TECH: BOOK: How To Write A Romance And Get It Published

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting: Fri, 6 May 1994 18:35:02 JST

[have not finished reading the book, but... thought I'd mention it while the marshmellows are crisping...]

How To Write A Romance And Get It Published
Kathryn Falk
Signet 1990
ISBN 0-451-16531-4
$5.99

As I said, I'm still reading this one.

One bit from the book that might help our discussions:

Classification of Romance Novels

1. Category Romances

"These follow the 'romance formula,' a set of rules also known as the 'Cinderella legend.'" [seems to be the formula stuff we've seen some references to.]

2. Historical Romances

"Good storytelling is the main requirement, providing adventure, excitement, and titillation."
"The historical romance rules (in brief): accurate historical research, erotic sex scenes, one woman/one man or one woman/many men relationships, and usually a happy ending."

3. Contemporary Romances

"These are in a contemporary setting with modern and realistic characters. The romance rules may or may not be applied. Sentimentality is evoked; readers may shed a tear. The emphasis is on the woman's emotional and romantic experiences."

4. Regency Romances

"Short and medium-length novels of manners; witty, light. ... They capture the flavor of a Jane Austen novel, and emphasize the repartee between the hero and the heroine, rather than a sexual relationship."

5. Romantic Suspense/Gothic

"A romantic suspense novel is always a mystery, full of action, intertwined with romance, and the background is contemporary."

6. Science Fiction and Fantasy

Mentioned setting as an exciting possibility for a romance ...

The rest of the book consists of lots of little articles and pieces which I am slowly working my way through.

As near as I can tell, the minimum necessary for a romance is a woman, a man, and their relationship. Seems as though that leaves a lot of possibilities for writers. Also seems almost the essence of "character-driven" writing - take one man, one woman, and rub together until smouldering?
 

TECH: BOOK: Steal This Plot

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting: Thu, 2 Jun 1994 18:35:02 JST

Steal This Plot
Noble, June and William
ISBN 0-8397-7881-3
Paul S. Eriksson, Publisher
1985

Just some notes - the basic thesis of this book is that you can take a plot idea, often from a book, story, or poem. Change the setting, characters, etc. and write a new story.

Part of their presentation is the notion that you add motivation - why is this happening - through one of the following:

1. Vengeance
2. Catastrophe
3. Love and Hate
4. The Chase
5. Grief and Loss
6. Rebellion
7. Betrayal
8. Persecution
9. Self-Sacrifice
10. Survival
11. Rivalry
12. Discovery/Quest
13. Ambition

Further, they recommend "spicing" the plot with one of the following:

1. Deception
2. Material Well-being (plus or minus)
3. Authority
4. Making Amends (GUILT!)
5. Conspiracy
6. Rescue
7. Mistaken Identity
8. Unnatural Affection
9. Criminal Actions (including murder)
10. Suspicion
11. Suicide
12. Searching
13. Honor/Dishonor

So, for example, perhaps you want your character to find the magic keys and save the kingdom (HOKEY!). As motivation, you pick love and hate, deciding to spice the mix with criminal actions (including murder). So your hero(ine) is driven by love (for who?) and/or hate (for who?) into criminal actions, perhaps even murder - culminating in rescue of the kingdom. Perhaps another character is driven by self-sacrifice, spiced with concepts of honor and dishonor, which lead them to oppose and then eventually to support the shady anti-hero(ine) who offers to save the kingdom.

Somehow these "roll-the-dice" plotting methods always make me a bit queasy. Still, it's another method...