Double romances

Plenty of full-length novels feature two romances, typically a major and minor one. Two major romances can be written if the characters are developed sufficiently, which IMO means more pages til the happily-ever-afters.

Occasionally, a mid-length novel (65,000 words) can do the job but probably if it’s a romantic comedy, in which the pace is queen. For those who would like to see how I handled this challenge, try out my romantic comedy Double Happiness. I’ve been accused of writing a very mannish book (for this one), but since I am one and this blog is about the male POV, I'll stand pat.

Sometimes, a TV try at this can go too far. I’m still watching Married At First Sight but I'm not enjoying it that much because it has, for me, become borderline clinical.

The best reality TV show for romance is The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. Try to remember that relative degrees of staging is what we writers do and then take a good look at this show and analyze the educational and/or entertainment value of the product and what insights it may offer a professional writer.

This season of The Bachelorette, ABC lost a golden opportunity to showcase two budding romances. Probably they couldn’t afford to have two women (and approx. twice the primetime air) work together at eliminations and who to pick for dates. Did anybody say catfights, drama, men getting emotional, on and on? Actually, Britt and Kaitlyn had gotten along really well.

Britt, who is part Cherokee, Swedish and Hungarian (I’m hungry) is a 15 on a scale of 10 and as one contestant put it, she’s a billion.

Kaitlyn is beautiful in her own right and has a great sense of humor. Couple that with a little bad-girl she keeps trying to tame (unsuccessfully) and you have drama over her arc or progression to monogamy during the story.

Anyway, at the end of the first episode, the men barely chose Kaitlyn over Britt and Britt left the show, but not entirely. Perhaps some of them thought Britt too beautiful to be trusted?

A Nashville singer/song writer politely asked Kaitlyn to be let go because his heart was set on pursuing Britt. BTW, Britt doesn’t just have stunning looks, she’s empathetic and nurturing.

Have no fear, Britt fans, you will see her at least one more time on this week’s show as the Nashville suitor knocks on her hotel door.

Here’s a Brian Seacrest interview of the Bachelorettes:
 

 

BTW, one of my dear friends who in her fifties said of beauty, men need choose more than just beauty because we all lose our charms over time. My dear friend, look in a mirror, you are still beautiful and your personality is a “billion.”

Extar credit. Below is for diehard fans of the show:
An ABC promo for the remainder of the season (pick the first video if more than one shows up):

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KIo9RdLWJVsjcAymksnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByZWc0dGJtBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDBGdwb3MDMQ--?p=the+bachelorette+2015+official+trailer+hulu&vid=a57d2331124ef98db691c0d413fa546c&l=4%3A29&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVR.6880626434178%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Fwatch%2F794054&tit=The+Bachelorette+2015+Official+Trailer&c=0&sigr=110ceb169&sigt=1168rs0kt&sigi=11msa7foe&age=1432091256&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=yhs-mozilla-003&hsimp=yhs-003&hspart=mozilla&tt=b

FREE HUGS

Britt: To me, what a wife is -, a girlfriend is - a safe haven. I want to tell you that you can feel safe with me. I want to be the shoulder you can cry on. ...If you're worried, if you're sad, if you're happy. I want to be the one* you come give a hug to. I know it's cheesy. *[she's competing for the hero]

 

Chris: No. [since when does a guy say as much as a woman, LOL?]

 

Britt: But it's what's important to me... because you're amazing, awesome.

 

Chris talks about visiting cities trying to make a case for his flexibility in regards to where he lives. He's a farmer who is dedicated to his profession and I'm nearly certain he'd much prefer to stay put.

 

Britt: It (the city) is not where I want to raise a family. A small town is where it's at. I don't want to get ahead of myself but, yeah, Iowa seems beautiful...

***

Some of you might say the dialogue is flat and needs some help by way of action tags and interior motivation. The video I supply will do that for you, in spades. [It's the best mix or words and animation of body-mind-soul that I have ever seen. She obviously chose her basic message to convey to the man of her dreams that she'd stand with him, not second guess or nag! Not that things can't be discussed. It's a matter of focusing on the positive.]

Some might say the dialogue needs tightening...and I have already tightened it a little!

Others might say that the heroine should not offer her shoulder to cry on to a very alpha hero (and he is if I ever saw one). I'll counter that by saying his reaction, perhaps subconscious in part, showed he was overwhelmingly impressed with her as you'll see in the second 2 minute video. If I were a bachelor and younger and those lines were tried on me in the way the heroine delivered them, I would have fallen instantly for her. [She's also gorgeous. This helps.]

 

MARKETING TOOLS:

Every Monday night thousands of NEW and YOUNG ADULTS (mostly women), newly marrieds and singles in the workforce throw wine and cheese parties to view this show on campuses and family rooms across America.

  

The Bachelor Chris Soules - Britt's Limo Exit & Talk, 1/5/2015, ABC, The Bachelor. The dialogue I highlighted shows up about half way through the 5 minute video.

 

In the second (2 minute) scene Chris gives Britt the first impression rose.

Chris: When I first saw you I felt something I haven't felt in a long time!

For my professional writers: Anybody who writes in the action tags, description and interior thoughts and sends them  to me will get a copy of my about to be released Autumn Breeze.