The key elements of strong romance writing
Writing romantic fiction is very popular and there are many people who want to pen the next Gone with the Wind or Dr Zhivago. However, writing romantic fiction is not easy and as with all styles of writing, there are certain criteria that you need to follow. Mills and Boon stories may seem simple when you read them, but there is still a lot of work and preparation that goes into them.
If you do wish to write romantic fiction, one of the best ways of getting an idea about the genre, style and type of language used is to read other books. This way you can put together a picture and develop an awareness of the language used and start to build a background of the genre. By reading other romance novels you will get the feel of what works well and what doesn’t so that you can use this knowledge in your writing. If you really want to get to know your craft you need to study it so the more books you read the better. Think of it as studying for an exam, but far more enjoyable!
There are a number of key elements that need to be included in romance writing to make it strong and likely to be noticed by a publisher. Some of these are listed below:
· A good opening line. Most people tend to read the opening line and the back cover of a book before deciding to buy it so the opening line needs to be strong and capture the reader from the off. ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Maderley again…’
· Good punctuation and grammar. This may seem a given, but if these elements are poor, your manuscript will be rejected without the story ever being read.
· Good dialogue is also a requirement. Each line has to ensure that the story is advanced, the connection between the hero/heroine is intensified and any conflict between them is deepened.
· A compelling plot will always capture the reader’s imagination. Always maintain the underlying storyline of romance. Focus on the relationship of the hero and heroine and their emotions.
· You can incorporate sub-plots such a murder story or a medical story, but always maintain the underlying story of romance.
· Show rather than tell the emotions of a character e.g. ‘her eyes twinkled as she skipped along grinning’ rather than ‘she was happy’.
· Build scenes – ideally each scene should leave the reader wondering what happens next. As one conflict is resolved, another bigger one should take over compelling the reader to find out how the hero or heroine deals with it. Build conflict that keeps the hero/heroine apart which creates intrigue.
· Build strong characters. Ensure that your characters grow throughout the book and make the reader care for your characters.
· Alongside building the conflict between the characters, sexual tension should be built on between the hero/heroine.
· A happy ending. All readers like a happy ending and this is your chance to wrap the story up!
This list is by no means exhaustive, but these are some of the key elements to incorporate when writing a romance piece.
One of the only ways to really develop your romance writing skills, however, is to write as much as possible. Practice, practice, practice! The more you write, the more you will learn to incorporate all these elements and create a romantic masterpiece!