Episode 267 - Using Romance to Write Stories with Heart with Jennifer Probst
December 10, 2024
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Jennifer Probst discusses USING ROMANCE TO WRITE STORIES WITH HEART, including the importance of emotional depth, character growth arcs, and the role of secondary characters in enhancing romantic storylines. Jennifer emphasizes the need for sexual tension and matching the type of romance with different characters to create compelling narratives. She also dives into techniques for balancing varying levels of romantic steam in different genres, the importance of human connection, and the subtleties of using vulnerabilities in characters to enrich stories.
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She holds a masters in English Literature and lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over fifty books in contemporary romance fiction. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the New York Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a “romance phenom” by Kirkus Reviews.
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She holds a masters in English Literature and lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over fifty books in contemporary romance fiction. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the New York Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a “romance phenom” by Kirkus Reviews.
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Summary
This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with bestselling author Jennifer Probst about effectively incorporating romance into your writing. The conversation provides valuable insights into how authors can integrate love stories into their narratives, regardless of genre, enhancing the depth and engagement of their characters and plots.
Understanding Romance and Spectrum
Matty opens the discussion by distinguishing between romance's different levels, from sweet to steamy. Jennifer emphasizes that the "steam level" depends entirely on the story's needs and target audience, highlighting her experience writing across different niches and heat levels. In her words, "a romance is a happy ever after ending, between two characters," but it can also encompass broader love stories, from romantic suspense to relationships with pets.
Using Emotion to Drive Connection
Jennifer discusses the critical role of emotion in storytelling, whether it's navigating grief, love, or fear. For her, developing authentic characters with whom readers can empathize is essential. She states, "Emotion is one of the most important things in a story because...you feel a connection." This human connection is what keeps readers engaged, as they root for characters' growth and emotional journeys.
Secondary Characters: Adding Depth to Romance
Secondary characters can enrich a story by offering contrast, humor, or different kinds of relationships. Jennifer shares anecdotes about unexpected secondary characters who have captivated her readers' and her own imaginations, citing examples of a grumpy neighbor or a challenging animal who becomes a beloved friend. These characters can add vibrancy and unexpected layers to the main narrative, creating opportunities for secondary romances or other forms of love.
The Art of Sensual Tension
Building suspense in romance, whether through witty banter or unresolved attraction, is a favorite tool for Jennifer. By creating scenarios of will-they-or-won't-they, writers can maintain reader interest throughout a narrative. She describes scenarios from friends to lovers and forced proximity as rich grounds for romance, offering examples from classic TV shows like "Moonlighting" and "Friends" where the tension between characters was central to the audience's engagement.
Growth Arcs: Essential for Character Development
Jennifer stresses the importance of growth arcs for both the individual characters and their relationships. She outlines how a well-constructed arc involves characters changing from their introduction to the story’s conclusion, highlighting the significance of characters overcoming personal struggles and achieving growth. This development adds depth to romance narratives and ensures satisfying conclusions for readers.
Matching the Romance to the Characters
Finally, Jennifer talks about how the type and style of romance should align with her characters’ personalities. Characters often dictate the level of romance in her stories, from the edgy romances of rough-around-the-edges heroes to sweeter, simpler tales of bakers and small-town characters. She advises authors to remain sensitive to how their characters evolve, allowing authentic and convincing romantic dynamics to unfold naturally in the narrative.
Conclusion: Tailoring Romance to Enhance Your Story
In this podcast episode, Matty Dalrymple and Jennifer Probst delve into the intricacies of writing romance that resonates with readers. They explore how emotion, character development, and thoughtfully crafted romance arcs can make narratives more compelling and relatable. Authors are encouraged to let character personalities guide the romantic elements of their stories while ensuring reader expectations are met regarding tone and content.
Understanding Romance and Spectrum
Matty opens the discussion by distinguishing between romance's different levels, from sweet to steamy. Jennifer emphasizes that the "steam level" depends entirely on the story's needs and target audience, highlighting her experience writing across different niches and heat levels. In her words, "a romance is a happy ever after ending, between two characters," but it can also encompass broader love stories, from romantic suspense to relationships with pets.
Using Emotion to Drive Connection
Jennifer discusses the critical role of emotion in storytelling, whether it's navigating grief, love, or fear. For her, developing authentic characters with whom readers can empathize is essential. She states, "Emotion is one of the most important things in a story because...you feel a connection." This human connection is what keeps readers engaged, as they root for characters' growth and emotional journeys.
Secondary Characters: Adding Depth to Romance
Secondary characters can enrich a story by offering contrast, humor, or different kinds of relationships. Jennifer shares anecdotes about unexpected secondary characters who have captivated her readers' and her own imaginations, citing examples of a grumpy neighbor or a challenging animal who becomes a beloved friend. These characters can add vibrancy and unexpected layers to the main narrative, creating opportunities for secondary romances or other forms of love.
The Art of Sensual Tension
Building suspense in romance, whether through witty banter or unresolved attraction, is a favorite tool for Jennifer. By creating scenarios of will-they-or-won't-they, writers can maintain reader interest throughout a narrative. She describes scenarios from friends to lovers and forced proximity as rich grounds for romance, offering examples from classic TV shows like "Moonlighting" and "Friends" where the tension between characters was central to the audience's engagement.
Growth Arcs: Essential for Character Development
Jennifer stresses the importance of growth arcs for both the individual characters and their relationships. She outlines how a well-constructed arc involves characters changing from their introduction to the story’s conclusion, highlighting the significance of characters overcoming personal struggles and achieving growth. This development adds depth to romance narratives and ensures satisfying conclusions for readers.
Matching the Romance to the Characters
Finally, Jennifer talks about how the type and style of romance should align with her characters’ personalities. Characters often dictate the level of romance in her stories, from the edgy romances of rough-around-the-edges heroes to sweeter, simpler tales of bakers and small-town characters. She advises authors to remain sensitive to how their characters evolve, allowing authentic and convincing romantic dynamics to unfold naturally in the narrative.
Conclusion: Tailoring Romance to Enhance Your Story
In this podcast episode, Matty Dalrymple and Jennifer Probst delve into the intricacies of writing romance that resonates with readers. They explore how emotion, character development, and thoughtfully crafted romance arcs can make narratives more compelling and relatable. Authors are encouraged to let character personalities guide the romantic elements of their stories while ensuring reader expectations are met regarding tone and content.
