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How to Write a Memorable and Non-Tragic Romance (And a Free Book Chapter!)

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Jonas and Martha Dark
You haven’t seen star-crossed until you have seen Jonas and Martha from Dark. Image via FilmLoverss.

Have you seen the TV series Dark? Dark is a highly fascinating and addictive German mystery series that revolves around time travel and whether it is all a big repetitive loop.

Obviously, it is so much more than that, but there are so many brilliantly woven storylines and interacting complex characters that saying any more could result in a spoiler.

Give it a shot.

So what does have Dark have to do with romance? In addition to having some intense and shocking romantic storylines itself, the “loops” and how certain things repeat themselves reminded me of how a lot of people write romance stories, especially tragic romances.

Loops can be understood, loved, appreciated or expected with science-fiction. (Not that Dark is predictable.) But with romance?

Now, being predictable and repetitive aren’t bad in and among themselves.

As a huge fan of romantic comedy, I am quite fond of happy endings, original meet cutes, and the “two strangers have to spend time together in the most unexpected/unorthodox ways” situations.

You almost always know where certain things are going, and you welcome it.

Love Jacked image via Imdb.com

In the adorable 2018 romcom Love Jacked, Maya falls in love with a South African man and gets engaged. But when he cheats on her, she has to pretend pool hustler Malcolm is her fiancé to save face from her critical father. But now Canadian Malcolm has to pretend he is South African and sell it to the African culture obsessed uncle of the family…

Yes, we all know what will happen to Malcolm and Maya. Imagine how disappointed we would be if the movie ended like,

“Thanks for your help. See you never.”

“Yeah, sure thing. Best of luck in your life.”

Yikes.

Or, you know, if Maya learned she had a tumor and six months to live.

Exactly.

We love romcoms because they tend to be funny, uplifting, hopeful, and romantic. And there is a lot the writer can play with while bringing freshness as the characters grow more attracted to each other.

You can do the same with romantic dramas, while of course the comedy will be gone or diminished.

But sometimes, the writer seems more interested in making the audience cry or making their story more memorable by making it tragic that the story no longer feels authentic. The journey of the characters and the conflicts they face feel forced.

Or they just seem like you saw it a million times before, and not in a way that you enjoy.

Familiarity is a good thing as long as it is welcome.

Let’s combine certain elements and you tell me if you are bored yet.

Boy and girl meet. Fireworks. But one of them is reluctant to start something because – drumroll! – they have cancer. Eventually, the sick character will get over their fears. These two will be together until death tears them apart. But, oh, the surviving one will have grown and will carry the memories.

Do you want to read or watch this story?

Probably not. Not unless I create two very compelling characters, come up with highly unlikely but exciting scenarios for their dates and encounters and their reactions, and whip up witty dialogue.

Then, if I’m making a film, cast two of your favorite actors. Shoot gorgeous cinematography. Get a skilled director. Invest in an amazing soundtrack.

And… cross my fingers.

Because how many times have you seen this story?

Look, I get it. Cancer is real. It is a horrible disease. It is hard to run into anyone who hasn’t experienced it, either themselves or through a loved one. My grandfather died of cancer.

So, I know.

But just because something is common in real life, it doesn’t have to dominate your writing – especially if it isn’t a way for you to deal with your own condition or the condition of someone you love.

If you or a loved one suffered from it, then by all means, write whatever you need to feel better. Get it out of your system. Put it out there, and help others who have gone through similar experiences.

But that is not the story I’m helping you with right now.

Right now, with this post and my book Writing The Ultimate Non-Tragic Romance, I’m targeting writers and readers who prioritize entertainment and escapism over depressing realism.

I love a happy story, and a happy ending, don’t you?

I love falling in love with the romance in front of me and living vicariously through these characters.

And I love helping my readers do the same.

Make your audience smile. Make them laugh. Make them fall in love, and celebrate the happy ending on the page or on the screen.

Art doesn’t always have to imitate life. And even life itself isn’t always depressing or disappointing.

Sometimes, life is just amazing!

So I took a bunch of my favorite romantic movies, analyzed what worked and why, and I created a guidebook on how to create a happy romantic story people will remember.

I wrote about films instead of books because it will be easier for you to remember the film’s plot points if you have already seen it (and get a refresher through the trailer) or just take 90 minutes to watch it.

And while I recommend you to read as well as watch romances, a lot of the romantic movies I picked are based on books. So you can do both. And you can see that the story has appealed to people on different media.

Can you ever not create a sick character in a happy romance, or at least a happy-ending romance?

You can.

Instead of killing off the character, you can write about the journey of their recovery or a happy-for-now ending. I included such examples in the book.

You can also research and find lesser-known (but still real) diseases and inform people of something they might not have otherwise heard about and do some good public service while you are at it.

At this point, I’m honestly pleasantly surprised when a character is sick, and it is not cancer or Alzheimer’s.

You can also not kill your characters for a nice change, even if it is a drama.

If you want to make your audience cry, you can still do it without killing people. Life is full of ups and downs.

So what does Writing the Ultimate Non-Tragic Romance cover? Including but not limited to:

  • My favorite romantic comedies (well, some of them. It is only one book) and what makes them work/memorable,
  • My favorite romantic dramas with happy endings (ditto) and what makes them work/memorable,
  • Mixing other genres with your romance – genres like mystery, horror, action, adventure, sc-fi, or fantasy,
  • Turkish romantic comedies and dramas (because I’m Turkish, and it is fun to go outside of Hollywood sometimes),
  • Exceptions – when unhappy endings and dead characters work, aka when your audience will forgive you for them,
  • Romance book suggestions (because you still have to read!)
  • Overused tropes,
  • Realism vs. escapism: Just how realistic do you need to be? And if some of the most common complaints about fictional characters are justified,
  • Real life ethics vs. fictional story worlds: What characters can or should get away that we wouldn’t condone in real life,
  • Help with writer’s block and overwhelm,
  • What you should do in addition to writing.

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The book is 2.99, but you can read it for free if you are a Kindle Unlimited member. I’m currently working on creating different formats.

Want a free chapter? Subscribe below to read Chapter 4: Romantic Dramas with Happy Endings.

Writer Laptops: Lenovo IdeaPad S540 Review

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Lenovo IdeaPad S540

 

 

So why write a laptop review on a writing blog?

Because as writers, we are attached to our laptops. We spend so much time on it writing, researching, emailing, editing, learning, and more.

It’s essential that our laptops work fast, are light, and comfortable for our hands (so we don’t get nerve entrapment!). It’s great if it is affordable too, but we can spend some extra if it means we will be happier in the long run.

My previous laptop: MacBook Air (aff. link)

After my MacBook Air left me (but not before we had some prolific years together), I had to buy a new laptop.

I’m not an either/or person when it comes to Android vs. Apple or Windows vs. iOS.

I’ve always used an Android phone (Samsung and now Xiaomi), and my MacBook Air was an 11-inch (now discontinued), light, fast, easy to use thing of beauty that made me reconsider my stance on Apple.

I generally find Apple products pretty but too expensive and impractical. Sure, the phone cameras are amazing, but it drives me crazy how easily they crack, or how product features are removed because designers probably think we all swim in money. (When I buy an iPhone, I’ll probably also own a second Android phone just in case.)

So why switch back to Lenovo if I was so happy with my MacBook?

Partly because they discontinued my beloved 11- inch model, and whatever else they were offering was usually too expensive.

But the main reason was the long, exhausting and frustrating repair process my Mac put me through.

I didn’t want to give up my tiny and efficient working machine. But the fan gave out, the touchpad wasn’t working, the operating system went crazy… Not to mention random and frequent shutdowns.

Basically, I couldn’t do anything with it anymore.

My warranty had run out ages ago. And my neighborhood computer repair guy isn’t that experienced in fixing Apple – and Apple products tend to have different kinds of specialty parts.

So, I had to make several appointments at the Genius Bar, paid a lot of money to change the operating system and renew the fan and renew the battery…Yet the problems continued.

Moreover, the geniuses didn’t agree on what the problem was, so each time a different person diagnosed and fixed the computer.

This process took several months.

In the meantime, I started window-shopping for a new computer, and I got my old Lenovo fixed.

I don’t remember when we first bought it, but likely it goes back at least a decade.

The fixed large and heavy Lenovo was slow, but it  got the work done in the absence of another device.

I finally gave up on my Mac. It was sort of still working, but it was working at a pace that drove me crazy and shut down randomly.

Lenovo IdeaPad S540, 14 inch (my current baby)

I don’t like making big purchases online. Books and little things are fine, but I’d rather go to a computer shop in person, talk to the salespeople, physically see and try the devices before making this crucial purchase.

Lenovo IdeaPad S540 (aff. link) was the best choice when I bought it late last year.

It’s light (1.5kg), though not as light as MacBook Air.

It was cheaper than most MacBook Airs, though it was an expensive contender among other Windows-run counterparts.

It was fast, new, and had impressive features:

Taken from Google:

ProcessorUp to 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7
Operating SystemWindows 10 Home
GraphicsIntel® Integrated Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® MX250
DisplayUp to 14″ FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, antiglare, 300 nits, 72% NTSC optional Glass finish (glare)

 

I might have also been tempted by all the gifts that came with the promotional campaign: a Canon color printer (E414) with cartridge, a backpack suitable for carrying laptops, and a mouse. (I prefer working with one.)

And while these were gifts, the cost went up because I also bought four years of McAfee Antivirus and a lifetime subscription of Microsoft Office for one device.

Additionally, I bought extra insurance that includes user error.

All in all, I think it added up to 1,434 USD. (I used today’s conversion rate.) The computer itself was about a grand at the time.

The use was great.

But the fan had problems relatively early, I think after a few months.

The battery stopped being efficient before a year passed. Touchpad stopped working.

Early in July, it stopped working completely. I had bought the device in September 2019.

I took it to the store, and they gave me a fixed computer for free: new battery, fixed and cleaned fan, working touchpad.

It stayed at the shop (a Mediamarkt in Istanbul) took care of sending for repairs) for about a week. Remember, it’s still under warranty.

It is working perfectly again. Fingers crossed it lasts.

I do, however, use a computer more than the average person. I also use it a lot from my bed or a sofa, as opposed to on a desk – which I’m told is a bad habit.

I’m practically attached to my laptop, being a writer who doesn’t own a TV and all.

I’m not on my phone as often as I’m on the laptop, and I watch Netflix here as well.

It’s not like I can go to coffee shops comfortably and frequently at the moment.

Maybe my computer developed COVID anxiety, as well as boredom from working from the same place all the time.

Oh well.

Note that I didn’t drop it, hit it, or spill anything on it. There was no user error.

By the way, remember the old Lenovo I had repaired months ago when the Apple crashed? It is still working. Knock on wood.

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The verdict:

So, should you buy a Lenovo? Current evidence suggests yes, but before investing in an IdeaPad, I’d wait a little longer if I were you.

Let’s see how long the repairs will be effective for.

How to Give and Receive Negative Feedback As A Writer

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Ah, negative feedback. The bane of every writer’s existence.

You put your heart, soul mind, sweat, and blood to a piece or worse, a manuscript, and someone truly hates it.

As much as writers have learned to receive rejections from editors and publications with grace, it still affects us emotionally and sometimes, even physically.

After getting a really negative feedback from a friend on one of my novels, I became physically sick.

Now, I’m not being dramatic. And there were obviously other factors contributing to it: We are all emotionally fragile since 2020 has screwed us big time. There is a lot of pent-up anxiety in all of us.

How can there not be?

The things we usually do to relieve our stress, depression, anxiety, frustration, or boredom are no longer really available to us.

Walking about just to be walking about is nowhere on my top 10 favorite things-to-do list, but since most things are off the table, what’s got a writer to do?

And even walking is not the same, is it? You have to wear a mask, be careful not to touch your face, avoid anyone who is not wearing a mask, and wonder if or when the world will ever get back to normal.

Add this global, everyday anxiety and uncertainty to the general anxiety and uncertainties of being a writer, and you’ve got an explosive mix.

The negative feedback was just the tipping point.

But I digress.

There is a reason writers rejoice in the rejection stories of famous, accomplished writers. Not because we enjoy other people’s misery, but because it is a relief to know that rejection and awful feedback happen to the best writers out there.

So, how do you give a negative review or feedback?

Look, it is okay to feel or think absolutely anything about a writer’s work.

It is okay to hate everything about it.

It is okay not to finish the book if you can’t stand it, even if you are friends with the author.

But even if you are a fan of tough love or you mean well, you can still do more harm than good.

Here’s how to go about it.

Start with this:

“I didn’t really connect with the story/characters/plot/dialogue (etc.)” Or “This just didn’t appeal to me.”

Now, this gives the writer a good idea about your opinion.

Before giving a long list of what sucks or doesn’t work, give the writer a chance to brace themselves.

If they want to hear more, they will ask.

And if they ask, continue. But let them take the lead.

If they ask you to stop, please stop.

Here’s a thing to remember about your feedback: It is subjective.

Even if you think you are really helping the author in the long run. Even if you think your suggestions will improve them.

Don’t believe me about subjectivity?

Think about all the critically and/or commercially successful books that you hate.

I’ll wait.

There are many, aren’t there?

  • Why did your English teacher force those awful books on you?

Because enough people considered them classics.

  • Why on earth did they write a sequel to that novel?

Because there was demand. Because enough people enjoyed the first.

  • How could that writer with that horrendous story and stupid characters make so much money?

Because the characters are stupid, according to you. The fans didn’t think the story was horrendous, obviously.

So, take a deep breath, and think about how much of your own preferences affect how you see the story.

For instance, if you don’t find the romantic lead attractive due to some qualities, are you sure no one else will?

The writer sure thought he was attractive. The first readers agreed. (We do give the same book to more than one person, you know.)

Think about how much you care about rules and whether this writer just broke too many of your favorites

Some writers and readers think prologues shouldn’t exist. This doesn’t mean no prologue can be good and necessary for the story.

Some people are adamant flashbacks are lazy. Still, some flashbacks are vital to the story.

Some people love first-person POV stories. Others? Not so much.

Only two things are a given:

  • The story should be well-edited for the use of language,
  • The story should make sense in the world that it takes place in, there aren’t that many rules.

Being different or unconventional doesn’t automatically make it bad.

When you say a character doesn’t sound like their gender, are you sure you know how literally everyone speaks? Or are you stereotyping people according to your preferences and experiences?

When you suggest a writer studies craft, you might offend them to their core.

Because while statistically it is possible there are writers who don’t study craft, I can assure you, a lot of us do. Obsessively.

In fact, we often have to remind ourselves to stop reading books about writing and practice actual writing.

And when you are giving feedback, you should keep the writer’s intention in mind.

What do they hope to achieve?

If they want to entertain, and you were bored, that is obviously bad. But it doesn’t mean other people weren’t and won’t be entertained.

But you might be looking for literary skills and ambition in a writer who simply wants to give people a fun, imaginative place to escape.

Intention also matters.

How can writers receive such negative feedback?

They can thank the reader for their time and effort. And they can take what they find useful and discard the rest.

Not all feedback is constructive or helpful.

I wrote about evaluating your own feedback for Bang2write: 5 Ways To Evaluate Your Feedback.

In the article, I mainly talk about reacting to screenplay feedback and evaluations, but the same lessons can be applied to novel feedback.

If you don’t want to read the article now, here’s what to consider in a gist:

  • Does the feedback-giver enjoy the genre and style you write in?
  • Does one person say this? Or do a lot of people agree independently from each other?
  • What does your gut say?

I wrote the book Writing the Ultimate Non-Tragic Romance. In the book, I go over a lot of movies, and I talk about why certain elements didn’t work for me.

And when I do, I emphasize the following:

a) It is my opinion,

b) I decide on the elements according to the factors I established early in the book,

c) And me not liking a movie or something about a movie doesn’t automatically make it bad.

There are movies that have been commercially and critically successful where I just didn’t have a good time during.

This is about me. My preferences and what I look for.

It’s okay to feel shitty after a negative review.

Every time you get scathing or just plain negative feedback, just take a deep breath. I know you will feel awful because your story is your baby.

And somebody either told you they are ugly and/or you shouldn’t have had them. Or you should have just done everything differently.

Don’t attack the feedback giver. Keep your cool – at least on the outside. Thank them.

Then take what’s useful, and ditch the rest.

If necessary, write about it to feel better and help others. (Writing can be meta, I know.)

Before you leave, I want you to consider these:

  • My favorite movie is Braveheart. I just love it. A TA in college referred to it as just “two guys running toward each other.”

Take that in for a sec. This is a movie that made a profit. It is the favorite or one of the favorites of a lot of people. And it has 5 Oscars.

Who is right here?

Both of us!

And that is the point.

He has the right to hate the movie just as I have the right to love it.

So, the next time you get disappointing feedback, do whatever you need to feel better.

Just don’t bite the head off the feedback-giver.

However, it is okay to ask them to politely stop if you can’t handle it, or you just disagree after having thought about it.

And then move on.

Don’t let it stop you from writing. Don’t let it stop you from sharing your work with others.

And if my movie example didn’t cut it:

  • Remember that agents and publishers collectively rejected John Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill (aff.link). Then they loved the second one he pitched, The Firm (aff.link).

Does A Time to Kill sound familiar? It is also a movie starring Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, and Samuel L. Jackson. It is a bestseller whose movie adaptation is rated at 7.5 on IMDB.

Same author. Same story. Different timing.

All we can do is hope we improve with each story, and that the next reader has more fun.

Good luck! You’ve got this!

Oh, and if you think your feedback has more value because you are a writer, you might also want to read How (Not) to Critique Another Writer’s (Fiction) Work As a Writer.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Launch: How to Write the Ultimate Non-Tragic Romance

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I wrote another book!

Currently available in only e-book form, you can have my latest book How to Write the Ultimate Non-Tragic Romance for free. It’ll be free on Amazon Kindle from tomorrow till 24th (it’s over on the 24th!)

You can also reach out to me for the next five days and get the pdf for free as well.

What’s the book about?

The book is all about creating an amazing romance with a happy ending.

So basically, say goodbye to tragic diseases and other situations that end in death.

I’ve made a couple of exceptions for when even the happy-ending, happy-story-loving folk like me will forgive you for an “unhappy” ending and dead characters.

The book talks about many romantic comedy and romantic drama movies, as well as including other genres in your romance.

The reason I go over movies in the book is simple: You’ve either watched them or heard about them. Several are already on Netflix and other streaming services of your choice. Some are available in full on YouTube.

And even if you saw them a while ago, you can hop on to the movie’s IMDB page for a refresher or YouTube for the trailer.

For romance writers and romance writing enthusiasts, it’ll be much faster than reading a book from scratch and then analyzing the elements.

That said, if you want to write great romance novels, you need to read romance novels.

I’ve included a short list of some of my favorites in the book. I’ve also mentioned which of the movies are based on novels, so you know the book came first. Even if you watched the movie, it’d be a smart move to read the book as well.

And if you need help with finding an idea, deciding on your publishing path, getting started on an author platform and such, you can read my book “How to Write an Amazing Romance Novel.”

Here’s what Writing The Ultimate Non-Tragic Romance covers chapter by chapter:

Why You Might Want to Write a Non-Tragic Love Story

My Favorite Romcoms

Writing a Romcom or a Romantic Drama Where Romance Isn’t the Priority

Romantic Dramas with Happy Endings

Going Outside of Hollywood: Turkish Romcoms & Romantic Dramas

Exceptions: When Your Audience Will Forgive You for Killing Your Characters (even if they ultimately prefer happier stories)

Writing a Happy-for-Now Ending

When to Give Audiences What to Expect and When to Surprise Them

How to Start When You Feel Blocked, Overwhelmed or Clueless

The Most Important Thing You Should Do (Other Than Writing)

Overused Tropes

Realism vs. Escapism

A Word on Real Life Ethics/Values vs. Fictional Storylines

Screenwriters I Recommend Becoming Familiar With

Romcom Novel & Author Suggestions

A Note on Diverse Writers and Characters

Key Takeaways

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While my book on writing an amazing romance novel covers all romance writing efforts, this book focuses on creating a healthy, happy romance with a satisfactory, pleasant ending.

More on the Author

When you come across a reference book, it is only natural to wonder who the author is and why she knows what she is talking about.

  • I’m a romantic. I watch romantic comedies and dramas at such a speed that Hollywood can hardly keep up with me. And I frequently go outside of Hollywood to find more.
  • I’m an experienced writer. I’ve been creating fictional stories for a long time. My screenplays have placed in contests, and I specialize in romance.
  • I’m a romance novelist. My first novel Making A Difference (M.A.D.), a contemporary romantic comedy set in New York, is available on Amazon. I’m currently working on my second novel, a romcom drama set in California. I also have other romantic novels and screenplays in different stages of progress.

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Want the pdf for Writing the Ultimate Non-Tragic Romance for free? You can reach out to me via the comments on this post or my Twitter to ask for the pdf until the 24th of June.

Happy reading!

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