Comments on: Missing Something Vital – The Romance!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:31:09 +0000

Wendy – that’s absolutely true. I’m actually quite bad with concentrating on one thing and forgetting about others. Initially I had too little backstory. Then I had too much! And then in one I had too much sex and not enough emotion and so concentrated was I on not doing that again that I had no sex at all! Grrr. Finding balance for me is VERY difficult.

By: Wendy Tyler Ryan

Wendy Tyler Ryan — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:37:13 +0000

Jackie: With my firt novel, those little moments between H and h came really naturally and they were dotted throughout the story until the “dead”. Different story with my current WIP. I am writing about twins, so the brother I had no problem with, but with the sister (main character) I realized all that I had set up was the initial meeting with her and her love interest, so I had to go back and work on their attraction. So yes, you can get bogged down with one thing and forget about another, but that’s why we read, read, and read over out work – to see if flows and to fill-in-the-blanks.

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:35:02 +0000

Ju – yeah, with paranormal, you’ve got all the world building on top of that, and even harder with a novella! Well, I couldn’t write short, I know that so I take my hat off to you. I can barely fit it into 50K as it is. 🙂

Heidi – Lol! Yeah, I totally know what you mean about the playful. I love playful humour etc, which I guess is why I like writing Modern Heat (not forgetting the sexiness which I also love!). And in fact, that’s just given me an idea for my ‘moment scene’. I hadn’t thought of using humour to distract them. That’s a cunning plan, Ms Heidi, thank you very much!
Oh and glad I could be of service! 🙂 I quite like writing arguments too so I guess that’s why I forget the fun bits sometimes.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:04:28 +0000

Ooh, another cool question from Ms Jackie to sink our teeth into...

I always think some of the sweetest moments of romance often come with humour...

I love those moments when the hero and heroine are being playful with each other, and in Modern Heat it's usually sexy playful (which is even more fun!!). It's a chance for the hero and heroine to let off steam, to enjoy each other's company but at the same time, because they are being the opposite of serious, they're not going to notice that this is a big moment in the progression of their relationship... That they're learning to like each other, that they're falling in love (and not just lust)...

Thanks for reminding me about that Jackie, cos I've just written two chapters of angry argument in my current WIP and now I'm thinking, okay, time to lighten the mood a bit here folks, before my H & h end up hating each others guts.. Never good in a romance!

By: Ju Dimello

Ju Dimello — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:44:33 +0000

What you have posted about is so true for me Jax..
Especially when it comes to paranormal world building, I tend to spend a little extra time on it, thereby the romance-building time with hero / heroine takes a hit !

Still trying to find the right balance though... :) I guess the attempt to find the perfect blend would continue, for every story we write !

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:17:41 +0000

Rach – okay, you’ve sold me!

By: Rachael Johns

Rachael Johns — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 07:50:11 +0000

Trust me Jackie and Maisey – this book WAS HOT!! There wasn’t any actual consummation but it was so close it was scary, yet I didn’t feel ripped off when it didn’t happen. Instead it up the ante oh-so-much!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:05:28 +0000

Maisey – that’s absolutely right. You do want to know that at the end, these two will be together forever. And endless love scenes don’t make that happen. 🙂
But adding those moments actually does increase the tension – both for the character and the reader. For the character because they don’t want to fall in love with this person, and for the reader because she can see these two are meant to be together but she knows that they can’t see it yet and they’re going to be idiots about it right up until the end. And that’s when you get the awww moment. 🙂

By: Maisey

Maisey — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:48:01 +0000

Except for when shallow's name is Maisey. ;-) But I keep hearing so much good buzz about that book!

Jackie, the cool thing about adding romance is it's actually really fun. It's quickly becoming my favorite thing. But you know, I didn't know at first if I could get away with those quiet moments, those moments of connection, but now that I do, I find it's easy to add, if that makes sense.

Because it's those moments of real connection that go beyond the physical that make us believe that when we close the book, the HEA really does last forever.

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:24:23 +0000

Angie – yeah it’s hard eh? You don’t need to have lots there, just a nice moment that helps them connect on a deeper level. My two certainly need it ’cause at the moment it’s all about the sex!

Rach – that sounds good! Almost makes me want to read Romance. I know, I know but I like my love scenes! Yes, shallow thy name is Jackie. 🙂