ROMANCE NOVELS don’t have a corner on love. In fact, most of them don’t have anything to do with love; just the initial few weeks or months of hormonal infatuation. But love is a central theme of every book we write – no matter the genre – so it’s good to get to know it.
First, consider the range: Plato’s agápe, éros, philía, and storgē: brotherly love, passion, friendship, and the love of children. How, Who, and What do our characters love?
Explore a little – write some background – get to know your characters, even the minor ones. You can always use or cut what doesn’t work or interest, later.
Consider leaving the tired and sadly, primary American view of love-that we fall in love, and it just happened. Have some of your characters live (and often, destroy) their lives and others’ with this immature belief, while others ‘get it’ and live full love lives – truer ones. Love is a decision people make. It is a verb – a very active one.
Fiction is truth. When we write our characters loving actively, including all the messy, unattractive bits such as insecurities and petty irritations, AND how they work through and get past those feelings, readers will not only feel the characters are fuller and more real, but may consider something about how to deal with life and relationships themselves. Just don’t get preachy – that’s an instant reader turnoff.
So – when you write today…consider the Fullness of Love.
A self-admitted book addict, Valerie was the kid with the flashlight under her pillow. A life of travel with exposure to many different cultures led to a pervasive interest in people, with degrees & teaching credentials in Cultural Anthropology & English.