So, you have your heroine and hero sorted. You’ve wrote their backgrounds but what next? Well, the plot. What are your couple going to discover? Are there threats against them? Or is it going to be a easy-going, fun-loving romance? After all, it’s your story.

But you need to get it right. So, today a few hints and tips. I’ll cover different styles of plots at a later date.

Understand your audience :- Simply right? Maybe not. Most readers of romance are female. They probably buy several books a month, so why should they buy yours? Let’s be honest, there are millions of romance books out there, its one of the popular genres. You probably won’t come up with a brand new plot – it’s all been done before. But, you can spice it up. Turn it around to your personal story. I’ve wrote a retelling of Cinderella, I advertise it as such. Why? Because readers like fairy-tales. When you here the word Cinderella, you think of her happy ending. But it’s been done before – I hear you cry. Yep, it has. So, what did I do? I got rid of Prince Charming. Sorry, I brought her a duke. No glass slipper either – can you imagine how uncomfortable they must be? I added a mask. Now they might have met at the masked balls, but that’s not where they figured out who each other where. No, I made her the owner of a husky stud. And our duke just happens to breed huskies too. There you go, Cinderella with a difference. All you need to do is think outside of the box.

Introduce your heroine : – After all, she’s the main interests here. Go and read my previous post on heroines.

Introduce her other half :- You know, the love interest. Again go and read my previous post on hero’s – but when to bring him in? Straight away or not? Now, this is down to the story. In Falling for a Dike, Ramsey turned up in chapter two. In Falling for Katie, Finlay had to wait until chapter five. Why? Because in my second Romancing in Scotland book, Katie needed more of an introduction, and the plot needed time to develop. So, add in your hero when good and ready.

Now, why are they going to fall in love? That’s the real reason you are writing the book, right? You must have some idea. Now, whatever you have planned – it’s about to go out the window. Yep, it is, don’t argue. So, you have the perfect outline but your characters don’t agree. They won’t – believe me. They will take your script and screw it up and probably be laughing. At some point you might be able to turn it back around – it might not last. Again, you need to think outside of the box – remember it’s all been done before. the girls’ been abused and doesn’t trust men? Thousand of them stories out there. The girl dreams of true love? You don’t want to know how many authors have written that – think fairy-tales again. Take your plot and spice it right on up. Make your readers believe why your couple are going to love each other. This is where the writing of your characters back story comes into play. If that is strong enough your story will fly. Too weak and it’ll flop. Above all else, bring that back story into the plot. If your heroine doesn’t trust easily, your readers will what to know why. The hero caries scars – why? At some point these issues will need adding.

Sex :- Okay, it’s a romance, this needs to be addressed. Are you writing a clean romance – no sex at all? Will you hint at it – drop out to black as they get it together? Or go the whole hog. That’s what I do. My romances are steamy – my mom has described them as filthy. I take that as a compliment – I must have done something right. Can I also point out I am single as I wrote them – so just because you don’t have another half to practice on doesn’t mean you can’t write about it. I mentioned before about google being your new best friend – you can’t imagine what you can find. Go on – google sex and see what you get. There are some good articles. And if you are a romance reader yourself, you know what other authors are writing. Don’t be ashamed of what you write because that will spoil the effect you want.

The ending :- Yes, the important bit. Your couple has met. They have had adventures which they may or may not have wanted. But remember it’s a romance – your readers want a happy ending. If it’s a standalone book, don’t add a cliff-hanger – bad reviews will come your way. If a series you can get away with a slight cliff-hanger – maybe a happy for now ending but hint at something else coming their way. My Persecuting series is out of print fort a revamp, at the moment. Book one has the happy for now ending. Book two completes their story. The others are all happy endings.The romancing in Scotland series are standalone – they need the happy ever after.

So, you have to basic outline – go and plot something.