Romance

Modern Romance novels usually focus on the struggles the character faces while finding Mr. or Mrs. Right.

Although the character may also be dealing with other struggles, such as losing a job, handling difficult parents, etc.

Romances stereotypically end with an optimistic and feel-good ending.

Game: Finding Romantic Tropes

1. Stereotypes may want to avoid eg: cool boy finds out nerdy girl is beautiful at the prom

2. May want to have an ironic inversion of the tropes eg: ‘Always’= ‘Okay’

3. Tropes can be useful if creating feel-good novel, light-hearted, weak plot?

Types

Gothic

1. Popular in the 19th Century

2. Supernatural, transcendence

3. Obsession & Irrationality

4. Horror, dark settings

5. Wuthering Heights-Emily Brontë

6. The Scarlet Letter- Nathaniel Hawthorne

“Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same”- Wuthering Heights

Historical

1. Considered to be prior 1950s

2. Jazz age, World Wars, Victorian, Pre-colonial

3. The language use fits with era (can’t say “ily” in 1919)

4. Characters may have different roles than they would today: Servant vs Queen

Contemporary

1. Set post-1950s, so now!

2. Usually Happily Ever Afters

3. Modern setting, language etc.

4. Realistic scenarios and outcomes

5. Focus on emotional side of the relationship

6. 
   

Young Adult

1. Combination of different genres (like the supernatural or sci-fi)

2. Teenage issues and love lives is the focus

3. Coming-of-age

4. Love drives the plot-line

Sci-Fi/Supernatural/Fantasy

1. Magic/werewolves/different world/in space

2. Could have love relations with vampires, ghosts, demons

3. Maybe it is forbidden or the human realm interferes?

4. Can be futuristic, love interests are aliens

5. How does love factor into these different relationships

6. Love triangles common.

Steps

1. The first encounter

2. Building the relationship= building trust and romantic suspense

3. Momentary happiness

4. (your anecdotes and key situations are established here)

5. Heartbreak=broken relationship

6. Attempts to mend the relationship

7. Happy Ending!?

Consider adding other dynamics which may trouble the love story:

1. Race, sexuality, disability

2. Forbidden love/love triangle/affairs

Remember to love YOURSELF before you write about it!

PROMPTS:

Gothic/Historical/Contemporary/Young-Adult/Sci-fi/Supernatural/Fantasy

1. No-one knew who the strange man in the Dark Castle was…but I was determined to find out!

2. I wondered what the Czar would think of me, if I wore his mistress’ lipstick?

3. She always marks by Starbucks Coffee with a heart…what does that mean?!

4. The goblins feared the pixie race as they had created a powerful love potion.

5. My heart aches for you, when will you be released from the basement?

6. The Jazz musicians have a way with the ladies, but it takes more than a singing voice to impress me.

7. The babysitter and my wife in the same room for tea? This could be awkward.

8.There was a portrait of a beautiful person on the wall, and I swear I saw the eyes wink at me…

Helpful sites:

What is Romance as a gerne: https://writingcooperative.com/what-defines-a-romance-story-39cff8c730a6