Romancing the Beat Quotes

“The back of your book will not talk about the romance arc as a selling point—that’s your external goal/premise/trope real estate. Inside the book, your characters’ inner journeys from unable to accept love to unable to stop themselves from falling in love is what clutches your readers in their own hearts.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“They are stuck. The door to the first phase, Act I, closes firmly behind them. It’s time for you to rub your hands together gleefully and set about making them miserable.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“The next beat is Adhesion. The story needs to be crafted in a way that neither of them can walk away from the other.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“The character basically says, either out loud or in internal dialogue, the reason that he or she will not fall in love.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“The POV (point of view) character will have an initial physical reaction and an emotional reaction of “not for me.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“well-crafted meet cute will showcase how the external goals and internal flaws introduced in the Intro beats are in conflict.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“Every scene in your romance is informed by your character’s wound—even the ones not part of the romance arc.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“Bonus points if the external goals of H1 and H2 are in opposition.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“Notice I did not say likable. A character does not have to be likable. They do have to be compelling. Compelling means the reader wants to root for your heroes.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“Even if you plot out of order, the one thing you must know is your character’s flaw/wound/misconception about love. Don’t proceed without it. Remember, everything in your book is seen through the lens of the wounds of your characters.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“Set Up Intro H1 Intro H2 Meet Cute No Way 1 Adhesion Plot Thrust Falling in Love No Way 2 Inkling this could work Deepening desire Maybe this will work Midpoint of LOVE Plot Thrust Retreating from Love Inkling of doubt Deepening doubt Retreat Shields up Break Up Fighting for Love Dark night of the Soul Wake-up/Catharsis Grand Gesture What whole hearted looks like Epilogue”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“Focusing on the romance arc does not excuse you from having an external plot altogether, though. I prefer to frame this plotline as external goals. What do your characters want? This might change as the book goes on, but they should always have an agenda, and if you want a page turner, it should conflict with the external goal of the other main character. Examples of how external goals change: Dorothy wants to run away from the farm, and then spends the rest of the movie trying to get back to it.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“This issue, fear, or misconception is also often referred to as a character flaw or wound.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“both characters should have an arc devoted to change deep within, whether or not one of them appears to already be on board.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“Whatever is keeping your characters from falling in love, being in love, or thinking they deserve love is what your book is going to be about. All your plot points and beats need to be looked at through the lens of that fear or misconception or deep-seated issue. Your book needs to show the process your protagonists endure to change so that by the end of the book they are able to give their whole heart to someone else and accept love in return.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels

“That journey from hole-hearted to whole-hearted is the romance arc for each character. The plot of your book is what you throw at them by way of obstacles that encourage them to confront that hole.”
― Gwen Hayes, Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels