Yuck. That’s usually my response to any romance novel. But that’s only because I have high expectations.
Reality doesn’t have a Chris Hemsworth bumping into a Jennifer Lopez in the grocery store while her ex Jason Mamoa seethes with jealousy in the background. And if that is reality, then it’s really boring. It’s more obvious in movies, but even books have drop-dead gorgeous characters that whine about if the guy likes them and how quickly they can get into bed together. But love doesn’t work that way.
In honor of Valentine’s day (this is your four day heads-up), I’m going over the basic necessities of the romance genre and throwing in some ideas for how to avoid cringey, one-sided love.
What Makes a Romance Novel?
Every genre has a set of guidelines that must be maintained. This isn’t to say you can’t break the rules, but unless your name is J.K. Rowling or Rick Riordan, you’ll have a better chance of getting a contract if you stay within range of the goal.
According to author and writing instructor Lee Roddy, 60k to 100k words is the target for romance novels (pg 28). Writers cram multiple scenes into longer chapters, featuring a major moment every five or so (Roddy, pg 28). Romances include the same basics as any other novel genre: background, character, situation, problem, conflict, obstacles, goal. The primary plot line is getting your star-crossed lovers together (obviously), but the scenery and parallel plot lines can be anything your heart desires.
While you let your imagination roam the rolling hills of some far off planet, remember to include these three stages. The beginning stage sets the tone for the entire book. Bring in the background and introduce the characters to each other. Something to note is that the female is usually the primary voice and is introduced first; most romance readers are women so it’s an easy trick to engage them quickly (Roddy, pg 31). In the middle, the fun happens. Obstacles and subplots create tension that interfere with the primary goal: the lovers being together. Ending the novel reveals how the characters can’t live apart and they inevitably come together in a happily ever after.
The romance genre is constantly changing as readers crave a new twist. Vampires in, vampires out. Magic in, magic out. Reading the genre and being inspired by your peers’ work is the best way to stay on top of trends. But here’s some ideas I think would greatly improve the genre.
Idea 1: Skip the Love at First Sight
The Proposal is a hysterical romcom where the two lovers work together but aren’t attracted to one another. The woman didn’t even notice her male coworker until it was advantageous for her. While both actors are fairly good-looking, this storyline promotes learning about the person rather than being instantly in love.
“Love at first sight” and unbelievably beautiful people aren’t realistic and have been done to death. More romances have a steady learning process, but there’s still this underlying sense of “they really like each other.” I personally think playing with the characters as friends rather than lovers allows you to develop the relationship without it feeling super obvious. Moments can be intensified later, but skipping the immediate attraction provides the opportunity to develop the plot and characters.
Idea 2: Forget Sex
When reading a book, I cringe and try to skip sex scenes, especially explicit description and erotic pillow talk. In all honesty, it’s filler.
It doesn’t move the story forward. Sex in a book is all pleasure and a “cheat code” to romance and connection. But that’s not how you maintain a love relationship. The best connections are built outside of the bedroom. Remembering birthdays, going to the movies, late night phone calls. A relationship built on physical attraction alone is one-sided and won’t last.
Rather than waste your limited word count on saucy scenes, develop the characters, the story, and the ups and downs of their relationship. I do realize that some people want gruesome sex, but it’s better to create a realistic connection that engages even the greatest romance skeptics. If you succeed in winning over them, then you’ve created a life-like batch of characters that people across genre root for.
Idea 3: Don’t Play Bachelor/Bachelorette
Love triangles are the worst. So are love squares, pentagons, hexagons… you know what, any love polygon is just awful. There’s a lot of characters to deal with, some who are obviously not worth the time of the main character. The times I have seen this bachelor method have been a copyright of the show: big competition with multiple ladies or men competing. Because of the multitude of characters, some get very flat depictions that make it obvious who’s going to win. Yet when it is obvious, the characters play the field with one-dimensional shells, creating unrealistic drama and jealousy.
Have I mentioned I dislike love polygons? Obviously from my Story of the Day collection The Servant I couldn’t get the competition idea out of my mind. Maybe that’s why people love the chaos, but I get frustrated. Hence why I’m trying to find the best way to “un-cliche” the Bachelor.
Could be my personal beliefs or perhaps it’s the missing key, though I find not playing bachelor to be the best bachelor method. I read a book where one girl was rooming with four guys. I didn’t realize the love polygon I had walked into until I got attached to every man and the plot. Some were a stretch for her “attraction,” but I got so invested in the individuals and the mystery that I worked with the obvious bachelorette plot line. Deep characters and an interesting storyline can carry the swirl of attractions a long way. But it all hinges on the characters.
Final Thoughts: Characters that Amaze, More Inside than Out
Seems obvious, but there’s a reason why I say this. Romance novels are like the Hallmark channel: done to death. There is a reader base that loves to receive the same storyline over and over, but why not wow them with something groundbreaking? Rather than focus so heavily on the romance, bring in a story that allows the characters to develop as people and slowly come together.
I’m a skeptic, though I have discovered love stories that impressed me. It’s possible to make your romance engage readers outside your genre, meaning a greater audience who enjoys your work. Promote a good story with worthwhile characters and watch the readers eat up your romantic antics.