What Makes a
Love Story Great?
Plain
and simple, the formula for a romance novel is man meets woman and they fall in
love. Of course, they run into various obstacles along the way, but there is
always a happy ending. However, what sets a romance novel apart and makes it
irrefutably memorable?
Think
about one of the most dramatic love stories through the ages—Romeo & Juliet, young love of the
forever kind. Yes, this story ended tragically, but it shows the ingredients of
a great love affair. Even death could not keep them apart.
Let’s
look at a more contemporary example, The
Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks. Two young people experience a passionate
summer romance and life threatens to pull them apart. The heroine goes away to
college while the hero enlists in the army. The hero wrote to her but she never
received his letters and she thinks he doesn’t want to be with her. She gets
engaged to a man from an affluent family and finally, circumstances bring the
hero and his heroine together again. They marry and have a family, living a
good life. Eventually the heroine has dementia and her loving husband stands by
her, trying to help her remember the happy life they had. Even when she has
lost her mental capacity, he stands by his wife. They die together in their
sleep. Now that is a true testament of an everlasting love affair.
So
how do you create such an unforgettable love affair that breaches the limits of
the run of the mill romance novel? You start by thinking outside the box. The
formula is the same, but you need to make the plot your own. I write inspirational
romance, so I bring an element of faith into my stories. In my opinion, that
adds the cement to hold the romance together. If a couple wants to weather the
storms of life, they need a higher power to give them the foundation to
succeed. I believe that foundation is God at the center of their relationship.
Now,
I don’t want to get too preachy here—and I never do in my books either because
I believe in real life. Not everyone
believes the same way or has a strong faith in God, yet many people experience
a great love affair in their lives. So, even if you don’t add an element of
faith to your novels, you too, can write a memorable love story.
Your
hero and heroine need to love each other unconditionally.
That is real love. They love body, soul and spirit, every part of each other. A
great love affair is one that begins in the realm of friendship or at least
intellectual or emotional connection, before any inkling of physical intimacy
enters the picture. Passionate connections are wonderful, but passion
eventually fades. When it lessens, what remains? That agape, unconditional, love remains. It’s a love
that knows no bounds. They overcome hurts and offenses and learn to forgive.
It’s not about winning, but learning to compromise and serve one another’s
needs first. A great love affair turns from friendship into a passionate love
with your best friend. Physical intimacy obviously comes into play, but
depending on the type of genre you write in, will determine the amount you show
the readers.
Your
novel may not span the length of your hero and heroine’s years like in The Notebook, but you need to convey the
same sense of long-term commitment. Your readers must get the sense that your
characters are in it forever. However, if you write a sappy romance novel, most
readers won’t appreciate that and it won’t be a memorable love affair. In real
life, we face problems. Make your novel real
and add reality to your story. If you
do that, it will be believable and readers will relate. Own your own story. If you believe the love affair you are
creating, your readers will believe it too.
Currently,
I’m enjoying the release of my newest book, Bella
Lucia, and I’m busy making the rounds in my blog tour. I mentioned two
great love stories—Romeo & Juliet
and The Notebook. What is your
all-time favorite love story?
Joanne
Troppello is an author of romantic suspense novels. She has published three books: Shadowed Remembrances, Mr. Shipley’s Governess and Bella Lucia. Currently, she is working
on her new writing project, The Paradise
Redeemed Series. Joanne is married and loves spending time with her husband
and family. She
enjoys interacting with readers at The Mustard Seed Blog.
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