Romantic Subplot help?

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  • #177782
    PrincesaChronicle22
    @princesachronicle22
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      @lightoverdarkness6 @godlyfantasy12 @magicalstories0611 @loopylin @freedomwriter76 @esther-c @thearcaneaxiom @rae @anyone else who might possibly be interested?

      Soooooo I have this plot idea, right? I’ve written a lil’ sample and have lots of general ideas for the main character. But I’ve mainly focused on setting.

      Buuuuttt, I want to get more into the romantic subplot. Now I know this isn’t everyone’s forte, but I thought I’d ask some people. So thing is, romance is generally where I shine. In the novels I write and read, good romance is mandatory. But for this WIP (It’s current name is Rains Of Ruin) I haven’t figured out what I want for it yet.

      So I was wondering what are things y’all like in romance plots or if you had any ideas?

      The setting, so ya know what’s happening, is one of the planets in my and Arcane’s universe. It’s a dystopian fantasy world, and the basic idea is that it’s almost constantly raining. But the thing about this rain, is that it’s not water. Instead it is a very very powerful acid that could melt even metal over time. (Kinda sucks for all the inhabitants I know)

      The only way they survive is because of this material that can withstand the rain and act as roofing and armor when their outside (they simply call it Vital or Vitallic) but only a select few people have the ability to create it. The main charrie, Nikari, is one of these.

      It all makes it really hard for her to really travel anywhere and meet people outside of the protected city thing. And I’m just wondering who it is that she could end up with, and who he is/what he does.

      Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians
      And guess what? His is eternal (:

      #177787
      Loopy
      @loopylin
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        @princesachronicle22

        Ok, well I’m definitely no expert on this, but I will try to help.

        I think he should probably be someone from outside the city, because that would then make her curious and maybe ask him things about what it’s like outside. Also, I think it would be important that he either doesn’t know or doesn’t care that Nikari  can make Vital so that she doesn’t feel like he cares more about the material than he does about her.

        That’s all the ideas I have right now sorry

        “Nothing says autumn like slurpin’ apples.” -my uncle

        #177790
        PrincesaChronicle22
        @princesachronicle22
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          @loopylin

          Thanks! No that’s great!

          He could possibly be from outside the city, but it would be difficult

          But I definitely like the idea of him not knowing or caring about her making Vital! And it could be something she worry’s about or has dealt with in the past. A ‘you only care about the money’ situation.

          Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians
          And guess what? His is eternal (:

          #177807
          PrincesaChronicle22
          @princesachronicle22
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            @anyone

            Okay I had one idea that is kinda random but it’s there.

            He could be this Gladiator who fights for entertainment, who looks all fierce in the ring, but then in reality is this perfect gentleman and all sweet and always apologizes to his opponents after he fights them. And he and the MC meet before one of his matches and then she’s like” it’s him??”

            Does that sound interesting or just weird? 😅

             

            Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians
            And guess what? His is eternal (:

            #177809
            Esther
            @esther-c
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              @princesachronicle22

              Oooh, I love romantic side plots XD

              You could also toss in some conflict and have the guy meet her with bad intentions, like to figure out how to make Vital or steal it, etc. But then he ends up liking her. I feel like that trope is kinda overused, but if it’s done well, it doesn’t bother me.

              I like Loopy’s idea too.

              Sometimes I just create a character that would be perfect for another and see how they interact and stuff based on their personalities, motives, and internal struggles.

              He could be this Gladiator who fights for entertainment, who looks all fierce in the ring, but then in reality is this perfect gentleman and all sweet and always apologizes to his opponents after he fights them. And he and the MC meet before one of his matches and then she’s like” it’s him??”

              Oh my goodness, I love that idea!! If you like it, go for it! I’d love to read something like that 😂

              Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

              #177810
              Esther
              @esther-c
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                And you could totally play with his backstory like why he chooses or has to fight as a gladiator when he’s just this super nice guy

                Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

                #177813
                PrincesaChronicle22
                @princesachronicle22
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                  @esther-c

                  Oooh, I love romantic side plots XD

                  XD Sammmeeee, I’m a total sucker

                  You could also toss in some conflict and have the guy meet her with bad intentions, like to figure out how to make Vital or steal it, etc. But then he ends up liking her. I feel like that trope is kinda overused, but if it’s done well, it doesn’t bother me.

                  I like Loopy’s idea too.

                  Sometimes I just create a character that would be perfect for another and see how they interact and stuff based on their personalities, motives, and internal struggles.

                  Yeah! Thanks for the insight! I do LOVE a good enemies to lovers sort of trope, and I was wondering if I should do something like that. But I also do a lot of that in my novels and I wanted to create something a bit more unique in a way.

                  Oh my goodness, I love that idea!! If you like it, go for it! I’d love to read something like that 😂

                  Aw, thanks! Yeah I think it could be fun 😂. Like the ‘gentle giant’ types are fairly common in books but I feel like they’re never really main characters or romance partners.

                  And you could totally play with his backstory like why he chooses or has to fight as a gladiator when he’s just this super nice guy

                  Yes, definitely! I’m not sure what that backstory would be… But I’m excited to think about it, because it would create an intriguing character dynamic I think

                  Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians
                  And guess what? His is eternal (:

                  #177826
                  Esther
                  @esther-c
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                    @princesachronicle22

                    Glad I could help! :))

                    Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

                    #177849
                    Power
                    @power
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                      @princesachronicle22

                      Romance!!!!! AAAAAAAAA!!!!! 😱😱😱

                      *Convulses into spasms then collapsed to the ground* 😫😫😫

                      NOOOOOOO!!!! HAVE MERCY ON YOUR POOR READERS!!!! 😭😭😭

                      IT’S SO DRAMATIC!!! 😤😤😤

                      Okay, now to go read Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy. 😎

                      You will love what you spend time with.

                      #177857
                      PrincesaChronicle22
                      @princesachronicle22
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                        @power

                        *Convulses into spasms then collapsed to the ground* 😫😫😫

                        NOOOOOOO!!!! HAVE MERCY ON YOUR POOR READERS!!!! 😭😭😭

                        IT’S SO DRAMATIC!!! 😤😤😤

                        Oh, I am so sorry 😂. May I ask, is it that specific romance suggestion, or the very idea of the word itself?

                        Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians
                        And guess what? His is eternal (:

                        #178058
                        Power
                        @power
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                          @princesachronicle22

                          Probably both! 😜

                          And now I shall take Bible verses out of context to prove my point. 👨‍⚖️

                          Deu 7:3 KJV Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

                          Jdg 14:16-17 EasyEnglish 16 Then Samson’s wife started to cry. She threw herself at Samson. She shouted, ‘You hate me. You do not really love me. . . 17 His wife cried all the 7 days of the party. . .

                          Job 2:9 EasyEnglish His wife said, ‘You cannot still believe that God is good. You should curse God and die.’

                          Pro 19:13 KJV A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

                          Pro 21:9 KJV It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

                          Pro 21:19 KJV It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

                          Pro 30:21,23 KJV For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: . . . For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

                          Pro 31:3 KJV Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

                          Ecc 7:26 KJV And I find more bitter than death the woman, . . .

                          Ecc 7:27-28 EasyEnglish 27 I used all my wisdom. And I looked for answers to my questions. 28 But I have failed. I do know that there is one good man in every thousand men. But I have not found a good woman.

                          Luk 20:35 KJV But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

                          1Co 7:1,7 KJV Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. . . I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

                          1Co 7:40 EasyEnglish Even so, she would be happier if she continued without a husband. That is what I myself think. And I think that God’s Spirit is my guide in all this.

                          Bwahhaha!!!!

                          (And you might notice that I stayed out of Song of Solomon for some reason. . .  🤫😁 Now let’s hope you don’t come back with the tons upon tons of pro-marriage verses. 😜)

                          You will love what you spend time with.

                          #178065
                          PrincesaChronicle22
                          @princesachronicle22
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                            @power

                            I had a response, but KP ate it 😂

                            (And you might notice that I stayed out of Song of Solomon for some reason. . .  🤫😁 Now let’s hope you don’t come back with the tons upon tons of pro-marriage verses. 😜)

                            😂😊That’s okay. I’m not one to argue over scriptures, everyone has their own opinions, and that’s okay! I do believe wholeheartedly that marriage is sacred, and doesn’t need to be defended. So I’ll simply leave it at that 😌

                            Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians
                            And guess what? His is eternal (:

                            #178066
                            Scoutillus Finch
                            @scoutfinch180
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                              @princesachronicle22

                              I think your idea is rather interesting! I might as well give my two cents, but for me, if a romance winds up in my stories, it tends to just kind of happen, I’ll just be thinking and I’ll realize, “oh, they make a good couple!” or something along those lines. So, do take my cents with a grain of salt lol.

                              I recommend digging into your Male Love Interest’s character a bit. Here are some questions you can ask to get yourself started!

                              What are your Male Love Interest’s…

                              Wants? Pretty simple, what does he want and/or think he needs?

                              Needs? what does he need? does he know he needs it?

                              Lies? what lie(s) does he believe? How will that impede him from getting his need?

                              Truth? What truth(s) must he learn to achieve his need.

                              Goals? What is his goal? how is he going to achieve it?

                              Motives? what motivates him to engage in the story? Is he trying to pay for medical bills? buy Vital so his family doesn’t have to constantly repair their home? Does he want to make someone who’s important to him but also uncaring proud?

                              How will his story meld with your Protagonist’s? Do they need to work together to achieve a goal? stuck together by circumstance?

                              What attracts them to each other? Why would he fall for your protagonist, and why would she fall for him? does he give her a sense of security, realize that they both can relate to feeling used?

                              How do they help each other’s arcs? Does he make the protagonist less cynical? Does she make him realize that love isn’t about using people?

                              I think it would be interesting if he was fighting as a Gladiator not because he wants to, but because it was his only option in some way — maybe his social class was too low for any other high-paying job? I also think it would be interesting if he was motivated by someone who he loves, but doesn’t love him back and uses him for their own gain (I’m thinking like an abusive parental figure type thing maybe?)

                              I hope this helps you!

                              We crazy people are the normal ones.

                              #178067
                              PrincesaChronicle22
                              @princesachronicle22
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                                @scoutfinch180

                                Yes, yes, yes!! Those are all wonderful questions that I definitely need to be thinking about! Thanks so much!!

                                I think it would be interesting if he was fighting as a Gladiator not because he wants to, but because it was his only option in some way — maybe his social class was too low for any other high-paying job? I also think it would be interesting if he was motivated by someone who he loves, but doesn’t love him back and uses him for their own gain (I’m thinking like an abusive parental figure type thing maybe?)

                                Yes, I’m thinking that it’s his only option. And the earning Vital makes sense, it would be in an insanely high demand material, which would make it extremely expensive. But it also needs to be semi accessible to the public so people survive. 🤔 It would create a very interesting economy dynamic I think, I’ll have to ponder on that more.

                                But with Male Protagonist (I think I’mma name him Thade?) it just makes a lot of sense that he doesn’t fight by choice. An abusive parent is possible, and would create intrigue, but for him specifically I think I lean more into the does-it-to-save-his-family idea. Which is similar to the Female Protagonist Nikari, so that’s something they could maybe bond over

                                Annyyyywayy, thanks a lot for those two scents! Definitley helps my thinking going

                                Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians
                                And guess what? His is eternal (:

                                #178084
                                Scoutillus Finch
                                @scoutfinch180
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                                  @princesachronicle22

                                  You’re welcome!

                                  Yes, I’m thinking that it’s his only option. And the earning Vital makes sense, it would be in an insanely high demand material, which would make it extremely expensive. But it also needs to be semi accessible to the public so people survive. 🤔 It would create a very interesting economy dynamic I think, I’ll have to ponder on that more.

                                  Maybe there’s some form of serfdom? Like the very rich who can afford the Vital subjugate the poor populations by creating superstructures out of it and forcing those who seek it’s shelter to work for them, threatened by being tossed to the elements if they disobey?

                                  We crazy people are the normal ones.

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