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Wannabe Writers is a weekly event held by Sarah at Confessions of the Un-Published.
Where I am in the writing process: Since I just did last week's wannabe writers yesterday, I'm in about the same place. About 46,000 words in. I'm hoping to get some writing in between loads of laundry today.
My current problems: My current problem will probably stay the same over the course of the next three odd weeks or so. We're closing on a house on Wednesday, so I am going to have a hard time fitting writing in with all the work that we need to do before we move in!
My question this week: Writing Romance? How to develop a relationship out of thin air and make it believable? (And not just lust)
In my current WIP, two of the characters have liked each other since they met, but complications prevent them from getting together right away. I tend to write romance as I do any other new relationship in a novel, the characters get to know each other, and then things develop from there. I enjoy building a certain amount of romantic tension between characters, so when they finally do get together, the reader is generally excited. I'm not talking about 400 pages of lead-up to the actual romantic event, but a little tension can go a long way. I generally don't write two characters meeting and fireworks going off the second they lay eyes on each other. It is a believable device-but only when used sparingly.
I like that slow build too. The book I'm writing right now is the quick, love at first sight sorta thing. I'm not sure how it's working or if it even sounds believable.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you ask most people, we all usually have that love at first sight love in our past. So it IS a believable device. If you're writing a YA novel, the love at first sight device will be more believable to the reader, because teenagers tend to have more open hearts than adults. They're less guarded.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on building romance. A little tension keeps you on your seat and begging for more.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes build slow, sometimes fast. If it's two teenagers who are instantly physically attracted to each other, they're going to be drawn more to the lustful side of things, you know? I try to do what's natural, but I also don't call every relationship "love."
ReplyDelete46,000 words - wow! That is awesome. About building romance...great advice. I'm with Swimmer on this! Love the tension.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I finally figured out how to comment on your blog. Yeah me! Home buying and moving are so stressful. If you manage to get in some writing, you are an awesome person. Slow build for romance is good. I can already see some edits coming my way in order to build the romance. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI concur with your approach, but I'm starting to think at little deviation isn't too bad. Congratulations on the house and good luck on the closing.
ReplyDeleteI think building up slowly feels more real, but fireworks have their place too (when used sparingly, like you said).
ReplyDeleteMaybe during all the stuff you have to do in the next few weeks, your brain will be busy churning out ideas! Happy writing!