Hi there, A Chick Who Reads! Thanks so much for hosting me.
I just returned from the RWA conference in Anaheim, so love and
romance is on my mind. Many readers ask about writing love scenes and love
stories, so I wanted to discuss things that I think are critical to include
when creating a good love story.
Five Critical Components to Writing a Love Story
1. The
Instant Connection
Call it Cupid’s arrow, pheromones or whatever, but the instant
connection is a critical component to any good love story. In Hollywood
romantic comedies, there’s always that super cute moment where two characters
who are meant to be together meet, right? Well, every good love story should
have an equally poignant moment. Because we all remember “that moment” in our
real lives, yes?
2. The
“I See You” Moment
Part of the reason we fall in love with somebody is because they
show us the world in a way that no one else has. That often means showing us
something about who we are that we haven’t quite figured out yet. In a good
love story, it’s important for the romantic interest to be the one to point out
that key component where the hero still needs to make a change.
3. The
Steamy Hook-Up
Yes! It HAS to happen. Whether in the character’s head, in a
shared glance or actually in the bed, the steamy hook-up is a critical part to
any love story. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not saying that you HAVE to write a
sex scene or anything if it doesn’t serve the story. But you have to create
enough attraction/tension/longing that we, as readers, yearn for your character
to finally fall into his arms for a kiss.
4. The
Big Misunderstanding or Obstacles
There’s a reason why Romeo and Juliet was one of the greatest
love stories ever told. It’s because these poor lovers hit one roadblock after
another when they finally gave over to the fact that they’d fallen in love.
Create these roadblocks for your lovers! That makes the moment where they
finally live happily ever after that much sweeter. (Or super sad, depending on
whether or not we’re still talking about Romeo and Juliet, here.)
5. The
Promise of a Future Together
Commitment. When your characters fall in love, we don’t want any
glimpse that they might just live together for awhile and have it not work out.
No, no. We want wedding bells, all the way. Make sure your story incorporates
an ending where we are left feeling like this great love story is going to
withstand the test of time.
Alright, there are my five things that every love story should
have. Go ahead, add to the list in the comments section below! Looking forward
to hearing from you.
Title: The Whole Package
Author: Cynthia Ellingsen
Publisher: Penguin/Berkley
Length: 409 pages
Genres: Contemporary Women's Fiction (Comedy)
Author: Cynthia Ellingsen
Publisher: Penguin/Berkley
Length: 409 pages
Genres: Contemporary Women's Fiction (Comedy)
Available at:
Amazon
(Kindle) | Amazon
(Paperback) | B&N
(Nook) | B&N
(Paperback) | Penguin
(eBook) | Penguin
(Paperback)
Blurb:
Life has thrown childhood friends Jackie, Cheryl, and Doris
a few curveballs. Widowed and broke, Jackie returns home after an extravagant
life in Paris, Doris is reliant on anti-depressants, and Cheryl’s plans for a
corporate take-over are replaced with walking papers. But after a drunken night
sampling the delights at strip club for women, the ladies stumble upon a genius
idea and decide to open up The Whole Package—the world’s first restaurant
staffed exclusively by very attractive men. Armed with Jackie’s connections,
Doris’ ambition, and Cheryl’s business sense the ladies set out to make their
mark in the world.
Excerpt:
French
is a sexy language. Except, of course, if you are standing in line at a French
café and the French you hear is a nasal, drawn out, “Fat American.“
Unnecessary, especially if you are simply trying to buy a chocolate croissant
to dip into the first cappuccino of the day.
Jackie
- and yes, it was Jackie and not Jacqueline even though she was closing in on
forty instead of the throat of the snickering girl behind her – whirled around.
“Did
you just call me fat?”
A
French girl stared back at her. The girl had the audacity to cock her head. A
yes.
Jackie
was stunned. Okay, fine – and a little hurt. Such a judgment was the last thing
she expected in this cheerful neighborhood cafe with its brightly painted
walls, kitschy produce art and erratically placed wildflowers. Even the French
sayings on the wall, written in such careful, scrolling script were meant to
inspire good cheer, not snappy little insults.
“Well, I am not fat!” Jackie said. And this
was not in
French, because after two years in the country she spoke French perfectly and
proving it was no longer important. “I am sexy.”
A
mustached host had been writing out specials on a blackboard with squeaking
chalk. At this, he paused and took a look. Jackie ran her palms over her curvy
hips and considered giving a slight shimmy. The man gave a nod in agreement and
went back to the specials.
The
French girl sniffed. She was dressed all in black, a total cliché. She was
holding a sniveling, trendy dog. Its shaky face was framed by a bejeweled
collar and its droopy eyes stared, along with everyone else in the cinnamon
scented café.
“Perhaps
you
should order something to eat,” Jackie said, pointedly eyeing the girl’s bony
frame . “You’re probably just suffering from low blood sugar.”
“Casse-toi.”
Jackie’s
jaw dropped. Drawing herself up to her full height of 5’3” (5’6” with her three
inch pumps), Jackie said, “If you want to live off of cigarettes and red wine
and ignore the delicacies your country has to offer, you go right ahead. But I
would rather get chased out of Le Bon Marche by a firing squad than strut
around in a body that looks like it was stolen from an eight-year-old boy.”
The
French girl gasped.
“I
am going to embrace
my sensuality,” Jackie said. “I am going to improve upon it. And,” she stood a
bit taller, “it is gonna happen with a chocolate croissant.”
Reviews:
"The friendship
between the women is realistic, the characters funny, and the premise
well-executed. Readers will giggle and grin from start to finish, and will
surely be eager for Ellingsen's next novel."--PublishersWeekly.com
“The Whole Package is
a delightfully frivolous romp. An excellent beach read, this light but
enjoyable fare will have you chuckling (and likely blushing!) throughout...”--RT Reviews
About the Author:
Cynthia
Ellingsen is a fiction writer and screenwriter. She lives in Lexington, KY with
her husband.
Website: www.cynthiaellingsen.com
Email: cynthiaellingsen@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cynthiaellingsen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CynEllingsen
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