What makes a romance novel go from awwww to awful for a reader?

Last week I asked if you stopped reading if a couple get together too soon in the book and I got a yes and an it depends.

So, here's my question for this week -- what makes a romance novel (or any novel, really) go from awww (that's so sweet!) to awful for you as a reader?

I've read a few romances where it's "obvious" the couple are meant for each other and the author writes about their story in such a wooden and puppet-like way that I honestly feel like moving my arms up and down like a marionette master.  Those books usually hit the wall with a big thud.  Now that I read on my Kindle most of the time, those books get the left square click, scroll down and DELETE from Kindle.  :)

When the couples do the deed at or before the 50% point of the book, I tend to lose interest in the continuing deed-doing and just want to finish off the story and go find a new romance with a little more suspense. 

Other romances that tend to make me fall off the page count are when the hero is abusive or when the heroine is incredibly passive.  B O R I N G! 

For me, I was reading a series and the writer decided not to write about the characters from the previous books at all in the book and it really turned me off the whole series!  

An example of a movie I stopped watching was after the eyeball scene in "Hostel."  EEEK!

Anything involving victimization of children is a dead stop for me!

So, that's the awful list!

Now some awwwws :)

- when characters laugh together and I laugh, too
- a character finds out something about another character and does something to bring the relationship closer
- another character sets the stage for happiness and it works
-just when you think the couple will never "be" things seem to flow and you can't wait to see it all click
-there's an unexpected interaction and the two end up face to face -- for some reason, I love that!!!

Let me know your favorite "awws" and "awfuls." 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

Premature Romance-ulation?

I have a theory that romance novels where the starstruck couple reach an intimate relationship by the halfway point are boring to finish for the reader.

It's the same with TV series.  Once the sexual tension is resolved, viewers tend to drop off.

Is it better to keep the reader on edge waiting, waiting, waiting?  Yes!

Let me know your favorite books with a romance that made your heart soar or ache for the (hopefully) happy couple.

I Need More Cow Bell!

Today is Day 14 of my personal challenge from Brandy Miller's book, "How To Write an E-Book in 40 Days (or less)" and I need more Cow Bell!  Please stop by my facebook author page and leave me some Cow Bell, High5s, inspirational quotes, etc etc!  https://www.facebook.com/#!/ZapWritingWithShawnaHansen

Also, let ME know if you need some more Cow Bell, too! 

On my author page and other authors' pages, I see a lot of "here's my book" posts but no one ever says what they need from me as an AUTHOR. 

Yes, I know you want me to buy your book, but aren't you missing something here?  We're professionals.  We KNOW things.  We STUDY things.  We THINK about things. What kind of Cow Bell can I give you right now to help you WRITE? 

I am on the uphill slope to Day 20 (halfway point).  This is CRUNCH time.  For the next 7 days, I will be really pushing myself up that hill! 

Every little Cow Bell you can send me will be much appreciated!!

Have a great week of writing! 

Somehow

Storytelling doesn't have room for the word somehow.

Why not?

Somehow is the lazy writer's way of shrugging.

Nope, I am not gonna write it.  Somehow means the reader has to do the work.  It's the writer saying, "Not my job!"

Well, writers, SOMEHOW it IS your job.  :)

Let's talk it through.

some·how

  [suhm-hou]  Show IPA

adverb

1.

in some way not specified, apparent, or known.

Idioms

2.

somehow or other, in an undetermined way; by any means possible: She was determined to finishcollege somehow or other.

Somehow #1  Writers need to tell the story and describe the elements of the story, the history of the story and the future of the story.  When the story turns to "somehow" to describe what's happening, the reader should get mad at toss that book at the wall!  If I wanted to imagine "somehow" everything you're supposed to be telling me in your story, I'd go write my own "somehow."  

Sometimes the writer is writing from a point of view of a character who doesn't know how it happened.  Instead of dumping this on the reader, the writer can describe how the character feels not knowing what is happening.  Somehow is lazy!

Somehow #2 in any old way - somehow or other;  This phrase is OK for me as a reader.  It implies that the character will find the resolve, the way, or the willpower to make it happen.

Now writers, SOMEHOW needs to go bye bye.  I'll admit that I am sure that somehow or other a somehow snuck into my writing a time or two.  I'm going to share 2 things I'm doing to eliminate "somehow" from my writing:

1) I want you to check your drafts and look for every instance of SOMEHOW and write it out.  Tell the reader what you can about the "somehow."  

2) Use "somehow" as a way to fight writer's block.  When you're stuck, go back over your draft, find the "somehows" and write those scenes.

Have fun!