Romance author Beverly Jenkins is one such author. Toni Morrison famously said ‘If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’ Find a sensitivity reader or good editor to ensure that inadvertent stereotypes and played out tropes don’t detract from the story. Writing about a romantic lead who belongs to a culture or group different your own? Do research. I like to write people, and people are rarely stereotypes. Subverting them when the stereotype falsely says that the person should be unloved or not powerful - by giving them love and power - that’s actually a pleasure. I’m not sure if I ever have an actual process when I create characters, but I do very carefully consider every trait and action to try to make sure they don’t fall into harmful stereotypes. POC is an exotic, dangerous and forbidden attraction for caucasian heroine.Ĭontemporary and erotic romance author Alisha Rai writes romances that subvert racial and other romance tropes and stereotypes. Girl-who-has-nothing marries rich oil sheik. Many romance novelists writing category romances in the past simply reproduced the time’s stereotypes, uncritically. How will the primary conflict keeping lovers apart affect their choices, fears and goals?ģ. Having a mistaken impression of the other ( Pride and Prejudice).Marriage to another person ( Anna Karenina).Being part of a circle of platonic friends (Ross and Rachel in Friends, Jess and Nick in New Girl).Lovers being from feuding families ( Romeo & Juliet).Interfering parents/wartime drafting ( The Notebook).Some examples from popular romantic novels, films and series include: This will help you devise additional scenarios and scenes arising from that conflict. ![]() I’ve learned to keep my mind open to ideas from any source.ĭecide what keeps your characters apart early. The question I always seek to answer first has to do with the primary conflict (what keeps the characters apart). When asked where he finds inspiration for romance stories in an interview for CliffsNotes, Sparks says:įrom events in my life, from people I know, from articles that I read, or conversations I overhear. Decide on a primary conflictĪuthor Nicholas Sparks wrote beloved romantic novels such as The Notebook and Message in a Bottle. Let’s explore these romance ideas closer: 1. Examine characters’ romantic motivations. ![]()
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