Romance & Flash Fiction
Thank you Father
Dragon, for allowing me to visit your charming cave, I dropped by today to discuss writing romance and flash fiction.
The basic plot for any
romance is, boy meets girl, conflict ensues and boy loses girl, the conflict is
resolved and boy gets girl back. Make that conflict a murder and you've added a
bit more tension to your plot. Which is what I did in all three of my books I
call the Murder Trilogy.
I've been an avid
reader of mysteries and romance all my life, and constructed my books around
what I liked. I happen to like a bit of murder with my romance, or a bit of
romance with my murder mystery. The truth is many genres have a bit of romance
in them, but the romance isn't the main story line. Where it gets curious is
the label romance – folks seem to have blinders on when that word is mentioned
as we've recently seen via the RFW's demise. Many folks were put off by the
term but taking the word romance out of the mix made folks more open to the
challenge.
I think it harkens to
the bodice ripping prose of Barbara Cartland. Even though today there are many
sub-genres for the romance novel, the paranormal, suspense, even horror, it
still conjures up the old stereotype.
The key to success in
writing any genre is to know the genre. Read it. Know the publishers and what
they want and be comfortable with writing love scenes, although today, for the
more independent, self-publishing is a great option.
In regards to love
scenes, there are also many different levels of exposure, so to speak, you can
be more Victorian and poetic and allude to passion or venture into the realm of
the erotic. Again, it's important that you do your research and know your
target audience. If you decide to go with the more graphic, practice makes
perfect – in real life as well as in writing.
I
also enjoy writing flash fiction. A form of short story
writing that is very tight and concise. Your goal is to pull the reader into
the story with the minimum number of words and get to the middle of the
conflict quickly. It is also important that your flash fiction story has a
beginning, middle, and an end, but in as few words as possible. There is
no minimum number of words – I've seen challenges that limit the words to 25,
or 140 characters - Twitter's limit. But the maximum is 1000 words, such as the
limit for Write…Edit…Publish
hosted by Denise Covey."
I've
learned a lot from the challenges. Since I'm a very flowery and long-winded
writer, and need to cut down on the wordiness, this kind of practice is
valuable. Plus, I simply love the challenge. One such example is below. Using
only 60 words or less and the title Sleepover
tell us a story.
SLEEPOVER
Remnants of food litter the
room. It’s My Party plays in the
background. I carefully step over each girl in baby doll pajamas. Lightless
eyes manage accusatory stares. Their bodies pale in death.
In the bedroom, the prom queen
sleeps soundly. The only evidence of her crime is a single drop of blood in the
corner of her mouth.
******
Father Dragon, I enjoyed my afternoon with you and
your lovely Dwarves. I do hope you and your readers enjoyed the discussion. I'm
thrilled to award one commenter an eBook copy
of Murder, Madness
& Love.
Tagline:
After a gritty detective
becomes involved with a beautiful widow suspected of murder, rumor and
obsession obstruct his quest for justice.
Blurb:
Sunlight blazes on an empty canvas.
Arctic winds gather snowflakes on a frosty
window ledge as a statuesque form appears. She moves past a table littered with
papers. Headlines splash news of murder, but it's the photo of another young
woman with features mirroring her own that draws her attention.
A different headline peeks from underneath the
Anchorage Times.
Wealthy Businessman Dies in Car Crash ... BLACK
WIDOW SUSPECTED!
Graphic images swirl through her head and a tear
rolls down her cheek. She drifts toward an easel and a trembling hand dips a
sable brush into a palette of paint.
The Westminster doorbell chimes. The brush slips
and blood-red paint stains the floor.
Detective Steven Quaid waits. His Tlingit,
Indian features carved from granite, mask his Irish passion ...
Will he arrest her this time?
All fingers point to her guilt.
But, is she guilty of this cunning plot? Or,
just a victim of circumstantial evidence?
The door opens ...
His heart races ...
Murder, Madness & Love is available as an eBook at Amazon ~ Kobo~ and B&N, and will soon be out in paperback.
Thank you Father Dragon (I think) for introducing Yolanda Renee to me and putting yet more temptation into my weak-willed path...
ReplyDeleteAnd Yolanda, I loved Sleepover - and Murder, Madness & Love looks fascinating too.
Elephant's Child - I am so glad you are tempted! Thanks for stopping by the cave, it was an awesome experience to spend an afternoon with Father Dragon!
DeleteWorth temptation, I'm sure you'll not regret if you give in to that. :)
DeleteWell that is a great trick with your breath. also the cover and book are amazing makes me interested for sure.
ReplyDeleteToo awesome to have my name written in Dragon Breath! I will always remember that experience, Thanks Brandon!
DeleteWait till you see the next one. I'm improving quickly and I'm also adding more phosphorus to my diet, haha. :) Thanks!
DeleteI love that cover! Great blurb too.
ReplyDeleteI have a flash fiction addiction... it's a great way in which to practice concise writing.
Writer In Transit
Michelle, exactly! And your submission for the Kissing Blogfest - absolutely brilliant! This was a 250 words challenge that Michelle did in 153 words! And like I said amazing job!
DeleteCheck it out folks: http://www.writer-in-transit.co.za/cherry-kisses/#comments
Yolanda that's true the word romance tends to put some people off. Which is ironic, as it's what makes the world go round, right?
ReplyDeleteYes, I find that curious too. There is always some type of relationship issues in a book, but heaven forbid you label it romance! Funny, isn't it!
DeleteI'm a fade to black kind of writer when it comes to romance and sex scenes. And while a romance is the key element in all five of my fiction books, I've never considered them as romances.
ReplyDeleteMost folks don't but most conflicts in novels revolve around love issues. I like the fade to black method too, although this time around I did add a bit more passion, but definitely not graphic. Thanks Diane!
DeleteThese are books I definitely hope to read soon. Thanks Father Dragon for hosting Yolanda today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jo, especially for stopping by while on your vacation!
DeleteThank you for coming even during vacations, Jo!
DeleteRomance writer here, cheering you on.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :)
Thanks Melissa! Love your informative posts! Yay for romance!
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ReplyDeleteI hate spiders, but for some reason the one on the cover doesn't bother me. Congrats, Yolanda!
ReplyDeleteThanks Matthew, I hate them too, and the cover surprised me, but I love it. Conveys the tension!
DeleteGreat post, Yolanda! It's so true that reading in your genre helps with your own writing. Flash fiction helped me become more concise too. Congratulations and good luck!
ReplyDeleteFather Dragon, what a talent you have there with your breath. It's lovely. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks Christine, you rock in the flash fiction arena! Congratulations on the release of the 13th Floor!
DeleteYours is coming, Christine! We still have that 13th Floor announcement to make so hang on tight and wear asbestos. ;)
DeleteRomance does make people run for the hills. Yet it is everywhere, hmmm guess they don't want to be labeled? Who knows, nice guest post.
ReplyDeleteThat's it exactly Pat, romance isn't the label they want, and yet it's the most popular genre out there! It's that bodice ripping, that's made folks run for the hills! :)
DeleteI'm the same way in my writing- long winded and capable of racking up word count, which is why flash fiction and specifically the shorter challenges are so important for me.
ReplyDeleteYour story is a great example. And I love the lines "Lightless eyes manage accusatory stares. Their bodies pale in death." so much I stuggle to put it into the words. The whole story hinges on that beautifully.
And thanks Father Dragon, for helping your dwarves get gussied up. Even if they're disappointed by the Yolanda's refusal it's gotta help that they smell better!
Thanks Beverly, I love the challenges, and really need to do more, it's just a damn shame that life interferes with the writing goals! And yes the Dwarves were all lovely, but they really should have toned down the cologne! :)
DeleteYeah, I shall hide the cologne next time. See what they come up with. Yolanda's presence light up the cave enough. ;)
DeleteAlways great to hear from Yolanda. Thanks for sharing with us, Father Dragon! Yolanda, I hope the dwarves behaved themselves and you didn't get swept away by their charms. :D
ReplyDeleteCharms, no not really, I was too mesmerized by their wild hair. Thanks for stopping by Julie!
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ReplyDeleteYes you have decide how far you want to go with the romantic/steamy element. Nice interview and congrats Yolanda.
ReplyDeleteEmail: queendsheena@hotmail.com
Exactly Sheena, be careful though, some will like it and some wont! Know your audience.
DeleteYolanda, great cover (love the spider) and I just love the blurb. And that story in 60 words left me speechless. I love my words and can never write small pieces, but I am going to try now. Hope the dwarves' flirting didn't distract you ;)
ReplyDeleteFather Dragon, I like the way your dwarves are flirting ;) They gave me the idea for a story.
Hey Rachna, the winking was a bit distracting, but Father Dragon kept them in line! :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and yes do join the flash fiction challenges, so much fun, you'll surprise yourself, especially if you're as wordy as I am!
Did I? Hahaha, that's so cool (or hot!) Yeah, their flirting ways might be enough material for a documentary from National Geographic on weird species. :)
DeleteI agree Yolanda. I like my romance flavored with other genres. A straight-up romance has very little appeal for me. Great tips here and those writing exercises are fabulous ideas. I liked your Sleepover submission very much. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin, I too like a little romance in all my books. Do jump on the flash fiction bandwagon, it's a blast!
DeleteHmm, I'm not a big fan of spiders but I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteGreat post by Yolanda, interesting how true it is about the word romance lol
And my goodness, Father Dragon... what talent writing Yolanda's name with your breath :P
Isn't that banner lovely, I'm going to post it on my site. How can I not, my name in Dragon's breath! Awesome!
DeleteThanks SK, it is curious the way the word romance turns folks off, but most all books have a 'relationship' conflict!
And that was just my first try. Who says you should run away from dragon breath? ;) Dragon Hugs to you!
DeleteHi Al and hi Yolanda,
ReplyDeleteI've managed to arrive with one of my um highly collectable comments, quite early. Still no sign of a clone to help me. Yes, that's a hint, Al! :) Or Alex!
I'm delighted to see note of your book on the lovable dragon's site, Yolanda. Heck, I'm just an old romantic. And finally, I found out what the "flash" was in fiction. Silly me! :)
Of course, I will now share this, yep, even on 'Farcebook'!
Keep going, dear lady. A peaceful, hopeful weekend to you both and all those who have visited this wonderful site.
Gary :)
Gary, you've never fooled anyone one - we all knew you were a romantic at heart! I love your take on FB, but then again we all find ourselves going back there don't we? Attention hounds that we are! :)
DeleteA peaceful love filled weekend to you!
Romance make the world go round. You gotta love it in all shapes and forms! Your book sounds amazing Yolanda. And I love the way Father Dragon wrote you name in flames.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathrina, it does doesn't it, whether folks want to admit it or not! Love the name in flames too, already on my blog!
DeleteI've heard of having your name up in lights before, but having it emblazoned across the top of this post in fiery breath is even better. Super cool.
ReplyDeleteFor a lot of people, romance as a genre has a bad connotation. I used to call them my "guilty pleasures" or "potato chip books." But that's because of the formulaic way they used to be written. Now, as you say, there are so many sub-genres, and the stories have much more depth and substance to them. Dare I say it? Some of them even have (gasp!) meaning!
Your book sounds fantabulous. Pick me, pick me!!!
I know Susan, how cool is that. I've already posted it on my blog. Romance novels have changed dramatically, and yes my guilty pleasure too!
DeleteGood luck in the drawing!
I'm glad the dwarves bathed in your honor--perhaps they need copies of your books to learn more about romancing a lady:) I enjoyed your delightfully wicked sleepover flash and enticing book blurb, Yolanda!
ReplyDeleteThanks writerlysam, that means a lot, the compliment, and the clean dwarves, interesting crew!
DeleteYou're wordy Yolanda? Nah; I take lessons on concise writing from you. I enjoyed your 60 word flash, hehehehe.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds cool also.
Hello Father Sir. Hope your cave survived the romantic episode with Yolanda. She is special, yes.
I hope you both have a good weekend.
........dhole
Thanks Donna, but yeah, very wordy!
DeleteWishing you all the best!
It's nice to learn more about you and your writing Renee! A very worthy intro by Father Dragon there. It's okay if you blush! A title with madness in it grabs my attention. :) Writer’s Mark
ReplyDeleteThanks LaRonda, Father Dragon outshone anything I did! But he's a Dragon they tend to do that without trying!
ReplyDeleteLove that the dwarves bathed for your appearance, Yolanda. ;) Father Dragon knows how to show a girl a good time in his cave...all proper, of course.
ReplyDeleteI love blending genres and any good story should have some romantic elements in it - even horror. Unlike you, I had to quit writing flash because my novels became too concise, turning into novellas!
Congrats on Murder, Madness and Love!
Thanks River! I don't think I'm good enough to cut my novels that much. I keep trying and they end up only getting longer. :)
DeleteFather Dragon was an amazing host!
I like when romance books have more of a plot and conflict than just the romantic part. I enjoyed your blurb!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry, me too!
DeleteI'm late to the party, but enjoyed it all the same. I love Yolanda's writing and am so excited by her book! Waving at dragon-friend and throwing SHs all around.
ReplyDeleteJulie, thank you, and you're never late, just a busy, busy gal!
DeleteI thought I was the only one who remembered Barbara Cartland. I wouldn't consider them bodice-rippers though. They were very chaste. "Sleepover" was very enjoyable - good luck with the detective and the black widow! :-)
ReplyDeleteLexa, she was the beginning of it all! LOL
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
Father Dragon, I want to say what a wonderful time I've had here at your cave. The greeting by you and your dwarves was amazing and I shall always treasure my name written with your Dragon's breath! Thank you for hosting me, and giving me an opportunity to get tell the world I've written a book. That support and opportunity are so very, very appreciated! THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU, Yolanda for accepting to come to the Dragon Cave and bright our day with your presence and your knowledge. I'm very happy you had a good time, in spite of dwarves getting a crush on you. :) Best of lucks with your book and we'll look forward for more stories from you! Dragon Hugs!!
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