Laura Hamby

On this page...

Writing Awesome Sentences
Components of a Romance Novel
Looking at Your WIP Objectively
Love Scenes 101
Tips for Writing During Summer Vacation
Links to the Writefield Sites, for even MORE writing tips

Creating Awesome Sentences

I love to play with words---they are my paint, my film, my medium for creating a picture.

The first criteria I have for any sentence is that it does the job I intend it to do---whether I'm setting a scene, transitioning, introducing a character, establishing emotion, aiming for levity or fear or tears---whatever the need is, I want the sentence to meet it well.

The second on my list: That the sentence works with the others around in the paragraph or scene to fulfill my goal for that paragraph or scene.

The third: The sentence is active and vivid rather than passive and pale.

The fourth: That the sentence "sounds like me". That it's clear I wrote the sentence, that my unique voice rings true---and again, not just in the one sentence, but in all the sentences around it---the paragraphs, the scenes, the chapter.

The fifth and final criteria: That the sentence does double or even triple or quadruple duty. Am I getting the most bang for my buck, as it were?

I believe even the smallest ingredient of a sentence is an integral part, which is why my goal is to use each ingredient to its fullest potential. Takes practice, doesn't always happen the first time through, but I tell myself it is possible to do it and do it well.

COMPONENTS OF A ROMANCE NOVEL
by Laura Hamby

Okay, just like any other novel written, romances have characters who have goals, motivations and conflicts (both internal and external); a plot that advances the story to the Happily Ever After conclusion; a balance of exposition, narrative and action; the traditional beginning, middle and end; the climax... I'm probably stating the obvious here, but I wanted to set the stage, as it were, that romance novels-aside from the romantic aspects-really are no different than any other genre novel.

What are the components of a romance novel? Well, in my opinion, the main components are the following.

1. Romance. Even if you bring in intrigue or paranormal or romantic comedy elements, the main theme is romance-how boy meets girl (or girl meets boy), how their relationship develops, how they fall in love, their trials and tribulations along the way, and in the end, the big payoff- the Happily Ever After. Romance novels are all about emotion and the building of the relationship between the hero and the heroine. The rest is gravy. :D

2. A hero and heroine worth rooting for. Real people with hopes, dreams, goals, conflicts, motivations, personality quirks. Nobody is perfect, and while our heroes and heroines can be a bit fantastical, they should also have a human flaw or three. Makes 'em interesting, and is good for the plot.

Characterization is how he/she acts under pressure, responds to the situation he/she finds him/herself in and the decisions he/she makes. It's what makes a character three-dimensional, more than knowing what the hero did with his life in a time before the parameters of the story. Not everything has to be spelled out. It's enough to know that given X circumstance, our hero will do A and B, but not C or D. It's what he/she DOES in the here and now of the story that's relevant. While the reader does need certain things spelled out, there are others that the reader can and should infer for themselves. It's a mistake, in my opinion, to underestimate the intelligence of the reader.

3. A plot that's engaging, believable, well-paced. Another integral part of any story being told. Plot, essentially, is what drives the story. Plot determines why the characters do what they do, why the events that happen happen. At its most elemental, plot is "Boy meets Girl. Boy and Girl interact. Boy and Girl have Big Misunderstanding. Big Misunderstanding is resolved. Boy and Girl live happily ever after."

Simply, plot is the drama created around the characters in pursuit of their goals, and that their actions serve to advance the story to the resolution. Actions create obstacles that must be overcome along the way to the final, fulfilling resolution. The plot must escalate to continue moving forward toward resolution.

To make the plot more interesting, we add characters to drive it forward, learning and growing along the way to the Happily Ever After. There are many, many plot points that can be added: suspense, comedy, drama-for example-to broaden the scope and appeal of the story.

4. GMC: Goals, Motivation, Conflict. Goals: Each and every character MUST have goals. Both long term and short term goals. The short term goals are what the character needs to achieve their long term goal(s). The long term goal is the ultimate wish and desire they want to achieve and fulfill which would give their life purpose. Ask yourself: "What is it that the hero and heroine most want from life? From each other?"

Motivation: The reason why your character must accomplish those goals. Make it in keeping with your character(s) and make it realistic. What motivates them to go after what they want? Their back story comes into play on this, as well as their present.

Conflict: External and Internal. External: What outside forces are acting against the characters, keeping them from attaining their goals? Internal: The characters' inner struggles to achieve their goals.

Internal conflict is what hinders a character from doing what they must versus what they want. External conflict is what separates the characters to keep them from achieving their goal. It isn't something that a simple conversation could clear up.

Combined, a well-balanced GMC will round out the plot and make the story exciting. The characters will have depth and be "real" to the reader. The more intense the GMC, the more intense the story. The weaker the GMC, the more difficult the story is to write. Make the goals attainable, the motivation sound, and the conflicts difficult enough to sustain the storyline, but not impossible for a mere mortal to overcome.

5. The Black Moment. When all is feared to be lost. All the action in the novel builds to this point near the end of the novel. It is the culmination of the characters' actions, conflicts, motivations and has the power to make or break our Happy Couple. This moment shouldn't be something that can be resolved by a simple talk. This moment should be earth-shattering, highly emotional, gut wrenching. It should require both the hero and the heroine to take a good long look at themselves, each other and their relationship.

6. The Happily Ever After. This is what people read romances for, IMHO-the fairytale ending. If the hero and heroine aren't riding off into the sunset on a white horse, as it were, the promise that they will should be there.

Romance is first and foremost about the couple. The rest (for instance, the intimate scenes, secondary characters, friendships) are gravy. Yep. GRAVY. They add depth, texture, emotion, move the plot forward, are a natural extension to the romance in the case of intimacy, and help make the story believable, readable and memorable. Use all the tools in your toolbox for crafting a well-written, terrific story, and keep your eye on the ball. You'll do just fine.

Looking at Your WIP Objectively

Here’s a tough concept for many writers accomplish: the ability to look at their work objectively. It does take practice and time to grow into this. It requires a willingness to detach enough to look at your own work with fresh eyes. It requires the ability to admit that your baby isn’t perfect and that there’s always room to learn and grow in the craft of writing—a double whammy!

Easier said than done, right?

Likely.

But still, you should try it. Like nasty, disgusting lima beans, this could actually be good for you!

The Lima Beans...

You’ve finished the story. Excellent. That’s half the battle right there.

Lima Bean #1: Admitting that while you’re enamored with your brilliance—and rightfully so—it’s just possible this Most Terrific Novel Ever Written could still be in that "diamond in the rough" stage.

Lima Bean #2: Keep an open mind about the comments you receive about your novel, especially if they’re from your trusted critique partner... or your editor. It’s hard to swallow the bean when you’re told your baby kinda resembles a head of rotting cauliflower—even if it’s said with love, so if you’re not ready for a critique from a trusted source, you’re not ready for an editor to look at it, either. Step 1 on the Road to Objectivity is to be open to the likely possibility that your cp (or editor) is right.

Lima Bean #3: Put the manuscript away. Step away from the manuscript. Let it age for a couple of weeks there on your hard drive. Refresh your mind. Remind yourself what your spouse looks like. Reintroduce yourself to your children. Calculate the number of sick days you used so you could finish the story and how many you have left for the year. Reacquaint yourself with the outlandish notion of eating a hot meal before it grows cold. Go scrub the mold that’s threatening to colonize your shower to oblivion. Refocus by starting a new WIP. Whatever you do... Don’t think about your story.

Lima Bean #4: When you get back to your novel, after you’ve eaten Lima Bean #3, read it like you’ve never seen it before. Keep an open mind to the fact that you’re likely to find places in your manuscript that have you wondering what exactly was in those chocolate chip cookies you ate while you wrote that particular scene. This is OKAY. This is GOOD. This means you just had an objective moment. Pat yourself on the back. Kiss your brain. Then get back to work! This is no time for slacking off— you’re on a roll!

Love Scenes 101

1. Pick a paperbag that will fit over your head comfortably.

2. Cut a couple of breathing holes out so you can, yanno, breathe.

3. Add moustache to decorate and procrastinate the commencement of writing Paperbag Scene.

4. Put on mood music, and change mind about mood music 10 times before going back to the first CD you put in to play.

5. Look at children and remember that your hero needs to use protection.

6. Decide your paperbag needs eye holes and cut those out.

7. Put paperbag back over head.

8. Scream at husband and children that you're REALLY gonna start writing now, and you'd appreciate it if they leave you alone. Lock door, just in case. If no lock, move heavy furniture in front of door to block it closed.

9. Have a panic attack because you blocked yourself into the room, and what if there's a fire? Check the window to make sure it opens. Find heavy object to throw through window to break glass because window doesn't open. Put heavy object on desk and promptly forget why it's there.

10. Make a sticky note lists: "Use senses. What are the senses? There's the 6th, um..... hearing, uhhhhhhhhhhh, seeing, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, touching. Oh yes, touching is good." And "Emotion. How can characters connect emotionally while boinking, aren't they too busy boinking to be emotional?"

11. Scream at husband, who is pounding away on the door that no, that a poopy diaper isn't going to kill him, but you are if he doesn't stop pounding and leave you alone.

12. Turn music up because now kids are pounding the door, along with the husband who thinks the poopy smell will kill him soon, and the air quality control folks will be there any minute to cart you all to jail for polluting the air.

13. Read WIP to remember what you were gonna write about, then review sticky notes. Have an "Ah-ha!" Moment.

14. Put hands on keyboard and notice the heavy object you have on your desk and stare it, wondering why it's there on the desk.

15. Sing along with your mood music, to drown out the sound of family pounding on door.

16. Commence writing Paperbag Scene.

TIPS FOR WRITING DURING SUMMER VACATION
by Laura Hamby

If you have school-aged children at home, then you’re very shortly going to be enjoying summer vacation with them. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a working mom who writes when there’s two seconds to rub together, summer vacation can make eking out your writing time a little more challenging. Here are some ideas to help you find and make time to cobble together a sentence or two.

1. Many schools have summer reading lists these days, so institute “Reading Time”—how about during the hottest time of the day, when it’s too hot to play outside? For incentive, make a chart for your kids to keep track of their reading: books they want to read, books they are/have reading/read, their ultimate goal, how many pages they’ve read, how many hours they’ve read—just a few examples of what can go on their reading charts. Because kids get twitchy, keep the Reading Time to about 20-30 minutes for elementary school kiddos, 30-60 for middle to high schoolers. Tally progress at the end of the week and give the kids little rewards. The rewards don’t have to be big or major, a simple Mom-made certificate printed off the computer would work.

2. Get up an hour earlier. For those of you who aren’t Morning People (I’m not a Morning People), stay up an hour later.

3. If you cart your kids to and from the swimming pool, and like me, refuse to leave them alone there, take your laptop, Neo, Alpha Smart, Notebook and Pen, and write while your kids swim.

4. Give the kids more responsibility for the upkeep of the house. Assign them an extra chore or two (like doing the dishes, cleaning the bathrooms, folding laundry) or something else you normally do, to free up the time you’d’ve spent on those chores.

5. If you’re a SAHM who writes, write when the kids are playing outside. The housework, laundry and shopping will wait. If you’re a working mom who writes, write on the weekend or whatever days you have off, when the kids are outside.

6. If all else fails, grab your laptop, Neo, Alphie, notebook and pen and lock yourself in the bathroom. Turn on the fan to drown out the sound of the kids pounding on the door.

Please visit my Writefield Squidoo sites for more tips on writing romance novels.

Writing Romance Novels
The Mechanics of Writing Romance Novels
Creating Conflict in Romance Novels
Revising and Aditing Your Novel

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