It’s easy to write about boy meets girl or girl meets boy. Insert a villain, some scenery, conflict, the use of senses, a bit of backstory and foreshadowing, and you’re done, right? Wrong. It’s much more interesting when you throw in big (or even small, intimate) events. Whether they are a fact of life (like a birth or death), a crazy family reunion or a tragic occurrence, your writing will be enriched and become much more realistic by adding these details.
Here are examples of big events I tackled in my writing:
[Imagine my cover for SLEEPING WITH ELVIS here. I’ll probably receive the cover art immediately after writing this post]. My new contemporary romance releases in August!
- My heroine, Pepper, has a fear of flying and boating. She has to do both in order to go on her dream vacation.
- Pepper has a cheating boyfriend
- Someone becomes stranded on my fictional Key Lime Island. (No spoilers)
- A boat capsizes
- People drown (No spoilers)
- My hero, Ty, an Elvis impersonator (swoon) doesn’t want to get back on stage after haters attack him on social media.
- Rumors hit the newspaper
- There’s a huge Elvis-themed show at a Branson theater
In my award-winning debut novel, THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS, there are three main characters–Suzy, a wedding planner; Alex, a bank marketer; and Hope, a high school counselor. The three BFFs overcome several issues:
- Family betrayals
- Weddings
- Tragedy
- Funeral
- Stalking
- High School Reunion
- OCD
- Homosexuality
My novelette, SANTA BABY, is published in the SMP eight-author holiday collection, SIZZLE IN THE SNOW. My single mother, Brooke, is all alone at Christmastime and must endure:
- Childbirth
- Being a single mom
- A break-up text
- A one-night stand
- Estrangement from her own mother
- Feelings for a sexy OB/GYN
So, you see. You can have huge events like a high school reunion or a wedding in your novel or you may decide to handle medical topics like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or childbirth like I did. Then again, you may touch decide to touch upon social issues. Your imagination is the limit!
Best of luck with your writing and have no fear.
http://amazon.com/author/bethcarter
2015 RONE WINNER “Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit” by InD’Tale Magazine
First Place “Best Debut Author 2015” by BTS Books
Well done, Beth. Looking forward to Elvis.
Thanks so much! I had hoped to have a cover reveal which didn’t happen, so I threw this together quickly about 10 pm last night. They are working on my cover, though. 😉 It shouldn’t be long.
Great cover! Wishing you great success!
Thanks,
Tema Merback
Writing as Belle Ami
Thanks! I’m glad you like it, so do I!! I appreciate your stopping by.
So funny. I misread your cover as Sleeping With Elves and that sounded so unlike you. Then my eyes straightened out. Sounds great.
That’s hilarious because we were trying to get a microphone in there to represent Elvis (it was the “i” in his name and that really did look like it said Sleeping With Elves. Lol. So it was taken out. Thank you, Sue!!
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If your aretclis are always this helpful, “I’ll be back.”