It’s In the Small Moments
More and more as I write, I ask myself a few very key questions: Why is this man the only man for the heroine? Why is she the only woman for him? Why are they good for each other? How do they make each other better? What can they learn from each other?
That’s a lengthy little list of questions, but to me, it’s essential. A Manuscript is made up of big things. Conflict, internal and external, characters and characterization, plot. But there are small things too, small moments that show us the real…well the falling in love. Those small moments that raise the stakes and make me feel like the h and H HAVE to be together.
I was really pondering all of this tonight because the hero in my WIP is The Ice Man. He doesn’t show emotion readily. Really, he’s quite closed off. And while he’s capable of being charming, it’s all very surface. So, while I know there’s a lot of emotion, a lot of feeling, beneath that, it truly hasn’t been revealed to the heroine yet.
But she needs a reason to love him. It can’t just be his money, his power and his sex appeal, although he has all those things. 😀 It has to be more. That’s why I’m looking to give them a moment. A small piece of time where they can find common ground, a connection, one that surpasses their conflict and their physical attraction and shows the growth of their relationship.
Don’t be afraid to have moments in your manuscript that consist of the hero and heroine talking. Learning about each other. Now, the key here is that the relationship is advancing so it doesn’t slow the pace.
And that list of questions up there? They don’t need to be answered all at once. I find it builds through the manuscript, and they’re questions I ask myself all through the writing process. And sometimes the answers change.
As a reader, it’s important to me to see the characters really falling in love. Not just fighting and making love, but actually falling in love. And that means that, as a writer, that’s what I try to deliver.
What questions do you ask yourself? How do you show your characters falling in love? Or, if you’re a reader, what do you need to see in order to believe the happily ever after will really last forever after?
(that baby pic is just a bonus!)
Comments
11 Responses | TrackBack URL | Comments Feed
Sorry don’t have any questions to add cos you’ve pretty much covered them! I really think it’s important to SHOW why it’s a romance though and have ROMANCE as well as conflict. Love the baby pic!! She’s growing up 🙂
LOL Rach – I was thinking the same!
She really is growing up. Why must they do that?
And are you both saying that I talk a lot? 🙂
Wow, this is SUCH a great post, Maisey! Mainly because for the past week I’ve been realising that while I’ve got lots of conflict for my characters, I don’t have any of those lovely romance moments. And it’s supposed to be a romance right? Argh! Better going and fix that quick smart. 😉
Maisey,
This post is sooooo helpful to me because I have this scene where the h/h are exploring the mansion and I have them talking, about each other. (And, no, it’s not a Presents, it’s my infamous ‘underwear’ story.) I didn’t really think it would be a good scene, but after reading this post, I’m thinking it might work.
And, I must really be out of the loop. Not sure why you keep calling your latest sale “The Land Stud.” But, now I sure do want to read it!
Abbi 🙂
What about fate? I’m sorry, just kidding!
I love the baby. God bless her!
Great post Maisey! You covered most of it.
As a reader I like to see the characters’ conflicts and what might bring them together later. Emphasis on later. What I mean is I don’t like to have them jumping on one another by the second chapter, I prefer to be seduced together with the heroine. Now, the little things, the tingling should be there from the start, and going in crescendo.
Great questions and I love the baby picture bonus!
Jackie, I’m glad you know what you’re going to do to add all that nice romance. 😉 Those are really such fun moments to write.
Joanna, I like what you said there and more and more that’s been what’s happening with my MSs (just watch…now my next one will end up starting with a bang…literally.) but for the last two there was no kiss even until page 70!
Thanks, Lynne. She’s our little ham. She loves to be adored.
Abbi! You were caught in spam but I freed you!
As long as the conversation is advancing the relationship, I say keep it. I think it’s important to have quiet moments…makes the big ones seem bigger. You need that ebb and flow. 😉
And as for The Land Stud…Gage Forrester, the hero, is a property developer and the very funny and clever Pamela Cayne came up with that one for me. Couldn’t think of anything to call him since he was American and not royalty. (so he couldn’t be The Sheikh or The Greek) So, The Land Stud he became.
As a writer I adore those little moments to the exclusion of everything else! Sometimes I have to remind myself not to forget the plot or the conflict… but I find that the falling in love stuff pretty much writes itself. Love when that happens!
You write them so well, Chelsea! Your MSs never lack for romance…or hot scenes…or hot heroes…or conflict…