Missy writes:
Stephanie, Jean, Kathy, Cheryl and Lesia, thanks for having me on your blog today! Since we just celebrated Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d talk a little about writing about love.
As some of you know, I write inspirational romance for Harlequin Love Inspired. In fact, my fifth book, A House Full of Hope, just released this month! And a lot of people who read romance novels have asked me how I can write realistic romance if I don’t write love scenes or even much physical attraction in my stories.
How? I focus on the emotion.
I do try to make sure the characters are attracted from the first moment. And, sure, unless they have a past together, the attraction is purely physical at that point. But once I get beyond that, I work toward showing how they fall in love. I try to:
--Show them discovering traits they like about the other (ie. honesty, generosity, humor) even while they’re in conflict. This is often done begrudgingly!
--Show their growing respect for each other.
--Show them enjoying time spent together.
--Show them overcoming obstacles together, which makes them grow even closer.
--And in the end, show them sacrificing for each other, for their love.
Sure, in real life, as we fall in love, there’s a sizzle of attraction and awareness. I just have to dance around it carefully in my books, keeping it understated and focusing on the emotions. And honestly, for me personally, it’s easier for me to write that way knowing that my kids and church friends will be reading. :)
welcome, Missy! Thank you so much for being here.
ReplyDeleteI relate so much to meeting expectations. I was a librarian for 23 years--much of that youth services. Occasionally, I would have patrons who would object to a book that we had on our shelves. I always explained that my job was to help everyone find books that they wanted for their children--not to dictate. It was harder then to find faith based books for children, but I did and bought every one I could find.
I always found it odd when other librarians did not think that patrons who wanted the more innocent books for their children did not have the same rights as those who wanted more mainstream materials.
I love living in a world where everyone can read what makes them happy.
Welcome Missy! Thank you for your insight on how you craft your stories. It makes a lot of sense in how you structure them. I think the same could be applied to other romance genres - building the level of attraction is not an easy thing to do. You explained your method so well! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey, Jean! Yes, it's so nice that we can all choose what we want to read and can find books we feel comfortable with our children reading. There's something out there for every taste.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I knew you were a librarian! No wonder you love books so much. :)
Cheryl, I'm glad it was helpful! And yes, I think writers of any genre need to build that romance gradually so it's believable and brings the reader along for the journey. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Missy! And thank you for covering this topic for us. Like Jean, I was a librarian for a while too. Often writer want-a-bes approached me about the subject of genre parameters, most times wanting to write romance but fearing someone might actually read it! Hence, they wanted to know more about writing a sweet romance. And you very clearly and succinctly define what it is to offer an inspirational read to your audience. I couldn't do that....all I could say was, well....I don't know. I don't write sweet romance. And I wouldn't begin to know how. So thank you! Now I can refer them to your explanation.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new book! And for the record, my patrons couldn't get enough of the Love Inspired line. <3
Great tips on how to focus on the emotion! I think that's important regardless of which line you write for, and it is something I've struggled with.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Hey, Missy! You explained that very well!!!
ReplyDeleteI write Inspirational YA romance (as you know already!) and I love showing the physical attraction, because it's real and it's normal, and it's the way God made us!!! But I also try not to dwell too long on the physical. Attraction between my characters has more to do with the emotional stuff, like you said, than the physical. It builds over time with each interaction.
I was writing a "first kiss" scene yesterday. It really is possible to show physical attraction as well as emotional attraction while keeping it fairly "innocent." At least, I think so. :-) It does make me very aware of what I'm writing when I think about my own 13-yr-old reading it!!! Because she does read my books!
Thanks for joining us under the Tulip tree, Missy!! (waving!!)
ReplyDeleteThere's a big market out there for wholesome stories. Thanks for sharing the important aspects of your Harlequin line! Great list!!
Can you tell us where your story ideas come from? And do you have to do extensive research for your book? Also, how do you incorporate faith while not appearing to preach religion? I know that can be a fine line.
Congrats on releasing your 5th book!!!!!
Missy, thank you so much for all of your great insights. I think you make a very valid points that the focus of the story should be the characters and their growing emotional entanglements!
ReplyDeleteMissy, I'm sure you agree with Marilyn like I do. No matter the genre, emotions between the main characters is really what makes a romance a romance.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you here!
Lesia, I'm so glad to hear the library patrons loved the LI books! That's really encouraging. And sometimes the books get picked up in the Thorndike hardback/large print editions, too. So that's fun to know those are in the library for a long time to come. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll be sure to pass that info along to the librarian that replaced me. Thanks Missy! <3
DeleteMarilyn and Carla, you're right! The emotion has to be there in all romance novels. The only difference is that I pretty much focus only on that aspect. I try to limit the physical.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and reading!
Melanie, you're right. It is natural and good to have that God-given attraction! We just have to write within our publisher guidelines. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love writing those first kisses?! That's probably always my favorite scene to write. Except for maybe the happy ending. :)
Hey, Kathy! Thanks on the book release! I'm really excited. Also excited to have sold another just last week!! :)
ReplyDeleteMy ideas come from all over--news articles, snippets of overheard conversations, TV shows (got a story idea during House the other night!). And the book that just released, the idea was just a what if? What if a former bad boy finds God and goes back home to ask forgiveness...and then falls in love with the sister of the girl he ruined in high school?
As for research, since I write contemporary and create my own fictional towns, I mainly do research on careers or things that have to do with the plot. For my current story, I had to do a little research on what a bank branch manager would do--which meant I often texted my good friend who's worked in banking for years! (Bless her heart for being so patient with me.) :) I also had another banker friend give me a tour of an older bank here in town so I could describe the lobby. Right now, for the proposal that just sold, I'm taking part in a knitting group! :) So it's fun to do research!
The inspirational aspect can be tough. With LI, we're supposed to focus on the romance, not preach. So the faith element has to be integrated into the characters so that it fits naturally. We try to show characters dealing with real life problems, struggling with their faith, relying on God (or finding God for the first time, even). I try to write characters who are like me or like people I know, where their faith is just part of who they are. It's not about quoting Bible verses (although I have had that sometimes) or saying prayers (which I do more in some books than in others). It's about characters living out their faith in everyday situations.
Missy, congrats on selling another book!!!! Keep 'em coming, girl! ;)
DeleteThanks for answering my questions. I just started writing a contemporary last year after writing historicals for a long time. There is a different research aspect to it.
Love where you get ideas. I asked because I'm brainstorming another book and wondered what your process was. ;)
The way you explain writing an LI makes perfect sense. I know I've seen people discuss the preachy aspect, but if the book is written like someone lives their life, what could be better? So many readers can relate to your books. :D
Thanks again for joinin us today!!
Hey, Stephanie! Thank so much for having me!
ReplyDeleteWe're so glad you stopped by to sit a spell, Missy! I've got to go find your book!!!
DeleteWaving to all my OKAY, LISTEN HERE friends. So glad you invited Missy to blog. Her books are so, so special...they'll steal your heart, for sure!
ReplyDeleteSending special hugs to Kathy Bone for supporting our Seekerville blog yesterday! You were/are wonderful!
I had the best time visiting Seekerville yesterday, Debby!! I'm still so appreciative that you included me. Blessings!! ;)
DeleteDebby, thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteMissy, you've offered an excellent description of how true love grows in inspirational romances. In books I've read where the attraction is purely physical (and doesn't move much beyond that), it's very, very hard to care about the characters.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Myra! You're so right. You have to become invested in the characters first. ;)
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