How to Write a Brilliant Romance: The Easy, Step-By-Step Method of Crafting a Powerful Romance (Go! Write Something Brilliant) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Susan May Warren
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General Fiction, Reference, Writing, Writing; Research & Publishing Guides, Writing Skills
hersomethingshe’sgoodat,thatmakesusapplaudher.
Awomanshouldhavesomethingwecallthe“SuperPower.”Somethingthatgivesherstrengthto standalone,ifneedbe.Wewanthertobeabletoturndowntherichsuitorshedoesn’tlove.Or sing“You’resovain!”totheboywhohurther—andthenwalkawayfromhim.OrgotoItalyby herself.Orbreakupwiththefiancéshedoesn’tlovetotakeachanceontheonewhomightbe waitingforheronthetopoftheEmpireStateBuilding.
Wewanttoseeherhaveconfidenceandbelieveinherself.Often,thatconfidence,orSuperPower, risesin the end to allow herto do something thatshe hasneverdone before.(Notunlike the courage we see inourhero.)However,we needtosee hintsofherconfidenceasthe story progressesandaswegettoknowherbetter.
Forexample,Jane,theheroinein 27 Dresses ,isexcellentathelpingsomeoneplantheirwedding, makingsuretheyhavetheperfectday.Afterall,she’sdoneitatleasttwenty-seventimes!Butsheis terribleatvoicingherownneeds,whichiswhysheendsupintwenty-sevenuglydresses.She’salso terribleatgoingafterthemanshelongsfor,asseenbythewayhersistertakesthemanJane’salways loved.Ourheroineevenagreestobeinthewedding!Finally,theheroineisabletorecognizethe manshe truly lovesand,inherfinalSuperPowermoment,shegoesafterhim,speakingupinfront ofacrowdofpeople.
Melanie,theheroinein Sweet Home Alabama ,isexcellentatcontrollingastaffofpeopleandherown destinyinthedesignerworldofNewYorkCity.Butshecan’tseemtocontrolanyonedownin Alabamaand,ofcourse,herex-husbandisincontrolofherdestiny.Melaniefinallytakescontrolof herheartattheendbychoosingthemanshe’salwaysloved.
Theheroinein Pearl Harbor isanurse.Evelyncansavelivesandkeephercoolintimesofdarkness. Butshecan’tseemtohealherheart.However,sheknowswhattherightthingtodoiswhenshe becomespregnant.She’ll“savethelife”ofthebabyshecarries—andhealherselfbylovingthe father“withherwholeheart.”Andintheend,Evelyn’sfreetolovehertruelovewithoutguilt.
In Legally Blonde ,theheroineisablondesororitygirlwhoflirtsherwayintoHarvardlawschool. However,Ellelearnsthatshecanbeafabulouslawyerifshewantsit,andsuccesshasnothingtodo withherhaircolorandeverythingtodowithherabilities.However,itishersororitygirlskillsthat helphersolvethecasethatnooneelsecan.And,intheend,Elletellsoffthemanwhobrokeher heartandgoesitalone.
Giveyourheroinesomeconfidence:somethingshedoeswellandsomethingshethenusestostand upandbecometrulyheroicinherdarkestmoment.
When you’re building your heroine, ask: What are you good at and how does that Super Power help save the day?
Combinethatquestionwithaskingyourheroine: What can you do at the end of the book that you couldn’t do at the beginning?
Nowyouhavethemakingsofaheroicheroine.
On your chart, fill in your hero’s courageous moment and your heroine’s confident moment and you’ll be generating ideas for the Sacrificial/Big Gesture scene!
Give your heroine a unique beauty. Onceyou’vecreatedaheroinewithasuperpower,despite herflawsandfears,onewhohasagoalthatwilldriveherthroughthestory,youhaveonelast elementofaheroicheroine.
Whatisbeauty?AninformalWarrenfamilypolltakenacoupleyearsagoelicitedverydifferent responses:
16-year-old boy: Someone who is smart.
13-year-old boy: A girl who can run fast. (This answer only recently became clear when he fell for a cute sprinter in track.)
11-year-old boy: Nice hair.
15-year-old girl: Someone who is unique.
Married old guy: Softness. Someone who is happy and cheerful.
What makes someone beautiful? Ithinkwecanallagreethatbeautycomesfrominside.Acrabbyperson, regardlessofhowbeautiful,givesoffanuglysheen.Butanunattractivepersonwhoexudeskindness canbeverypretty.
Whenwe’recreatingaheroine,especiallyinaromance,shehastopossessherownbeauty. Somethingspecialandunique,hersalone,andsomethingonlytheherocanseeandlove.Maybeit’s hereyes,butalsothewayshecanlookrightthroughhimandseewhatheneeds.Ormaybeit’sher patience.Maybeit’sherstrengthtoseethegood,orbelieveinthegood.Whateveritis,theherosees itlikenooneelsecan.Theheroinemightbegenuinelypretty—andthengetsevenprettierasthe
Awomanshouldhavesomethingwecallthe“SuperPower.”Somethingthatgivesherstrengthto standalone,ifneedbe.Wewanthertobeabletoturndowntherichsuitorshedoesn’tlove.Or sing“You’resovain!”totheboywhohurther—andthenwalkawayfromhim.OrgotoItalyby herself.Orbreakupwiththefiancéshedoesn’tlovetotakeachanceontheonewhomightbe waitingforheronthetopoftheEmpireStateBuilding.
Wewanttoseeherhaveconfidenceandbelieveinherself.Often,thatconfidence,orSuperPower, risesin the end to allow herto do something thatshe hasneverdone before.(Notunlike the courage we see inourhero.)However,we needtosee hintsofherconfidenceasthe story progressesandaswegettoknowherbetter.
Forexample,Jane,theheroinein 27 Dresses ,isexcellentathelpingsomeoneplantheirwedding, makingsuretheyhavetheperfectday.Afterall,she’sdoneitatleasttwenty-seventimes!Butsheis terribleatvoicingherownneeds,whichiswhysheendsupintwenty-sevenuglydresses.She’salso terribleatgoingafterthemanshelongsfor,asseenbythewayhersistertakesthemanJane’salways loved.Ourheroineevenagreestobeinthewedding!Finally,theheroineisabletorecognizethe manshe truly lovesand,inherfinalSuperPowermoment,shegoesafterhim,speakingupinfront ofacrowdofpeople.
Melanie,theheroinein Sweet Home Alabama ,isexcellentatcontrollingastaffofpeopleandherown destinyinthedesignerworldofNewYorkCity.Butshecan’tseemtocontrolanyonedownin Alabamaand,ofcourse,herex-husbandisincontrolofherdestiny.Melaniefinallytakescontrolof herheartattheendbychoosingthemanshe’salwaysloved.
Theheroinein Pearl Harbor isanurse.Evelyncansavelivesandkeephercoolintimesofdarkness. Butshecan’tseemtohealherheart.However,sheknowswhattherightthingtodoiswhenshe becomespregnant.She’ll“savethelife”ofthebabyshecarries—andhealherselfbylovingthe father“withherwholeheart.”Andintheend,Evelyn’sfreetolovehertruelovewithoutguilt.
In Legally Blonde ,theheroineisablondesororitygirlwhoflirtsherwayintoHarvardlawschool. However,Ellelearnsthatshecanbeafabulouslawyerifshewantsit,andsuccesshasnothingtodo withherhaircolorandeverythingtodowithherabilities.However,itishersororitygirlskillsthat helphersolvethecasethatnooneelsecan.And,intheend,Elletellsoffthemanwhobrokeher heartandgoesitalone.
Giveyourheroinesomeconfidence:somethingshedoeswellandsomethingshethenusestostand upandbecometrulyheroicinherdarkestmoment.
When you’re building your heroine, ask: What are you good at and how does that Super Power help save the day?
Combinethatquestionwithaskingyourheroine: What can you do at the end of the book that you couldn’t do at the beginning?
Nowyouhavethemakingsofaheroicheroine.
On your chart, fill in your hero’s courageous moment and your heroine’s confident moment and you’ll be generating ideas for the Sacrificial/Big Gesture scene!
Give your heroine a unique beauty. Onceyou’vecreatedaheroinewithasuperpower,despite herflawsandfears,onewhohasagoalthatwilldriveherthroughthestory,youhaveonelast elementofaheroicheroine.
Whatisbeauty?AninformalWarrenfamilypolltakenacoupleyearsagoelicitedverydifferent responses:
16-year-old boy: Someone who is smart.
13-year-old boy: A girl who can run fast. (This answer only recently became clear when he fell for a cute sprinter in track.)
11-year-old boy: Nice hair.
15-year-old girl: Someone who is unique.
Married old guy: Softness. Someone who is happy and cheerful.
What makes someone beautiful? Ithinkwecanallagreethatbeautycomesfrominside.Acrabbyperson, regardlessofhowbeautiful,givesoffanuglysheen.Butanunattractivepersonwhoexudeskindness canbeverypretty.
Whenwe’recreatingaheroine,especiallyinaromance,shehastopossessherownbeauty. Somethingspecialandunique,hersalone,andsomethingonlytheherocanseeandlove.Maybeit’s hereyes,butalsothewayshecanlookrightthroughhimandseewhatheneeds.Ormaybeit’sher patience.Maybeit’sherstrengthtoseethegood,orbelieveinthegood.Whateveritis,theherosees itlikenooneelsecan.Theheroinemightbegenuinelypretty—andthengetsevenprettierasthe
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