your readers.
Thank you for letting me share a quintessential element to writing a romance novel! Happy writing!
Kimberly Llewellyn
aka The Wedding Writer
The obstacles that stand in the way of a romance make a character resistant to love. Obstacles are both internal and external conflicts that keep the hero and heroine emotionally apart until the very end of your story. Internal conflicts include emotional issues or fears, such as wounds from the past or fear of getting hurt.
External conflicts involve outside circumstances. Perhaps the heroine is engaged to another or the hero is taking over the heroine’s company. Often these issues/obstacles are right out in the open; other times, they involve a painful secret.
Conflicts need to be emotionally compelling. For example, how can the heroine possibly be falling in love with the hero when he is responsible for the death of her father? It is up to you, the writer, to explore this relationship and discover how she overcomes such an emotional hurdle. Nothing can bring back the heroine’s father, making this an insurmountable obstacle. Only through the growing relationship -- and the power of love -- can the heroine overcome the pain of her past to have a future with the hero.
In my medical romance, Playboy Doctor, the heroine, Willow Brady, cannot conceive children. She hides this painful secret from the hero, Shayne Edwards. Shayne wants children and wrestles with his feelings for Willow due to his hardened heart. He’d been left emotionally devastated by another woman’s painful deception; can he risk his heart again? Heartbreak and lies keep these two apart emotionally until almost the last page as they face very real conflicts.
Elements that don’t constitute conflict include small setbacks like a flat tire, bickering, or a simple misunderstanding. These merely complicate matters. In a misunderstanding or miscommunication, if the obstacle can be cleared up in a few sentences of dialogue between the hero and heroine, then the conflict isn’t strong enough. Complications can be in your story, but take a good look at your deeper, emotional conflicts. If they aren’t strong -- if they don’t cut to the bone -- then do your best to strengthen the conflict. Doing so will raise the stakes in your story and ultimately provide a more compelling romance novel for your readers.
Thank you for letting me share a quintessential element to writing a romance novel! Happy writing!
Kimberly Llewellyn
aka The Wedding Writer
