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The ending of a romance is as
important as the opening pages. No matter what has happened, what trials our heroine
and hero have gone through, what obstacles have been in their way, it is
vitally important that everything is resolved before the inevitable happy
ending.
Achieving this is not without
its problems. Heroes and heroines face difficult decisions. Always there is the
seemingly unattainable. Their first meeting is rarely a happy one. We tread
their path with them as they go on their voyage of discovery. There are many ups
and downs and the reader is sometimes left thinking there cannot be any future
for them. How can they possibly overcome their differences?
It is up to us, the writers,
to make sure they do. Our characters need to accept that they must change, that
they need to give a little. Heroes in romances are generally (but not always) men
at the top of their profession, who live a life of luxury, who treat women
(perhaps) as commodities. Not necessarily deliberately but their wealth has made
them a little wary of the opposite sex.
It takes a long while for
them to trust a woman, to wholly trust her, they’ve had too many disappointments
in life. And so the path of a romance is with the hero learning to trust his
woman, but also, equally as important, for the heroine to earn that trust.
There is the inevitable ‘black
moment’ before hero and heroine finally confess their love. And I’m not talking
simply about admitting it to each other, but to themselves as well. It could
still be a long time before they let their feelings be known.
The joy of writing a romance
is going on this voyage of discovery with the characters, living it with them,
being sad when they are sad and happy when things go well, especially when everything
comes together at the end. I’ve had tears in my eyes but also many smiles. Many
feelings of satisfaction.
the hea is such a thrilling moment. do u ever write an epilogue, margaret?
ReplyDeleteNo, Ana. It's something I've never done. Perhaps it's something I should think about.
DeleteAlthough (with respect) I tend to disagree with your description of heroes, I agree with everything else about the ending of a romance novel. The hero and heroine must work hard to overcome problems (both internal and external) to earn their happy ending.
ReplyDeleteWe write different types of romance but happily the endings are all happy ones.
DeleteI think what makes reading a romance so satisfying is that regardless of the type of hero or heroine, we get to watch the journey unfold and root for them to succeed together despite the odds.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Jennifer.
DeleteI think romance heroes have definitely changed over time.
ReplyDeleteWhen I start a story, I generally know how it begins and how it ends...and then the fun of getting from point A to point B begins!
What I dislike are books that wrap everything up in the last page or two without really resolving the issues and conflicts presented in the middle of the story. The ending needs to feel real, not contrived.
Really interesting post there Margaret. As I edit my first novel I hope I've been able to follow your points and the story is about the journey the hero and heroine make in getting to know each other and overcoming the obstacles in their way to a happy ending. I also agree with Debra and hope my ending is satisfying, as you said, but not contrived in any way.
ReplyDeleteMy hero is completely different to one described by you. He is a local GP, very caring, not rich, well thought of by his patients and certainly does not see woman as a commodity. My protagonists really like each other as soon as they meet but circumstances and old relationship problems keep them apart. So, a different sort of romance and romantic hero but still a happy ending. :)