Lessons in Storytelling—I need you!

Last week I reread Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah Eden for book club. If you love regency romances this book is AWESOME. I mean curl your toes great!

As I read this book a principle I learned (from Sarah Eden in fact, at a conference last year) really hit home for me. And if you write romance or even romantic sub-plots, this is the post for you.

Okay, here is Sarah’s little gem—Your characters must fulfill a need in each other. The deeper the need the deeper the connection!

You’re so hot I need to make out with you is NOT what I am talking about. I need you to jump all over me is also NOT what I’m talking about. Not to be crude, but you could get that anywhere.

No, what I’m talking about is a very specific need that only this specific person can meet. Need some ideas? I’ve been thinking about this for a while so I’ve got a list :) This list is not gender specific, because as much as men and women are different I think we have very similar needs.

The need for:

• Kindness
• Strength
• Protection
• Stability
• Unconditional love
• Freedom
• Security
• Someone to push you out of your comfort zone
• Lightheartedness
• Optimism
• Realism
• Seriousness
• Financial Security
• To be someone’s first choice
• Feeling wanted
• Feeling useful
• I could go on and on and on… 

One interesting thing I noticed in Sarah Eden’s book was that the two main characters fulfilled more than one need in each other. They both fulfilled a physical need and an emotional need.

Have you read stories where the romance felt flat? I’m convinced this is the problem (that and not knowing how the characters feel). Do you want to ratchet up the romance? I guarantee this will do it every time. I cannot think of a great love story where this is not the case.

But you have to make sure you your readers aware of these needs. Show it through situations. Show it through dialogue. Show it through internalization. But make sure we know what they need!

I promise it’s like magic! Heart speeding, hand trembling—MAGIC!

-Angie

And if your interested I'm reviewing Night Sky by Jolene Perry on Afterglow Book Reviews today :)

What I learned about Romance from my Husband :)

Before I start, my friend Emily at Get Busy Writing is soooo close to 200 followers. If you don't all ready--pop over and follow her. She is well worth your time :) Now back to the show!

I’m not sure how my hubby will feel about me exploiting his cuteness for my own nefarious blogging purposes, but since we don’t run in the same blogging circles I doubt he will know—if you don’t tell him.

I’m working through a difficult part in my 2^nd WIP where two of my characters must overcome impossible odds to be together—and when I say impossible I really mean IMPOSSIBLE. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to navigate them through the situation I’ve written them into.

As I’m working through the problem, I start to think about what I’ve learned about love and romance from my husband.

Love is challenging: My biggest pet peeve in stories is when people fall into sacrifice-my-life-for-you love without any kind of obstacle. I’ve learned from my husband that love is challenging, but the good news is—the more you overcome together the more you love each other. Overcoming challenges and love are in direct proportion to each other.

Smart is Sexy: We all know stories with big brawny guys that swoop in and skewer the bad guys with a sword. Now, I’m not saying that I don’t like that, but there is also something so amazing about an extremely smart guy who can out think and out maneuver everyone. If you were wondering—yes, my husband is VERY smart (smart alecky that is :)

Humor can cover a multitude of sins: My husband prides himself on the fact that he makes me laugh everyday and it’s true—he does! He uses humor to defuse my stress, get me to forgive him, make me happy, and get me to do what he wants :) I believe characters can use humor in the same ways. I would love to see a truly humorous leading man!

Sometimes talking is overrated: I know I’m not the only person who has had this experience: You are having an argument with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend and you think if you can just keep talking…and talking…and talking…you can solve the problem, but you just talk in circles and don’t resolve anything. I read a lot of books where they don’t talk and it causes problems or books where when they do talk everything is resolved. But I think it could bring on a fresh wave of despair to characters (and readers) if they talk and it just make things worse.

Sacrifice IS love: I feel like we live in a world where sacrifice is a dirty word. People who give up something for someone else are represented as weak and giving up their dreams. I hate that idea, because I believe sacrifice is REAL love. If you have ever had someone sacrifice for you—you KNOW without a doubt they love you. When I think of all the things my husband has sacrificed for me, I get choked up.

I’ve learned a lot of other things from my husband, but they are too personal to share :) What about you? What have you learned about romance from your significant other?

-Angie

P.S. I hesitated adding this because I didn't want to make anyone who is follically-challenged feel bad, but it is too funny not to share. Girls LOVE hair :) My husband was once bumped from coach to first class because the girl working the counter loved his hair. Then on a different flight the male flight attendent kept bringing him free food from first class because he had a hair-crush on him. LOL!

I Need a Good Man!

Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813. I’m no math whiz but that is almost 200 years ago. What is it that makes this book so popular?

The Twilight series has sold MILLIONS of copies worldwide and is one of the most popular YA series in history. Why?

People can debate relevance, social message, and quality of writing. But what you can’t dismiss is the popularity of both books.

Everyone has different reasons for loving these books, but for me it’s all about the MEN! A fantastic leading man can take your book to a new level. As much as extreme feminists would like to disagree—we NEED men. (Notice the use of the word extreme, no hate mail please :) This is what I love to see in a man.

Flaws – Please, no perfect men. They don’t exist. But to be fair neither does the perfect women.

Need – Men need women as much as we need them. And I think most women will agree it is nice to be needed. I don’t know how my hubby functions without me :)

Want – Nothing melts my heart more than seeing that a man wants a woman. Not in the selfish, “what can I get out of this” way, but in the “I will sacrifice for you” way. See I’m melting already.

Sacrifice – This goes along with want. Men that will sacrifice their own wants and think of others are SEXY! Also there is nothing as ugly as selfishness.

Intelligence – Glasses are optional :)

I could make a LONG list. Who are some of your favorite literary men and why?

-Angie