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It’s easy to show romance in a romance novel if you write
about sex. But what if you don’t want to write about sex? Or what if you want
to show romance in other ways? How can you show your characters’ feelings for
each other without having them constantly jumping into bed (or the couch, the
floor, the car, the beach, etc.)?
One way to show romance is with dialogue. I recently read a
book where the hero was very guarded and took a long time to trust people. He
made a huge mistake, but he wasn’t the type to apologize. And, his mistake
needed more than just an “I’m sorry.” So, he came to the heroine in the middle
of the night, when neither of them could sleep, and explained why he’d done
what he’d done. The room was dark. There was nothing to see, nothing to
describe. All we had was his voice and his words. He confided in her. It was
one of the most romantic scenes in the entire book.
Another way is with a look. Using vivid imagery to describe
a character’s eyes or a glance or the result of that glance can show the
romance felt between two characters—or even one if it’s unrequited. Again, I
read a book where the hero was wearing a mask (kind of silly, but it was
historical, so maybe forgiven) and his eyes showed more of him than his entire
face unmasked. Just by looking into his eyes, the heroine was able to tell
exactly what he was feeling.
How about actions? The heroine can go out of her way to do
something nice for the hero. The hero can fix a problem that has been plaguing
the heroine. They can write each other notes. Love letters written by former
President Nixon to his wife before they married showed how much he loved her.
He’s not exactly a romantic character, but even he had his moments. http://news.yahoo.com/love-letters-reveal-nixons-sensitive-side-103142583--abc-news.html
What other ways can you show romance?
Great comments, Jen! Interestingly, I just asked members of a critique loop how they approached writing love scenes to avoid redundant tab A into slot B. It's showing the risk the characters are talking by becoming intimate. How they change, thus advancing the plot. How they feel about themselves, and how the other person makes them feel during lovemaking, and after.
ReplyDeleteVery sensual stuff that doesn't have to be graphic.
Thanks, Ana. I'm not against writing sex scenes (they're fun--honey, time to practice!) but you're right, they can get very clinical. I'm trying to find creative ways to show the same thing, and build the level of sensuality.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy romances that have more of the dialogue and sexual tension build up than the ones where someone jumps into bed every 30 or 40 pages.
ReplyDeleteAll the elements you mention are important - for most of us, I think it's the little things in real life that make us feel loved, so it would make sense to look for it in a novel as well.
Agree that the most sensual and romanctic scenes are not necessarily the 'sex' scenes. Exchanged glances and tender looks can say the proverbial thousand words, laughter is good too, maybe as they're cooking a meal together, or simply holding hands during a walk in the country or on a beach. I think the main thing to explore is how these things make the character 'feel', so that the reader also feels it too.
ReplyDeleteKatie, I agree with you. The more buildup there is, the more vested we are in the outcome.
ReplyDeletePaula, the best author I've ever read when it comes to showing feelings is Lynn Kurland. She has pages of details that fly by and make you feel like you are that character.
I try and show romance in my books with just the sort of things mentioned in this article. I don't write steamy love scenes. At most, my books contain one. I enjoy the build-up of tension, the little things a couple does for the other to show how much they care for each other, a touch, a look, a gesture. Romance is not all about sex. I prefer to think of a romance as a love story.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what I'm talking about, Peggy.
ReplyDeleteI think romance can be found in all of those little things: Holding the door open, his hand on the small of her back as they walk, holding hands, running her fingers through his hair...
ReplyDeleteMaybe an appropriate comment that I've just seen on Facebook: 'Don't fall in love with someone who says the right things, fall in love with someone who does the right things.' It seems to sum up what we've all said about romance.
ReplyDeleteYes, Debra, all those things demonstrate romance. And Paula, I like that FB comment.
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