I finally have a functioning computer again, which is extremely exciting. There is much rejoicing that I can writer again over here. If you are a writer and are reading this GO BACK UP YOUR WORK NOW! DO IT NOW! NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW!!!

While I was sans computer, someone posted a question on Twitter that essentially asked: How do you keep the happy, fluffy parts of relationship in a romance novel interesting since conflict drives a novel but there isn’t much conflict when the main characters are just kind of hanging out, content and in love? I’ve been thinking a lot about that question.

First let me stipulate that I find the happy, fluffy parts of a romance novel inherently interesting. You know people who love an angsty book, who want a story to emotionally destroy them and the characters? Whatever the opposite of that is, that is the kind of reader I am. I will happily read page after page of nice people being sweet to each other so it is possible that my perspective is not a conventional one for the romance market or for literature.

When I’m writing the good times in a romance, in addition to feeding my own personal yen for sweetness, I try to use those softer, quieter moments to accomplish two things:

1) Demonstrate how the main characters complement each other.

2) Highlight and contrast the cracks in the relationship, the doubts or issues that are obstacles to the HEA. (I tend to write internal rather than external conflict).

There was a particular scene in Book 1 that I immediately thought of when I read that tweet and since I have a whole blog, let’s break it down, shall we?

The scene takes place during a 3-month period in the story between when they decide to start seeing each other and the next big emotional set-piece. Over the course of that 3 months, they get to know each other, gradually start spending more time together, and are generally pretty happy. It’s very much a honeymoon period.

This scene begins in the MMC’s POV. Both the leads come home late from their respective jobs. This is another in a long string of late nights at work and they are both exhausted. Miranda (our FMC) hands Vincent (our MMC) a glass of water when he walks in the door. He takes a shower, and they collapse into bed together. Vincent is a pretty tactile dude. He pulls Miranda into his arms and as they are drifting off to sleep, he thinks about how soothing it is to hold her; how the feel of her against him and her scent are significant consolation after a hard day. He deeply appreciates how peaceful she makes this moment in the middle of a busy and stressful period. Fluff! It also demonstrates how they complement each other. Vincent needs touch and respite and Miranda meets those needs with water and rest and snuggling. It also highlights some of things about her, specifically, that he’s attracted to.

But. Even though the moment is warm and soft and peaceful, Vincent worries about the future of the relationship. The reason he’s so exhausted, and the reason that he needs the respite she provides so badly is that Vincent is a professional chef working at the highest level; Miranda has never worked in food service and has a demanding job of her own. His schedule is brutal and uncompromising. He has lost relationships because of it before. He and Miranda have specifically discussed this and he’s been very up front with her about how little time he has to give her. Because of this, they have agreed to see each other when they have time for as long as they enjoy it and leave it there. Essentially, they are friends with benefits.

Vincent really likes her and the moments like this one they have been sharing. Though no one is talking about the long term, the past 3 months have been great and he is keen to keep going. However, this is her first real taste of just how bad his schedule can be. He has worked the past 17 days straight. They haven’t had sex in over a week. He feels like he’s barely been a decent friend and now there are no benefits. He fears it’s only a matter of time before she gets sick of his shit and kicks him to the curb. Vincent’s core belief that his professional life is fundamentally incompatible with a long-term romantic relationship; that Miranda cannot possibly love him in just a few hours a week, is a major fault line in their relationship. Having him reflect on it in a quiet moment lays the groundwork for obstacle they will have to overcome in the future and gives the story some precarity.

Side Note, I do not consider this a romance “misunderstanding.” Vincent’s beliefs aren’t unreasonable. His schedule is a shit show. There legitimately aren’t a lot of people who would be willing or able to put up with it. And he isn’t discounting Miranda’s opinion. They have talked about it, but Vincent knows that you can’t really understand how difficult it is until you experience it.

The next morning, we switch to Miranda’s POV. She wakes up in an empty bed thinking Vincent has already left for work. Now, inside her head, I can show the reader that all of the things Vincent fears are conspicuously absent. She’s not remotely close to running out of patience with him. She’s disappointed that she won’t be able to kiss him goodbye this morning but mostly she sympathizes with how tired he must be. Miranda admires his dedication and his hard work. She also views their lack of time as temporary. Their schedules will settle down soon and though she didn’t see him this morning, they have a standing date in two days, and she’ll get some time then. Her POV further contrasts his POV demonstrates how, even though they’ve talked about it and generally communicate well, their is a disconnect between how they perceive the relationship. That disconnect is only going to grow too. Additionally, the way she conceptualizes the challenges they are facing right now illustrates how well suited they are. Most people wouldn’t be able to handle his schedule; Miranda however, can.

She hears him moving around and realizes she hasn’t missed him. Miranda goes and gets her good morning kiss. Things start to heat up and she asks when he needs to leave, because she knows how tight his schedule is and is conscious and careful with his time. (Complement) Vincent only has 27 minutes before he has to go. He pulls back when he tells her this, we already know he feels like he is disappointing her, and he behaves as though he expects her to take this news negatively. Miranda, however, hears 27 minutes and thinks, “I like a challenge.” (Fault line) When the scene ends, Miranda is quite satisfied with how the morning has gone and Vincent still makes it to work 5 minutes early. (Complement)

So, there you have it, a peak into what I’m trying to do, besides just indulge in all of softest, fluffiest fluff, when I’m writing those sweet scenes. I promise, they are just as much a part of moving the story along for me as the big, emotional scenes.