I love a great romance, with alot of tension and conflict, something with spark and romantic tension. But, if we don’t believe these two are meant for each other, then the fear that they won’t find true love (which is what drives a book) won’t matter. If their happily ever after isn’t at stake then we won’t care if they achieve it.
We must believe that a hero and heroine are perfect for each other.
Beat 8: WHY. Why are these two perfect for each other?
The core reason they belong together saves the day.
Along the way, you’ll be showing each of them WHY they belong together. But at this key moment, after the breakup, they’ll realize why they belong together, and this is bigger than the WHY NOT of the breakup. You should be building this element as you go, but it rises to the apex at this moment.
We talked about the Why elements earlier this year, but there are three elements that draw people together:
1. Their essential values. We like people who hold our values dear to their hearts. At the end of the day, they need to see the core values of each other and have that draw them to each other.
2. Their vacancies. We like people who “complete” us – who can do the things we can’t do. What can they do for each other that the other can’t do?
3. They make each other better people. We like people who can see the best in us and draw it out. What do they see in each other that they draw out, and how do they become better people when they are together?
Why should some of our heroes/heroines of our favorite movies be together?
In How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days—the hero and heroine are both competitive… but they appreciate each other.
While You Were Sleeping—the hero understands her loyalty to her father, and her desire to see the world, and she understood his desire for quality.
In Notting Hill—the heroine can be herself with him.
The WHY’s are at the core of a person—think of why you love your significant other…they are often the glue that holds you together despite your misunderstandings. And as you build your romance, you’ll give your characters glimpses of those core WHY’s.
Until you see one that is simply inescapable.
Here’s there Whys in my current WIP:
My hero has always wanted someone he can trust—and the fact that this non-agent went out of her way to help him gives him hope that there are people worth trusting. More than that, when she’s tested, she protects his mission…and saves the day.
My heroine is exactly the kind of person he wants to be with—trustworthy, daring, and even fun. She’s always wanted a man who really wants her—who will fight for her, and come after her. Luke is exactly this kind of guy when he realizes his feelings for her.
When they figure out the WHY, then…you have the final major component…
Beat 9: The Big Gesture/Sacrifice: The Hero or Heroine are able to make the Big Gesture/Sacrifice to stay together.
I often talk about finding that thing that your hero can’t do at the beginning of a book…and then showing him overcoming (because of the heroine’s love, or some truth) and doing it at the end.
So—what is the Big Gesture/Sacrifice they make at the end, for love, that they can’t do at the beginning? I might be letting go if something, or doing something brave…
In How to Lose a Guy, she quits her job and leaves, pursing something “Significant”—he goes after her. Except he’s never gone after a woman in his life (that he wanted to keep in a relationship).
Ghost of Girlfriends Past also has a pivotal moment like this: Matthew (who plays the perfect playboy, as evident in all these movies), goes after the woman he loves!
In Return to Me, the hero flies to Italy and tracks her down and she lets him listen to his wife’s heart.
Ask: What can they do at the end of the book they can’t do at the beginning?
Beat 10: Happily Ever After—they find the love they’ve always longed for.
Romances end happily. Even if the hero dies, like PS I Love You, or Enemy at the Gates, or even Cold Mountain, the end with an element of happiness.
Something that makes the reader GLAD they just spent 2 days reading your romance! (as opposed to weeping and throwing the book across the room).
The Notebook works because they are together at the end, even if she is losing her mind. She remembered!
And even A Walk to Remember works because her love gave him the strength/power to be a better person and pursue more than he thought possible.
The romance has to have changed them, forever, and made them into better people. Now, I like romances that actually have people ALIVE at the end, so I can have a sort of romantic scene. And I try and find something that epitomizes their romance.
One of my favorite endings is in Chasing Liberty—when she goes to London and asks him for a ride—just like she did at the beginning of their romance.
Or, of course, Return to Me…him listening to her heart, and then the gorilla park dedication (and the waitress and the cook getting married! That’s the best!)
How about A Walk in the Clouds…when the old man gives him the grapevine root and says to the heroine, “teach your husband how to plant it.”
The key is, they have to do something that makes us understand that the romance has impacted them, and they are better off for it.
Now, take the 10 components, out them on notecards, and you can move them around to fit your story…what you want, when. Then, write your story summary—no, you don’t have all the layers yet, but you have an idea of where you are going, and all the essential parts.
As you are writing your synopsis, you also have the “checklist” to make sure you have all your elements.
If you’re interested in reading the full chat on this topic, go to: http://mybooktherapy.ning.com/forum/topics/monday-night-chat-february-1
Or, if you need help on any of these beats, go to: www.mybooktherapy.ning.com
Next week we’ll start taking a closer look at each of these beats.
Thanks for stopping by!
Susie May