Up next! @PiperJDrake Piper J. Drake - Incorporating Romantic Elements in Any Story #WXR18 (there are handouts and one is labelled explicit! :O)
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
What are romantic elements? Any moment that creates intimacy between characters. Sex =/= intimacy. Need intimacy to create a believable romance. Your reader will start to ‘ship that couple and that is gold.
What are romantic elements? Any moment that creates intimacy between characters. Sex =/= intimacy. Need intimacy to create a believable romance. Your reader will start to ‘ship that couple and that is gold.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Both romances and thrillers are emotional rollercoasters. Romance is about hope. Thriller is about justice. Both create strong emotional bonds between the readers and characters.
Both romances and thrillers are emotional rollercoasters. Romance is about hope. Thriller is about justice. Both create strong emotional bonds between the readers and characters.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Establishing intimacy. Lots of ways. Touch, eye contact, written word (e.g. letters in Inu x Boku SS), taste (how they eat or drink), scent, dialogue. Lots of other ways: gifts, shared experiences, caring
Establishing intimacy. Lots of ways. Touch, eye contact, written word (e.g. letters in Inu x Boku SS), taste (how they eat or drink), scent, dialogue. Lots of other ways: gifts, shared experiences, caring
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
The hint of romance in any genre. You can use romantic elements to get the readers onside, build character. It doesn’t have to end in a happy-ever-after.
The hint of romance in any genre. You can use romantic elements to get the readers onside, build character. It doesn’t have to end in a happy-ever-after.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Exercise 1: Using Alien movie. Ripley x Bishop versus Ripley x Hicks: FIGHT. We watched some clips and wrote an argument for one of the ‘ships and are now having to argue back and forth between the two ‘ships. (Me: haha)
Exercise 1: Using Alien movie. Ripley x Bishop versus Ripley x Hicks: FIGHT. We watched some clips and wrote an argument for one of the ‘ships and are now having to argue back and forth between the two ‘ships. (Me: haha)
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Character development. Who are the characters in the beginning of the story: identity: who are they showing the world? may or may not be aware of it. Belief: what do they have that has to change? Relationships: why are they closed off to that relationship?
Character development. Who are the characters in the beginning of the story: identity: who are they showing the world? may or may not be aware of it. Belief: what do they have that has to change? Relationships: why are they closed off to that relationship?
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Who are the characters at the end of your story? Identity/Persona Essence. What have they learned? that makes them believe in or be open to love.
Who are the characters at the end of your story? Identity/Persona Essence. What have they learned? that makes them believe in or be open to love.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Once you have the characters at the beginning and end, the next thing: What romantic elements/moments in your story contributed to your characters journeying from who they were in the beginning to who they are in the end?
Once you have the characters at the beginning and end, the next thing: What romantic elements/moments in your story contributed to your characters journeying from who they were in the beginning to who they are in the end?
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Driving plot. Action (scene) > Reaction (Sequel) > Plot moves forward. The action can be romantic. The key thing here is that something changed about their relationship, even if they’re not aware of it.
Driving plot. Action (scene) > Reaction (Sequel) > Plot moves forward. The action can be romantic. The key thing here is that something changed about their relationship, even if they’re not aware of it.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Conflicts: External and Internal (non-romantic) > romance elements > Black moment / All is lost. This can be very powerful, especially if your readers don’t know whether or not they’re going to choose the relationship or not.
Conflicts: External and Internal (non-romantic) > romance elements > Black moment / All is lost. This can be very powerful, especially if your readers don’t know whether or not they’re going to choose the relationship or not.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Progression of romantic elements through story for a believable relationship.Don’t have to be entire scenes
>First impression
>>First intimate moment
>>>First kiss
>>>>Want.. but this can’t work
>>>Maybe this CAN work
>>BLACK MOMENT
>Reconcile? Forever lost?
Progression of romantic elements through story for a believable relationship.Don’t have to be entire scenes
>First impression
>>First intimate moment
>>>First kiss
>>>>Want.. but this can’t work
>>>Maybe this CAN work
>>BLACK MOMENT
>Reconcile? Forever lost?
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
First kiss is very important for readers. More important than any badoinkadoink at the end of the book. This is the moment that readers will go back to multiple times.
First kiss is very important for readers. More important than any badoinkadoink at the end of the book. This is the moment that readers will go back to multiple times.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
“Maybe this can work” followed immediately by BLACK MOMENT. Very powerful contrast.
Reconcile/forever lost: are you writing a romance or a story with romantic elements story?
“Maybe this can work” followed immediately by BLACK MOMENT. Very powerful contrast.
Reconcile/forever lost: are you writing a romance or a story with romantic elements story?
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Exercise 2: Pride and Prejudice. Watch a scene first without sound and then with sound and explain what is NOT being said in the scene.
Exercise 2: Pride and Prejudice. Watch a scene first without sound and then with sound and explain what is NOT being said in the scene.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Building an explicitly intimate scene (why lots of people are here!). use all of your senses, build your scene in layers, make your readers breathe with you.
Building an explicitly intimate scene (why lots of people are here!). use all of your senses, build your scene in layers, make your readers breathe with you.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Build your intimate scene in layers. Not just choreography. Give emotional reaction to what happens at each stage. Memory, physical reactions. Moments of decision (consent, trust, be impulsive). Tease your audience and don’t give them everything right away.
Build your intimate scene in layers. Not just choreography. Give emotional reaction to what happens at each stage. Memory, physical reactions. Moments of decision (consent, trust, be impulsive). Tease your audience and don’t give them everything right away.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Make your readers breathe with you. Taken from @DamonSuede’s talks. Make your readers breathe with you, sob with you, laugh with you, and they won’t be able to put your book down.
Make your readers breathe with you. Taken from @DamonSuede’s talks. Make your readers breathe with you, sob with you, laugh with you, and they won’t be able to put your book down.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Breaking down an intimate scene. Highlight the layers: actions, layers of emotional reaction, important background, decisions that move the plot forward. Make sure the scene needs to be there. If it's superfluous then why have it? Even in erotica.
Breaking down an intimate scene. Highlight the layers: actions, layers of emotional reaction, important background, decisions that move the plot forward. Make sure the scene needs to be there. If it's superfluous then why have it? Even in erotica.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Breaking down a scene: actions, layers of emotional reaction, important background, decisions that move the plot forward. You want a good balance between these elements. Depends on the purpose of the scene.
Breaking down a scene: actions, layers of emotional reaction, important background, decisions that move the plot forward. You want a good balance between these elements. Depends on the purpose of the scene.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
Trigger warning-----
Using death or rape is a nuclear detonation to incite a visceral reaction in the reader. It's the easy option. It can be done in other genres. Consent is *required* in Romance, and rape is unforgivable/unredeemable. Also, use condoms.
Trigger warning-----
Using death or rape is a nuclear detonation to incite a visceral reaction in the reader. It's the easy option. It can be done in other genres. Consent is *required* in Romance, and rape is unforgivable/unredeemable. Also, use condoms.
.@PiperJDrake #WXR18
In other genres, if you're going to use one of these one the page, you better have a damn good reason.
In other genres, if you're going to use one of these one the page, you better have a damn good reason.
