WD Extra: 50 Reasons for Your Characters to Be Stuck Together

[Writer's Digest]

We have #WDLoveWrites on the brain! An old hat at writing romance or are including a subplot in your latest work, we have the tools to help.

Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here. The Writer's Digest team has #WDLoveWrites on the brain! Whether you're an old hat at writing romance or are including a subplot in your latest work, we have the tools to help. Forced Proximity: 50 Reasons for Your Characters to Be Stuck Together If you're including romance in your story, even as a subplot, it's important to craft a relationship that is believable. In this 2019 article by Hallmark publishing editor Bryn Donovan, we explore easy ways to get your characters together organically and let sparks fly. Bryn Donovan, WritersDigest.com, December 2019 When I read romance novel submissions in my day job in publishing, I come across many that are well-written, but are missing a strong reason for the two main characters to see each other a lot. They just keep randomly bumping into each other. Many strong romance story ideas and plots provide a reason for the characters to be together, even though each person has a good reason not to get involved with the other. In some cases, they don’t even like one another … at least at first. This creates the kind of romantic tension that keeps people reading. When circumstances throw characters together, it’s often referred to as "forced proximity," although some people reserve that term to refer to a specific romance novel trope in which characters are stuck together in close quarters (having no choice but to share a hotel room, for example). Interaction is a key element in plotting a romance. When you solve the problem of “how can I force my characters to be together a lot,” the rest of a romance plot falls into place a lot more easily, with fewer plot points that feel forced or strain credulity. We have plenty of opportunities to see their relationship and their attraction develop, and it’s much easier to create a convincing HEA (“happy ever after,” as we say in romance). Forced proximity can be important in other genres, too. If you’re writing about friendship or about enemies or rivals, you will likely need good reasons for two characters to be together for long periods of time. And if you have any kind of romance subplot in your novel, regardless of genre, forced proximity can work for you, too. Read the full article on our website... Moriah Richard Moriah Richard is an editor at Writer’s Digest with a particular interest in discussing craft and genre. As a reader, she’s most interested in horror, fantasy, and romance, although she will read just about anything with a great hook. Find Moriah on Twitter @MoriahRichard93. 7th Annual Mystery and Thriller Virtual Conference Gain expert insights from SIX award-winning and best-selling authors on the finer points of how to write within the mystery and thriller genres. Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft from six different published authors, then pitch your novel via query letter to a literary agent specifically looking for material in the mystery or thriller genre. Learn More & Register! Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA You received this email because you are subscribed to Writer's Digest Newsletter. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive.