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As romance novelists, it's our job to
weave stories that gives readers a front row seat to watch the unfolding of a
beautiful love story.
So what's the best way to show a
couple moving from “Hello my name is” (or
even “I despise you”) to “You're
my soulmate and I want to spend the rest of my life with you?”
Having been disappointed by numerous
novels where the couple claimed to suddenly “be in
love” without actually “falling in love,” I went on a quest
to investigate this mysterious process of falling head over heels. What I
discovered changed my writing.
I dissected some fifty romance novels
and made notes. All the couples had hefty doses of attraction, but the most
satisfying stories went beyond attraction to something deeper. They showed the
characters passing through four phases that moved them step by step from “meh” (or downright hatred) to “wowie-zowie
he's the most wonderful person in the world.” And each phase seemed to be characterized by
distinct thought patterns—particularly if at first Prince Charming seemed to be
more of a frog than a prince. Here are the stages I observed:
Acknowledgement of him:
-Acknowledges some good quality about
him (talented, kind, generous, etc)
-Finds him attractive
-Hyper aware of him, or hyper critical
of his shortcomings (which often signals preoccupation or a subconscious denial
of admiration)
-Acknowledges an attraction, but blows
it off
Appreciation of his good qualities:
-Defends his character while not
necessarily liking him
-Is genuinely thankful for a good
quality
-Beginning to warm towards him
-Not so judgmental towards him
-More willing to consider his opinion
on a matter
Admiration:
-Takes his advice
-Imitates quality or action of his
-Admits her initial criticism or
objections were exaggerated or biased
-Curiosity grows—willing to spend more
time in his company
-Acknowledges similar values or mutual
interests
-Finds she is thinking (fondly) of him
more and more
Adoration
-Openly acknowledges her love/warm
feelings for him
-Desires to be in his company
-Thinks he is wonderful
-Thinks he is perfect match
-Misses him painfully when he is gone
-Thinks
about him constantly
So how
did this awareness of stages change my writing? In my novel Darcy's Hope ~
Beauty from Ashes, I kept these stages and behaviours in mind as I
crafted scenes. They became an outline of sorts that I wove with
compelling action, mystery, suspense, and historical detail. When my characters
(Jane Austen's iconic Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet) are reunited at a
WWI field hospital, Elizabeth is none too happy to encounter Darcy. And
although she disdains him, I had her acknowledge that he is handsome and
there is something between them. This cracks the door to romance and
gets readers rooting for the couple.
Then, I
moved her into the appreciation stage by
having her surprise herself by praising and defending Darcy to a colleague.
After she directly benefits from his wise leadership, she comes to appreciate
him, even though she still doesn't like him. Readers can feel her slowly
warming towards him and eagerly turn pages to find out how the couple will sort
out the baggage between them.
As truths of Darcy's past are
dramatically revealed and she comes to understand him better, I have her admit
that her initial criticisms were misplaced. Now, with a softened heart, she's
able to look at him more objectively. Then I set up an ah-ha moment where she
realizes they both share a similar deep-seated insecurity which turns her
reservations about him into empathy. Now that her appreciation has turned to
admiration, her feelings are almost there! And readers are waiting with
bated breath to find out what it will take for him to fully win her heart.
I gave
him some scenes that show off his admirable qualities, so not only does she
find herself attracted to him, she admires his leadership, work ethic, and
drive. Then I purposely played up the things they have in common and showed her
enjoying his company. In short, I showed them building a relationship.
Finally, after they share a heroic act and laugh over a tent whipping in the
wind, she realizes that in fact she adores
him.
Intentionally
crafting scenes that follow this four-stage progression of romance enables
readers to sense her falling in love, so it's no surprise when she
finally declares it. I
think a lot of romance authors make the mistake of never showing the
characters moving beyond physical attraction and chemistry. It's not easy! But to write a fulfilling romance, the
characters need to interact on a deep level and share common interests. Readers
should see the couple building a relationship and hear their
internal dialog as their thoughts and feelings evolve.
Using
this four step model, I think Darcy's Hope has succeeded in providing
readers a deep sense of satisfaction as they watch the heroine's tiny bud of
acknowledgement open into appreciation, then expand with admiration, and
finally blossom into full adoration.
What
challenges do you face showing a couple falling in love?
Ginger Monette
Downton Abbey Meets Pride & Prejudice in The Darcy's Hope Saga!
Escape to the era of Downton Abbey and experience all the drama of
World War 1 alongside Jane Austen's iconic Elizabeth Bennet & Fitzwilliam
Darcy. You'll watch their tender love unfold as they learn to work together and
reconcile their differences at a field hospital only miles from the Front. When
injury and espionage separate the couple, Darcy is crushed. But Donwell Abbey
holds a secret that just might change everything.
“…a stellar example of fine Austenesque literature. …an
exceptionally moving story complete with a compelling plot, danger, mystery,
action, introspection, vivid detail, and an emotionally wrought romance.”
~Austenesque Reviews
***
***
Author: Ginger
Monette
Website: GingerMonette.com
Romance sizzle rating: mild. Clean story with minor
language, and some war scenes.
Purchase Links:
-Darcy’s Hope at Donwell Abbey: Universal link for all retailers. https://www.books2read.com/u/3GMPaK
***** 90% of reviews are five star!
The Darcy’s Hope Saga:
Vol 1: Darcy’s Hope ~ Beauty from Ashes
Vol 2: Darcy’s Hope at Donwell Abbey
Video Trailer: youtu.be/px2fUiZdpGI?t=3s
Thank you, Ana, for hosting me today : ) I’ve been surprised how much “strategy” is involved in crafting a good romance. Although a solid premise is the foundational start, there are many tricks like plotting the story through stages like this that can be the difference in a good romance and a great one.
ReplyDeleteAfter pasturing two novels, I decided I needed to write detailed plot outlines (after the detailed character descriptions) before I sit down to write. So I agree completely about the strategy. Your 4-steps are super. I will merge them with Linda Howard's Steps toward Intimacy.
DeletePantsering , not pasturing. Darn auto-correct.
DeleteI have plot ideas for about 7 novels. Whenever I get a good idea for one, I jot it in that story's file. Lately I've been thinking that when I get ready to write the stories, I will create a few skeleton-type outlines: one that follows the basic three act structure (I love the model here: http://www.screenwritingtricks.com/2009/04/story-elements-checklist.html ) one that follows these four steps, and one that outlines the character arc as he evolves over the course of the story (loved this article http://ocwriters.network/2017/02/14/crafting-strong-romance/ ) The outlines don't have to be fancy, just hitting some high points so the romance follows a natural progression. I think it will help spark ideas for scenes as well when I see 'gaps' that need to be filled.
DeleteHi Ginger, welcome to HWH. That's a great observation about the steps to characters falling in love. You're right, I think authors do sometimes rush the process, forgetting that readers can't see inside their heads. You've simplified it, though, so it's crystal clear. Love the time period you're writing in--can't wait to read your books. Thanks again for visiting!
ReplyDeleteI've fallen in love with the time period too! My Darcy's Hope books set during this era are quite an adventure--full of romance but a real taste of the sobering times.
DeleteGreat post! I'm going to print this out as a reference. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Ginger, What a great post! What you've said is so true, and I think it's something we all need to keep in mind. I'll be keeping this post bookmarked as a go-to during planning and revising stages. Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, Ginger - many thanks. I shall definitely keep it for future reference :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great comments! I've been working on another post with specific scenes types that work well for exemplifying these steps, so perhaps you'll see that in a future post : )
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see that post, Ginger!
DeleteA fascinating post. It made me re-evaluate how I approach my own character's journey towards each other. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteCarol not unknown!
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