The 5 essentials of a romance novel (written for and as published by Juggernaut)

When I first started writing, the first few sentences I wrote prominently featured the words ‘heart’, ‘love’, ‘romance’, etc. Even my subconscious knew I wanted to become a romance writer some day. And I did! One of the best things about writing one is that the emotions, the connect with the characters, the intensity of the relationships feel as if you are a part of the book yourself.

Some romance novels stay with us forever as readers and writers, like Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us, a heart-wrenching tale of compassion and painful truths. Similarly, A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks is about two teenagers who fall in love despite compatibility issues.

Here, let me highlight the five essentials of writing a romance novel:
What we say and how we say it

Why would anyone want to read a romance that does not transcend them into a world of fantasy? A complex narrative often keeps the reader disengaged, so a more lucid style connects better with readers. An overkill of extensive vocabulary is also a dampener, though lack of one can be equally disappointing.

Romance is incomplete without metaphors. If your characters haven’t compared their beloved’s beauty with the moon or haven’t sworn by the stars, they’re weak lovers. Remember, the power of love only gets enhanced by the power of words. So use them freely, adequately and happily.
Create characters who win hearts

If you think back on the romances you love, did you find the characters easy to relate to? Did the characters remind you of someone you know? In all likelihood, the answer will be yes.

Romances aren’t about aliens. They are about real people. Love, joy, heartbreaks and all the melodrama that happens in regular lives need to be seen in fiction that is close to reality. After all, fiction is only an elevated form of real life. So when you create a character, they don’t need to be perfect, but close to real. That’s what’s going to make them special.

While describing a character, drop hints about their traits. Instead of saying, ‘He loves to have chocolate shake with fruits for breakfast’, you could write, ‘He was cosy with her at the breakfast table while she poured his favourite chocolate shake’. Once a reader finishes the book, they will have something to remember and talk about. That’s your success as a writer.

Intimacy with the right amount of passion

Needless to say, intimacy builds romance. Passion is integral. All this is known, but what is essential is to build that scene. The setting is crucial. If it is the seaside or even the bedroom, love-making needs to be intricately built into a scene. While it is ecstatic, the words you choose to describe the scene cannot fall short of describing the love-making. It is an act that makes you go gaga, so why should your characters be devoid of that magic!
Meaningful dialogues, with a pinch of humour

We talk so much in our daily lives; we look out for moments with friends and partners where we are at ease. A fictional romance is an extension of our lives, so as a writer, if you’ve been able to write dialogues that one would use in everyday situations, it is a job well done. Add humour, and it acts as an aphrodisiac. We are in a world with Monday blues, screwed weekends, horrible bosses, and terrible salaries. You don’t want to go through the same trauma while reading either. So if your book has nice punchlines delivered with humour, it will take the reader out of their woes. Also, it motivates an individual to be humorous in real life and kill the monotony. As a writer, try and bring in humour, even as sarcasm and banter.

A happily ever after…

The end is what leaves the most impact on readers. If your ending is confusing and beats around the bush, your readers will not like it. If it’s sad and gloomy, readers will get emotional, but they may also take away a certain negativity. I prefer happy endings. I believe in them. Life is not always happy, but the intent is how hard you try.

Yes, a book will have situations that’ll leave you sad and disappointed, but let that be part of the story. Let the end come on a happy note. When I read a novel, I know I will have to go through ups and downs, but I want to be happy when the book ends. I will never kill my protagonist. I will unite the lovers. I will punish the villains. After all, I am writing a romance novel and not making an art film. To me, a book needs to be gripping and enthralling till the end. It needs to culminate into one big happy ending.

Road Trips – A great way to rejuvenate

It might not find popularity with many, yet, it turns out to be one of the great experiences when you plan a road travel with your family or friends, and definitely those have to be your loved one.

And, once you find yourself fond of being behind the wheels, and seek adventure, there lies the answer. Road travel is one of the best possible ways to truly explore the locale. In this case, I would limit myself to the experience in India.

When you fly high in the sky to your holiday destination, you tend to miss out on lots of things.
the local towns and villages, that you exist on the journey. I discovered the wonderful construction and colorful houses while on my recent travel from Mumbai to Goa. The local cultural experience is for yours to see.
The freedom to get photographed. There is so much our country offers, even apart from the holiday destinations. The lush greens and the scenery to escape are bound to mesmerize you.
With a little research, you can find some excellent spots to stay for a night halt that tours and travel agency might not necessarily offer.
Another key aspect is the time you get to spend with your loved ones. The final travel destination is more about chilling out, exploring the earmarked spots. However, the journey can offer that time where all are in the car or jeep and spend wonderful time together, without having to plan much.

Some preparation will always help to make this possible. Recently, I concluded Mumbai-Goa, Mumbai-Hyderabad, Bangalore-Coorg and I plan to do Mumbai- Dehradun shortly. The preparation that can always come handy is to carry car tool kit, puncture kit, car mobile charger, physical map even if you have GPS, it might still be a great asset. Do not forget to carry good music and first aid kid and any meds to beat dizziness, if required. Avoid carrying beer or breeze for the road. It is never a good idea to drink on the road, no matter how tempted you might feel, due to the wonderful company of loved ones.

From my Mumbai-Goa journey, I had wonderful stop overs at Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar and Hubli. India has so much to be explored and it is all for us to see.

What are you waiting for? Plan well and have a great time.

Good Wishes,

Arvind Parashar