Romance

From The Writerium - the wiki for writers

Romance can be either the main genre of a story or a side-plot. As a genre, a romance novel primarily focuses on the relationship and romantic love between two people and must have a happy ending. However this does not always hold true. (see:Tragic Romance)

Tragic Romance

Tragic romance uses the usual romantic tools to set up a relationship between two individuals and then uses a plot device to break it. The seminal example would be Romeo and Juliet.

Devices used include:

• Death
• Cheating
• Poverty
• Irreconcilable Differences
• Race

Common Absurdities

• Purple prose is often found in these stories.

• Stock characters, especially villains. Also stock situations.

• The worst romances can rely excessively on coincidence or fate, from the characters' meeting on.