In my vast writing experience (ha), it is far easier to break a relationship apart than it is to build it. That’s kind of sad, isn’t it?

Let’s just look at my last draft, Dark Lords 1.5. In the original NaNoWriMo version, it started with Nevada and Nao falling in love (or, at least Nevada ). I thought the whole novel would take place at the school, leading up to Nao’s demise and Nevada’s descension.

That intention lasted a whole three days.

My troubles with romance

For me, it’s easier to write the scenes where Nao dies and Nevada grieves, feeling guilty.

The scenes featuring the awkward silences, the inside jokes developing, the touches… first dates, and then, realizing they’re in love. That’s hard. That takes a lot of other plot lines too, to mix that into, which I simply didn’t have.

Or, I could make them fall in love at first sight. Or make them destined mates, where they don’t have a choice. But that takes a certain level of suspension of disbelief that I won’t give. I’ll believe in lust at first sight, or even attraction. But it’s the later courting and experiences that make it love.

Finally, I make some progress

With Cain’s burgeoning relationship with Theodore… okay, that was hard. I never expected them to end up together, but I hoped. It ended up easier than Nao and Nevada, maybe because I’m half in love with Theodore, that very patient scholar. Incredibly patient, considering he can stick by Nevada and Cain so long.
The stress of the situation (for Theodore as Cain was just tickety-boo-bored from being on the ship so long) brought them together in bed for that first time. That first glimpse that yes, they could end up together. Theodore could be the one. He could be exactly what Cain needs, his soul mate.

I’m still not entirely sure it read naturally. They’re screaming at each other (or rather, Theodore’s screaming at Cain, and Cain’s annoyed), and then they just… end up together. I’ll chalk that up to the stress of the situation can lead to ill-thought-out choices, on Theodore’s part (best decision that Cain’s ever made).

From that point on, it was just a matter of sticking things between them only to find they lasted through it. Cain’s past, Seiryu’s demand, Nevada’s blood thirst, Syrte’s jealousy, Cain’s low self-confidence and disbelief that anyone could actually love him. Oh, plus the part where Cain’s the enemy Theodore and Theodore’s entire kind has fought half of his life, and has now kidnapped to fight against everything he knows. Through all that, they stuck together, and even came to realize that they did love each other.

It must be love, if they can make it through all that together.

It’s even fulfilling – by the time they semi-officially get together, I’m relieved and cheered that those two could make it work. They really put their blood, sweat and tears into it. They definitely deserve it.

It’s all in the drama

So, perhaps I made a mistake when I thought they must slowly build their relationship (or have love at first sight). Perhaps, it’s all about setting up a potential relationship, some attraction or situation to bring them together initially, and then attempt with all my god-like authorial power to split them up. Which, funnily enough, count for a few of Chuck Wendig’s 25 Ways to Fuck With Your Characters.

 

 

So, what do you think? Am I right? Am I wrong? Am I terribly unromantic? Do I still not understand romance, even a little bit?