On Romance.
My first blog post with the round robin crew and I will have to narrow down this topic.
Why do I write romance? I think it’s quite simple really, most books that I choose to read are fiction books. In particular, I chose to read romance books. Some of my favourite authors, my go-to authors write romance.
You might say that romance novels are predictable and in some ways you would be correct. When you pick up a romance novel you know at least two people are going to have some kind of romantic connection. Therefore, two people must meet or connect in some way. The reader needs to get to know them as individuals and there almost certainly some hurdle to over come before that can be on a happy ongoing relationship. That is it’s simplest form and yet every story you pick is different. If you give 20 writers the same writing prompt they will all come up with a different story.
Baack to me. I love to people watch; I can’t help it, they fascinate me. Especially the way their behaviour changes around different people. When that connection is a romantic one, the physical changes interest me even more. The slow build up sometimes contrasted with the sudden fast changes. The way they touch each other. The way their voices change. The way their skin flushes. Maybe I spent too many nights behind the bar watch people hook up. Maybe it’s the group dynamics or the social psychology lectures from university. I do know it annoys my husband… a lot!
For me a romance story must have a least one life hurdle to overcome, because let’s face it life is like that. The universe likes to keep you on your toes and so do most romance writers. I like to help them overcome those problems. The solutions can be yet another challenge.
And characters, I love mine and I think I know a lot of why they behave how they do, but that’s a whole other blog post.
I find a romance story uplifting. The promise of a happy ending is something I need. There are enough bad days in our lives. Enough days of emotional turmoil, and endings that aren’t good. I don’t want to risk my heart by reading a book where there’s no guarantee of a happy ending. So that is something I always want to promise my readers that no matter what trials and tribulations I push my characters through, there will always be a happy ending.
So, it’s quite simple, I write the sort of books I like to read..
What about you what to you love or hate about romance novels?
You might want to read some thoughts from a few other people. These bloggers are all writing about the same subject today.
Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-3pV
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Diane Bator https://escapewithawriter.wordpress.com/
Sally Odgers https://behindsallysbooks.blogspot.com/2025/02/romance.html
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Anne Graham https://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
It’s good to see what you are up to now. I love romance escapes too.
I love your characters especially Charlie
I’m not a huge reader of romance novels but do occasionally enjoy a well-written one.
People watching – and listening in – are such enjoyable pasttimes. I have so often found the answer to a ‘people’ puzzle in their body language. Welcome to the robin flock. anne
Hi Belinda! Not sure which sig will come up- I’m clueless about how to fix it, but I’m Sally – mostly. You write the books you would like to read! Bingo! It helps it one’s taste is the same as a lot of other readers, of course, but I suspect mine is a bit… left of centre.
Looking forward to the next subject… what might it be?
Great to read how you write, why you write and always with a happy ending. I love people watching too. Love all your books and all with great characters. When is the next one out?
I’ve seen the argument of the ‘formula’ of romance novels a lot. What doesn’t get mentioned so much are the characters on the page. To me, what makes a romance novel truly GOOD isn’t the formula they all follow, but the unique characters growing and becoming better because of their counterpart on the page.
But I am also one of those readers where if the character hasn’t shown any growth by the end of the book, I feel absolutely cheated out of the hours it took me to read it.
We all need stories that will lift us out of everyday from time to time and nothing satisfies like a good love story.
I’ve never been BEHIND the bar before, but I definitely people watch. It’s fodder for all my stories, romance and otherwise. Like you say, how people interact is fascinating – a dad with a kid, a mom with her aging mom, a harried traveler irritated by a flight delay, a friendly fellow shopper waiting in same line, the guy patiently teaching someone how to fish, or tie a shoe, the list is endless and always interesting.
Hi Belinda! I love your name, which is why my daughter is a Belinda, too. All writers people watch to some degree or other. I’ve never worked in a bar, but I have sat in enough coffee shops to recognise a meet-and-greet situation when I see one. Listening to people’s conversations in farmer’s markets or on buses and trains is also fascinating. I once stayed on a train because of a conversation in which two ladies in front of me were engaged. I never did discover the solution to the problem as they got off two stops after mine. It serves me right for being nosy!