7 Tips for Writing Romantic Subplots
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- čas přidán 22. 06. 2024
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My two characters in my Sci-FI novel, Felix Weatherford and Akira Suzuki are going to have a romantic subplot. I just want to make sure I do it right, given that I haven't been in a romantic relationship yet.
I wouldn't worry too much about life experience holding you back as a writer. Put it this way... Non-murderers write about serial killers and other killers all the time and they pull it off.
In my sci Fi book( definitely a work in progress) I'm playing off a stereotype romantic plot forshadowing( suggestive not indicative) I'm trying to set up a out of left field twist. The punk, instead, becomes hot for teacher.Twice his age.Hope you've finished your book
Don’t sweat it man, I haven’t nuked a planet for orbit. 🙃
I'm in a similar situation with my Sci-Fi story except I want the relationship to be roughly based on my two characters in a 2 person fireteam helping each other with their trauma. Yes I have nuked several planets from orbit.
I have been writing a lot recently and I really enjoy it but it made me realize that I dont know how real people interact
Working on a supernatural slice of life story where the main protagonist mostly keeps to himself because of a traumatic event involving his parent's deaths at a young age. He is also very selfless as he cares more about other people than himself and becomes enraged when his friends are hurt. He then meets a cheerful but also insecure girl who is very into him but is actually trying to run away from her life as a former idol from a wealthy family thinking she has to lie in order for people to like her. The boy learns to open up to more people rather and not let the past define his future and to be more independent while the girl learns not to be someone she isn't and accept who she is.
This story isn't primarily a romance story but it is important to the two character's arcs.
Sounds like you've got a solid plan for pulling off their character arcs. Best of luck with the writing!
Immediate like for the best CZcams opener I've heard in a while.
Hahaha it's certainly that time of year
And he uses it to close as well. it's really good bookends
Working on an Alt History where the German Empire took over much of the world by modern day. Have a few romantic subplots that hit all your areas. But the main romantic subplot is between the Princess of Prussia and the Bastard son of the King of Bavaria. They met by happenstance at a bar in Coeur d'Alene and I wrote from the first person in both perspectives of when they first laid eyes upon each other. The Bastard legitimately wants to find a love and view her as a litural gift from God, he's very spiritually Catholic. She saw him as a handsome soldier coming to sweep her off her feet like a knight to the fair maiden, while imagining Romantic scenes with him. He escorts her home and they end up sharing the night. In a few books she's going to be pregnant and lead to lots of complications
Yeah, sounds like that relationship is and will be conflict-heavy. It resembles the Romeo/Juliet setup where you have two different people from different groups who "shouldn't be together". Best of luck with your writing!
I love bittersweet subplots and endings. I write crime fiction, so it's very fitting. My main character may win against the badguy, but it's very rare he gets the girl in the end.
Just an idea. It would be really cool to have the protag track down a really gruesome female killer whos abusive to men. And the more he investigates the crime the worse he handles relationships and trust, because the killer reminds him of his lover. And so he's torn between solving the crime and fixing his relationship. You could play it either way, but i think it would be more compelling to have him choose the girl over the killer, and then feel haunted by knowing the victims never saw justice.
@bartimusprime5652 Thanks for the suggestion. I actually have a story idea about a female killer on hire, a beautiful woman but a heartless monster. My MC is not the kind of guy who would let his feelings get in the way of his crusade against crime, but interesting suggestion nevertheless and will keep it in mind.
Have recently started to write a fanfic of a series which seems to try to aim for that "feel good" romantic sub plot, but with the subplot of the original series suffering from the plague that is the "Romantically Oblivious Protagonist x Ineffectual Love Interest", it just seems like quite the challange to rewrite their relationship in a way where it seems more believable and important, whilst keeping the character's essence more or less the same.... Especially since I never had done romance before and really struggle with writing dialogue.
But yeah, at least I guess I have more of an understanding of what makes a "feel good romance" good now, your examples were great.
Glad to hear the video helped--best of luck with your subplot!
I am an inspiring writer and this really helped. This is so underrated. Thank you bud! o7
Thanks for watching! Glad it helped
Romantic subplots should not interrupt the flow of the story. I feel that 9/10 romance scenes completely wreck the sense of development, tension, and action. In my opinion, romance should never step fully into the spotlight, but instead add depth to the shadows.
Writing an action novel right now, and this video was very helpful. Thanks!
Your videos are so helpful and right to the point. Thank you so much for sharing 😊👍
Glad they're helping! Thanks!
Excellent advice.
Thanks!
A feel-bad/bittersweet romance I like is Sam and Brigid in "The Maltese Falcon."
The romantic subplot in my sci-fi novel involves a "bad girl" whom the protag distrusts. I'm near the end and she's going to try and lure him into uploading his mind into an AI brain where she now resides so she can have - and control him forever. Nyahahahahahaaaa!
Love your tips and especially your energy. Thanks!
I would like to hear more about which romantic subplot to choose for your story, how character arcs, the character's choices and dynamic between involved characters affects the romantic subplot you choose and how to resolve specific romantic difficulties such as reasons to not get or stay involved.
my current story incorporates what I think would be a bittersweet subplot. Two characters from the most different of backgrounds learn to appreciate their differences and fall in love. They're promised a bright future together until that is snatched away by the hand of fate.
My current novel is about a monster slayer who deals with health complications. The outline is her trying to protect her loved ones from the tragedies of her own past while also dealing with her insomnia.
Do you have some tips for a feel-bad subplot in which one character ends up killing the woman he loves, on account of forces outside his control? (Think something like a werewolf unable to restrain himself from killing and eating the one he loves, and his reaction after realizing what he has done)
Or for a sub-plot where a character whom has sworn himself to an evil entity realize he has to send the woman he loves away, least he corrupts her or gets her killed, and it is a doomed romance as the main character grows more and more corrupted, yet still loves the innocent woman and watches over her from afar? (Especially as she may come to a bad end because of someone else that the main character once helped, and now cannot stop)
The feel-good ending is so typical that even the feel-bad endings are either Romeo and Juliet tragedies, or direct betrayals... I can't seem to find books that has a more complex and complicated tragedy, of the type I wish to write.
Can you suggest any books that may have that type romance in it?
Hmm, that's tough. That would likely be considered a tragic subplot. Did you watch my videos on Fallen Heroes and Tragedies?
czcams.com/video/iouTYPnUahc/video.html
czcams.com/video/s7Dk7c9vWx8/video.html
Amazing video !!! It helped me to better develop the romance triangle of my political sci-fi novel. Depending on the character, this particular romantic subplot is both "feel bad" for one of the protagonist's love interest (her one and only true love she had to betray, then fight, to protect her homeland) and "bittersweet" for the other love interest (her friend/mentor who realized too late he was in love with her after, then couldn't save her life at the end, but ultimately gets to raise the child she secretly had just before dying, eventually marrying the protagonist' sister years later).
Your videos are very, very helpful and inspiring. I'm currently writing about Joan of Arc who tells her story (the main plot) in prison and how a platonic relationship developed between her and her squire Jean, the duke of Alencon. And of course, death comes in their way when Joan gets executed (spoiler alert ... I guess?)
What type of romantic subplot are you including in your current work-in-progress? Let me know!
Thank you so much. As always, this video was much needed. All the other channels only vaguely cover romance or only cover the "feel good" subplot. My subplot is bitter sweet, I guess. The Hero's love interest betrays him, but it still works out in the end.
@Windex Thanks, Windex! And I've got a bittersweet thing going on in my WIP as well. Definitely helps keeps things unpredictable
@@TrevorDuran3390 Yeah, that's what I like about Bittersweet--you can head in one direction but still salvage things. Not sure if your a gamer, but I've been playing Resident Evil 2, and it works in a subplot like that
Btw the Internal Dialogue video you requested has been my most popular one BY FAR since the start of the year. Good call!
@@WriterBrandonMcNulty cool I'll check it out. I game occasionally. Mostly RPG's.
I knew I was in the rite spot when his first words were " Get ready to clear out your browsing history " xD
My current writing has a series of romantic subplots mostly to help my character grow. First is the feel bad subplot, maybe. I makes it clear my protagonist need some serious help in choosing an appropriate romantic partner. It's complicated, but the closest short summary, cops shouldn't date suspects. And she needs to meet more people besides just colleagues and suspects. Actually I don't think this is a full romantic subplot, it is just the complications only. Next is a bittersweet. My protagonist discovers that even though marriages of convenience even between two very compatible people, and even though it is normal in the society in which she lives, are not for her. But in this case she won't impose it on her potential partner, insisting that he make an attempt at romantic love rather than settling for her. She as well knows that she wants romantic love. So, the lack of romantic feelings is the complication. Her next relationship is a feel bad. The two of them agree to hold things back from each other and let things be revealed slowly. In the end an extremely disturbing character flaw by him, brings their relationship to a crashing halt. There is Major betrayal, it is highly impactful. However, in evaluating what went wrong, she will gain a better understanding of her own character flaws that well not as damaging to that relationship as his flaw, eventually would have been the end of their relationship anyhow. Her next Romance is motivated by loneliness and she has learned the value of complete honesty. The two of them are extremely honest about themselves, and learn that they should not be together. But they hold on to the possibility anyhow. Despite the breakup, this is nearly a feel-good subplot. With slight bittersweet because they're Romance ended. But it started a good friendship. It ends with a feel-good subplot, with some bittersweet elements. This last relationship is a good one, it is a death do us part relationship, but it is made clear that they're going to have to work at it, _really_ work at it. The complication is, by the end of the story my character has perfected her character flaws rather than overcome them. But there is a glimmer of hope. My plot is my protagonist working on her own character flaws. Romance is not the only way this is done, but it ends up being a significant element of the plot. I can't help but think that I'm writing something that will be undeniably terrible. But I guess I'll find out, I'm not giving up.
Great video
Thanks for watching!
My current work has a subplot between a holy knight and a spunky scientist. I plan for it to begin early in the story and give it the appearance of a feel good romance, but the twist is that it'll actually become bittersweet after a certain point. After that, it'll be up in the air if they will or won't stay together, even if they love each other.
I am writing an action/suspense novel. The main character in my story is working for the family business after a ten-year disappearance but secretly he is plotting revenge against them. His ex-girlfriend from years ago has some feelings for him but is trying to solve the mystery as to why the main character disappeared ten years ago. Meanwhile, as my main character is plotting, his assistant within the company is falling for him gradually all the while unaware of his agenda. I am wondering if I should turn the romantic subplot into a love triangle or not.
In my first major writing piece - one I'm still writing - both individuals are of noble birth and forced into an arranged marriage. Neither like the other, the first time they meet entering a duel of honor. (That's not rare among their culture, don't worry.) Then while they're bloody, bruised, and sucking wind on the ground are informed by their parents - who were watching from afar - that their getting married. So both are understandably po'd at this, but over the coarse of the story become two sides of the same coin, fighting together in war, becoming each other's _khan_ and _khatun._ Now the big issue is figuring out how the hell they recover from kicking the shizer out of each other and actually form a romantic bond.
Love all the conflict and irony you have going on. Many writers post their story ideas in my comment sections, but this is one of the most vivid and compelling ones I've come across. It sounds very Joe Abercrombie.
Best of luck with your story. Don't give up on it.
@@WriterBrandonMcNulty Why thank you! It means a lot!
Yeah, no way I'm giving up _this_ story! Over seven years have finally gotten me to make a serious attempt at writing this stuff down lol.
@@irishspartanstudios Keep at it. You might want to enter a contest called Pitch Wars once you're done with your manuscript (it doesn't have to be perfect, just finished and readable): pitchwars.org/
They don't have details on the 2022 contest yet, but keep PW on your radar and try to get your manuscript ready ASAP.
No worries…turns out that ‘kicking the shizar’ out of one another is a bona ride pre-requisite of marriage…that comes from 32 years of experience…😜
@@phillipchase4491 I'm tempted to ask for context.
I start to wonder about a novel I habe on my self-editing pile right now. I wanted to write a YA love story with gangster elements, but it turned out that the love story only lasts til about the midpoint before the crime story takes over. If I take my love story and make it the B-Plot how would this affect the whole story? How could the revelation my character has come by through the love story (with is breaking free from his family's traditions) help him with the gangster story? Thank you for the help with this one, the story bugs me since last december ^^
In my story the main couple is a human with psychic abilities and chimera (it will be the name of the anthro/furry race of this sci-fi story) who used to be his pet (but she already had her intelligence), after certain circumstances that made them all by themselves in the world, she will help him to overcome the lost of his family while he will help her to get over of her original life as someone who had born to have military life.
Awesome, best of luck with the story!
7:19 if u r goin for this i reccomend looking into the anime and manga banana fish it did this sub plot so well that many ppl ended up in therapy
Im being such a doosh of an author , im making my protagonist undergo 2 bittersweet types of romantic subplots
The first one changes my mc pov of how different and cruel he was taught from his mentor about fighting enemies, and admires the ideology from a warrior princess of the opposing side, thru her death, he took on a similar ideology to honor her., and the princess's father blames the mc of her death
But in the 2nd subplot of a noble woman who grew up surrounded by hate growing up because of crimes of those before her in her bloodline that she wants to prove she is different from her ancestors.
She is inspired by the mc, but is tragically killed by the mc mentor,
She got her wish by being hailed a hero, but the mc branded as public enemy #1, where he is troubled that his way to protect is not the way he should continue to use
I've sent you an email for rhe complete list, do you still send it out ?
City Of Angels with Nicholas Cage.
So, in the book I am currently writing, it's a fantasy setting, The Main Character is actually the daughter of the Main Villain, and her childhood was... not great because of it, her mother was one of the hero characters so her mother's relationship with her father fell apart, but not before they had kids, the main character was lucky (or, unlucky, depending on how you see it) enough to have surprising prowess with Magic, and her father noticed this, and, being a mostly self-centered main villain he wanted to contain her power, or at least hold it back, so he had one of his lieutenants go, and Kidnap her from her mother, and she practically grew up in the equivalent of a prison, her mother never succeeded in any of the rescue attempts, most of the time before she could see her mother, so she thought that her mother abandoned her, and resents her mother for that, and is one of the few reasons she sides with her father, at least at first, because she hates her father almost as much, even planning to try to kill him, and take his power, but eventually she Meets someone who, due to a curse, can speak nothing but truths and half-truths, but he's clever with it, he can use it to manipulate people, and the main Character pretty much immediately falls in love with him, though she doesn't realize it, but that would be he good romantic subplot, I'm thinking of having flashback chapters for her Mother and Father to show what their relationship was, and how it all ended horribly, so, if I do that, there would be a bad romantic subplot, it's just I'm not sure how to differentiate between the present chapters, and the flashback chapters
Usually when you write a flashback, you want to indicate the time change in some way (for instance, show a present day teen as a child in the flashback; or pick a world event that defines a time period). Best of luck!
I forget the movie, but as it turns out the woman of the "plot" is a guy in disguise... and another male character falls in love with her. They end up on a boat, racing to get away from "the enemy" out to kill them both, where the man of the pair professes his love for "her"... To whit she responds, the clarification, "BUT I'm a man!"... and there's a short awkward pause, and then "he" simply shrugs and says, "Well, nobody's perfect, my dear!"
I've kind of just kept that scene in my figurative back pocket... You never know. Right? It just might be worth pulling out some day... I don't even know that it really matters what movie or story otherwise it came from... just that "we" know about it...
"Well... nobody's perfect, my dear!" good line... just needs the moment and the right delivery... It could move mountains or even planets... in the right context... just think about it. ;o)
It's the film with Marilyn Monroe called Some Like It Hot
@@livingwikipedia1952 Thanks... not sure how it got so "blanked" from memory, but since I wrote this thing up, I've tried (and failed) to recall it...
...username checks out... haha ;o)
4 years late, but you should burn your jags shirt!
I really should. They're a hard team to love.
A big problem with especiall action heavy films ist the romantic subplot. There's *always* a romantic subplot, and I only think; why? That romance there on screen is completely useless and unnecessary. I rather get the feeling that producers cram a romance into their plot because they want to draw some women into the theaters as well. Totally ridiculous. A lot of action-based movies would be better off without the silly, superfluous romantic subplot. If producers believe it or not, there really are women out there who watch an action movie even without a romance or even a single female character in it. I only say: Kili and Tauriel in the Hobbit; the most unnecessary romance ever.
That said, since I have quite a lot of projects in my drawer, there are different kind of romances. My current one drifts to a rather melancholic ending between my two male main characters, but with a hopeful twist that they will reapproach each other again. Another one is a rather dramatic one because one character is captured by the Nazis and taken to a concentration camp, and his lover thinks he's dead. They meet again years later, but they have changed, of course. In other projects, romance is not the main plot of my story, so that's it's something of feel-good with just assisting the plot a little bit. Can't remember all of them since I have so many projects I'd really love to finish one day (at least one!).
No. If you want to read romance buy a romance novel. That crap does not belong in my stories.