Sex: Differences Between Men and Women

Women believe relationships should be repaired before lovemaking. Men believe sex repairs relationships.

Publishing Tuesday: Romance Genre

ROMANTIC CONFLICT

When developing the romantic conflict, ask yourself these questions.

What is the hero's initial impression of the heroine? Why does that change?

What is the heroine's initial impression of the hero? Why does that change?

What do they offer each other emotionally that they cannot find elsewhere (or give themselves)?

In what way do they complete each other? What makes them perfect for each other? How can this be shown (not told!) to the reader?

What is the trigger that causes each character to fall in love? What event/revelation convinces them they've succumbed/fallen in love?

Publishing Tuesday: Harlequin Category Romance

The various Harlequin lines are very different, and may prefer things such as feisty heroines who don't want help even if they need it, alpha males for heroes, gritty protective heroes, heaps of sexual tension throughout, forced proximity, serious emotional baggage, babies, excitement, characters the reader can relate to, and heroines who can match wits with anyone.

www.eHarlequin.com

Publishing Tuesday: Romance Genre

MOTIVATION AND RISK

Over the course of a romance novel, the romantic stakes need to rise. The hero and heroine need to become more and more invested in each other.

Publishing Tuesday: Romance Genre

TROUBLE IN (RELATIONSHIP) PARADISE

Danger signals
-contempt
-withdrawal
-defensiveness
-critcism
If the hero and/or heroine acts this way, make sure they're properly motivated so the reader still likes them.

Vernacular: HEA

Happily Ever After, most often found in romance, but a key element in most mainstream (non-literary) fiction.

Characterization in Romance

A strong woman needs an equally strong man who is mature enough and self-confident enough to let her BE strong.

Publishing Tuesdays: Romance Genre

FALLING IN LOVE

Bronwyn Jameson stresses the importance of including “less confrontational scenes that still include conflict. They could be talking, working together, sharing a new understanding... and that may only make matters worse! BECAUSE THE STAKES ARE NOW HIGHER.”

This is to avoid a situation where the hero and heroine hate each other for 399 pages but fall in love just in time for the HEA on page 400.

To add to her advice, I’d also suggest scenes like:

1) Hero and Heroine forced to work together for common goal (such as shared enemy)
2) Hero or Heroine discovers that the other has unexpectedly done something nice/thoughtful for them (or a third party, such as a loved one) without any expectation of reward/compensation
3) Hero or Heroine discovers the other has heretofore unknown skills or qualities (from alto sax to altruism)
4) Hero and Heroine discover they have unexpected common ground, such as shared interests, beliefs, goals, or values