The full title is, How to Outline a Romance Novel and Keep the Love Scenes Sweet with a Little Bit of Heat. This is a presentation offered at the 2023 LDSPMA writers’ conference. The presenter is Julie L. Spencer. Any misinformation is the fault of the note-taker.
What makes a romance novel different from other fiction?
- Love story: Romantic subplot is useful. If someone is trying to save the world and character, finds love. They may have to save the world or their love. It endears the reader to the character.
- Romeo and Julie > isn’t a romance. It is a tragedy because they die in the end.
Multi-genera included paranormal of two book genres combined.
Erotica verses Erotic romance> erotic romance uses sex
Outlining and story structure:
- If you take the romance out and still have a story, you don’t have a romance. You have a romance subplot. In a romance novel, the protagonist is “the romance.”
- Choose a plot structure (hero’s journey, Save the cat, romancing the beat) and create a framework of events that need to happen in order to make the plot work.
- In a romance, the romance is the plot. Intergradient of a romance: a central plot focused around a romantic relationship that follows the development of the falling in love
- The conclusion is a happily ever after. In a teen romance, they go to the school dance holding hands.
