I will not ramble long about what love is, but bear in mind: everyone who has found himself/herself swept up in a romance has felt the rhythm of love. I am certain of this, because I am a romantic.
Love, just as all other emotions, has its own rhythm. When it is superfluous, it is like a waterfall; when it is mellow, it is like a steady flowing stream. Well, to me anyway. I’m sure that love has a different rhythm for you, but I’m sure we must agree on one thing: love is precious. Please, dear reader, keep this in mind as you continue reading this column.
Your question to me is, “How does one write a love story?” You probably expect me to say, “Easy. Try this. Try that. Mix in a little of this. Mix in a little that. Presto! You have a love story!”
Pfft! If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be writing this column. Seriously. I like a challenge, and this is definitely one. After all, I’m sure you and I both have our own definition of what the perfect love story is.
Whenever I write, read, or watch something that’s romantic, I want the couple to end up in the end. No matter what, even if it seems illogical, guy and girl MUST end up together.
I’m sure you disagree.
Or, if not, we have something in common, though not everything.
The point of the matter is: everyone (even if you do have one thing in common with me) has a taste that’s different from mine when it comes to love stories. I don’t mind. Honest.
Considering the above point, two steps can help all love stories:
Step 1: Setting. My favorite pieces, when love is involved, are those that take place in the past. You may like something different, but you must realize that setting will influence how your characters behave—and you can’t just let them exist in a void. (That would be interesting...)
Step 2: Characters. Of course, characters. Love stories revolve around them. Really, they do. The more the reader can understand where they're coming from, all the better for you.
From there, you have to throw in your own twist of emotions, conflict, characters, and everything else besides. I mean, if you want there to be a conflict in the first place. The main character may be in love with someone who loves them in return; they may not. The best stories are those with characters that have conflict, though, and challenges—so the reader won’t be bored. The conclusion, once you reach it, needs to seem inevitable: that boy gets girl…unless you want to add your own little twist.
There’s just no limit!
Here are three romance stories from the minds (and hearts) of three authors on Storywrite:
“Noted” http://storywrite.com/story/244512 By: Sodancewithsoda
“Eponine” http://storywrite.com/story/227858 By: Kariana Kensington
Elizabeth Barrett Browning once said, “Whoso loves, believes in the impossible.” Nevertheless, we will try to write it. Not with the ticking of our brains, but with the thumping of our hearts. Oh, what a rhythm it has when love comes our way!
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