From Hot & Heavy to Happily Ever After...
Hello there, fellow booklovers!
Today we're going to talk about the multifaceted genre of romance. Ah, the burning passion, the sweet caresses, the thundering heartbeats, the throbbing— Oops… what was I talking about again? Oh yeah! Romance.💘
Whether it’s contemporary, historical, paranormal, fantasy, new adult, or dark, romance is hard to leave out of a novel, but it’s easy to make it cheesy, or cringy, or lackluster. If you're a writer who's looking to add more romance to your novel, or if you're a reader who loves reading it, this one’s for you!
As always, it’s best to start with the basics. What makes a romance novel… romantic? Is it the steamy love scenes? Or is it more about that first kiss? The meet-cute between the main characters? Could it be the heartbreaking breakup followed by the inevitable reconciliation? Is it the happy ending?
There really isn’t one answer. The romance genre can run the gamut from sweet and wholesome to naughty or dirty. What you write or read depends on your preference, or maybe your mood that day.
When making a romance novel more romantic, focusing on emotions is important. Love is all about feelings, after all. For the most part the characters should fall in love for the right reasons, and those reasons should be relatable to the reader. But there are times, especially in dark romances, where the reasons might not seem ‘right.’ The characters usually have a history of trauma that molded them into who they are. These books can be a little more heartbreaking or triggering, because they often focus on emotions we don't usually enjoy feeling or even thinking about.
A lot of times they have desires or ‘kinks’ that may not be easy to read for some people, but that doesn’t make them any less real or worthy of being included in a book. In the long run, they usually find their perfect match, and their mutual love is just as meaningful as everyone else’s.🖤
As a romance author and reader, I'm drawn to classic characteristics like the brooding hero. Mr. Rochester and Mr. Darcy were the first literary men to make my heart flutter, and they continue to inspire the grumpy love interest in many of today's romance novels.
But I also love strong, independent heroines like Jane Eyre and Katniss Everdeen. These complex female protagonists are two of my all-time favorites. Jane didn't take crap from anyone and held her own against Mr. Rochester. even during a time when women shouldn't have ever stood up for themselves. Katniss was determined, fierce, and loving. She could kickass, for sure, but she could also be comforting and vulnerable.
I personally believe characters with many layers are crucial to any successful novel, including romance. A character who is always grumpy or eternally cheerful can quickly become one-dimensional and boring. Real people are complicated, therefore characters in a novel should be as well. That’s my opinion anyway. By showing vulnerability along with other traits, characters become more relatable, and their romance more real.
Basically, for romance to sparkle, the characters should have depth and complexity. They should have flaws and weaknesses so they can grow and change throughout the story. More than likely, when you read a book and you can’t stop thinking about it, it’s because you connected with the characters. And you connected with those characters because they were relatable.
You’ve probably thought at least once in your reading life, “I wish I could meet this person in real life.” 👈That is every author’s dream, by the way!
If you’re reading this and you’re a fellow author who wants to write a romance novel, remember brooding heroes, strong heroines, and a healthy dose of swoon-worthy moments (or the right amount of spicy🌶️scenes!) are all key ingredients. And if all else fails, just add a scene where the man is chopping wood without a shirt on (*think rippling muscles and glistening sweat🥵) Readers love those!
Until next time, happy reading (or writing)!
