In the last  chapter I posted, I dipped into a developed, romantic scene with Luke. [Chapter 4 Makenzie scene.] I’m  going to turn my attention to Kenzie.  Although we’re focusing on suspense this year on the blog, this is a romantic suspense, so occasionally during the story I need to slow it down and  allow the romance to take over ever so briefly. During these forays into the romance, I need to make sure I’m utilizing  my opportunity, because I don’t have a lot of time – I’ll need to cut back to
the suspense soon.

Therefore, I’ll  be looking toward building in some of those essential elements of a romance,  building like values, physical attraction, and the sense that they either  complete each other or make each other into better people. For more on those  essential Whys, here’s a recap:

Why do people  fall in love?

3 Reasons:

1.       They  complete each other

2.      They  make them better people

3.      They understand each other.

How do you develop these elements?

1.What are our beholders vacancies?  

Everyone has things they are not good at.  Maybe it’s  the tendency to speak when you should listen.  Maybe it’s being wound so tight you can’t relax.  Maybe it’s the inability to commit to  something, for fear of it backfiring.  Whatever it is, we are often drawn to someone who has a strength in the  area where we are weak.  I’m hearing  Jerry Maguire in my head, “You…complete me.” It’s those opposite, completing  qualities that a hero might find attractive (as well as, sometimes,  annoying!)

Ask this question:  How does your hero and heroine complete each other?

2.What are your beholder’s  strengths?  

My husband is  an adventurer.  He loves to travel, and  discover new things.  And he loves the  fact that I am a willing participant. Not only that, I hand over my visa and the map and say, “wherever we end up, I trust you.”  (This has taken some training over the years!)  But I’ve heard him say, “I love the fact that you keep up with me.”  Beauty is also found in acceptance, encouragement, and like-mindedness.  A man loves a woman who loves the things he loves, and helps him become better at it. My husband loves to travel – and with me by his side, he has someone to join in on his adventures.  Not only that, with a heroine, a hero is stronger, wiser, more of a protector, even more sensitive and kind – (building on the above vacancies).

 Ask:   How does your heroine make your hero into a better man?  (and vice versa?)

But it’s not  enough that they complete each other, or make each other into better  people.  They also have to believe in something together.  That means…core values.

3.  They Understand each other!  Couples who believe in something together – ie, true love, or that God is in control, or even that they will protect their children at all costs – whatever it is, they connect on a core level that bonds them together.  In essence – they GET or understand each other.

When you are developing your character, you will naturally discover their core values.  Try and find a core value that matches your heroine/hero.  Then….make sure you write in a scene that exhibits that core value.  (and it especially helps if the other character sees is – but even if they don’t make sure they recognize it!)

Why do fools fall in love? I don’t think we even know ourselves when we are in the middle of it – but when the dust clears, well, hopefully it’s because you complete each other,
you’re better together, and you understand each other.

When you are writing a romance – these three key scenes will convince your reader that indeed…these fools have fallen in love!

(BTW: It doesn’t just apply to heroes, either.  It can be a mother-daughter relationship, or a friend to friend relationship – because we all have vacancies and strengths, and those in our lives either complement them or accentuate them.  And of course, the best friendships are based on the sharing of core values).

Tomorrow I’ll show you how I put the scene together focusing on these elements!

Happy Writing!

Susie May