Theory Toolkit
Before we can talk about how to write romance, we need to talk about how we learn to write romance, and why so much existing advice doesn't work for so many. We'll learn about what makes craft theory useful, and begin to map what we actually know (and don't know) about romance as a form.
Most writing advice drops you straight into technique. Here's how to write dialogue. Here's how to structure a scene. Here's an example, now go do it like that.
But this approach assumes you already know where you stand. It assumes you understand what kind of problem you're solving, what tools are available, and which ones suit your particular situation. For many writers, those assumptions don't hold.
We need to examine the gap between reading a craft tip, deciding with confidence whether it's a good tip, and actually being able to execute it in a way that makes sense for your story. I think we need to look at why that gap is so wide in romance, and what theory can do to narrow it without screwing up your vision or your story.
This means stepping back before we step forward. Rather than jumping straight into technique, we'll first get oriented.
Expect articles like this:
- The Three Types Of Advice Every Romance Writer Should Know
- Mapping Romance Theory
- Good Theory Vs Bad Theory
If you have thoughts or suggestions, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments below.