Hi Reader!!

This being February, let’s talk about love! I'm also including an excerpt from my upcoming book: Meta Story: What Marvel & the Messiah Can Teach Us about Great Storytelling. Stay tuned for more information on the book!

TIP

When writing your romance, com or non-com, don’t forget that you want two things for the romantic soon-to-be couple: Something pushing them together, and something keeping them apart.

It Happened One Night (their personalities rub each other wrong – but this is the only bus she can afford, and he needs the story); The Princess Bride (they have true love – but the forces of Humperdinck are against them); The Shop Around the Corner (or You’ve Got Mail for the update) (the two hate each other as coworkers, love each other as secret pen pals).

So if you have a story of two people being pulled together, take some time to find a creative way to drive them apart. Or if they are being driven apart – well, you get the idea!

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Resource: ​The Five Part Story​ Want to learn more about screenplay structure? My asynchronous course, in introduction to structure, is now available with the Faith & Family Filmmaker’s Association. Check out the course here!​ ​ See other resources here

An Idea

An excerpt fROM my book, "Meta Story" on the Romance genre:

The standard romantic drama or comedy often comes down to knowing that the two prettiest people in the show are meant to be together – because they are the prettiest. Love is skin deep in many of our movies, television shows and plays.

Another view might look at love as having more value than the eye can take in. Love may become defined by patience, kindness, a lack of jealousy. Love as maybe something that is not arrogant, that rejoices with the truth, that hopes all things and endures all things.

What would a romance be like that sees beauty as something more than simply looks? That focuses less on the value of how the world sees someone’s form, and concentrates more on how God sees us?

There is a type of romance that has the lead character looking for the obvious love – and finding a truer love along the way. Pride & Prejudice stands out – in many of the versions. When done right, the audience will dislike Mr. Darcy as much as Elizabeth does – at least at first. And again, if done right, the audience should be surprised to learn that they themselves have fallen in love with the guy, just as Elizabeth is so surprised.

Dogfight with Lili Taylor and River Phoenix turns the Hollywood trope of beauty on its head. The date for the two leads starts because the “hero” thinks his choice is specifically not pretty, and the conflict arises when he gets to know her well enough to realize she is beautiful.

Lars and the Real Girl has an unlikely romance – a fantasy love, and one that comes with true patience, kindness, and endurance. About Time is the rare romance that doesn’t stop at the getting together stage but explores love over time. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind focuses on the pain and difficulty of romance – some might say the real work of romance – more than the butterflies of cute meets.

There is also a form of romance that is more about friendship – and less about hooking up. Lost in Translation, Roman Holiday, and Together Together come to mind. Love is more than romance – yes?

The romance genre is ripe with opportunities to see the world through a point of view that has a deeper grasp of love than we often settle for. And, as the song says, what the world needs now is love – a true love.