A romance book must have a happy ending. That's the guarantee. Romances without an uplifting ending are not not romances. In real life, the good guys do not always win and there are plenty of tragedies. When I pick up a romance, I want to forget about the real world.
However, to assume that there is a formula or recipe in writing a romance is to dismiss the nature of the art. Yes, romances are genre literature and so they are looked down upon by those who write and read literary novels. Literary novels are considered serious works. To me, they are most often seriously depressing. Romances do have sad scenes. My novel, HEAVEN'S BLUE, has choked up a number of readers--but it ends well.
There is a lot of variety to be found in getting to the end of a romance. While there are only so many plots in the world, romances are character driven novels--and when it comes to people, the choices are endless. I've read my share of cowboy romances, but they are not all the same. Every writer comes to the task with a completely unique set of characters roaming around in his or her mind. Jane Eyre is as real in most readers' minds as Nicole Kidman--maybe more real. The characters I put into my novels are very real to me.
One of my other Christian romances, HOPING FOR JOY, is based on part of I Corinthians 13--so there's some serious spiritual pondering in the story. Still, despite their differences, the hero and heroine will succeed in falling in love by the end. Why bother reading a romance when you know that the two protagonists will end up happy every after? For me, it's the sunshine I feel in my heart when I get to the end. How about you?
4 comments:
I read romance novels for several reasons. They are an "easy" read, they are an escape from the real world and all of it's difficulties, they ALWAYS have a happy ending which strengthens my belief that there is such a thing as Love.
I agree it is the sunshine at the end that makes the book. I am one who wants to remember the end long after I have read the story and I want that ending to be on a positive note or to have some fiber about it, where you actually leave it a better person!!
Why is it that romances are not taken seriously in the literary world? For the same reason probably that "chick flicks" never win academy awards. Am I too cynical to think that because these things traditionally appeal to women that they are not worthy?
I tell people that you know how a football or baseball game is going to end, too - one of the teams is going to win. The fun is watching how it's going to happen.
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