NYT Bestselling author Caridad Pinero

Today's Tuesday Tip comes from New York Times Bestselling Author Caridad Pinero...

Take it away Caridad~

First of all, I want to thank Catherine for having me with her today!  I am so glad that we’ve been become friends.

This month is a very special month for me as it marks a first ever in my career:  I’ve written an erotic paranormal romance!  AMAZON AWAKENING is my latest release from Nocturne Cravings and it’s…hot.  It’s also a novella and romantic. 

You see, for me the physical intimacy that happens in an erotic story isn’t enough all by itself.  For me to be really involved in a story I need to see an emotional connection between the hero and heroine as well as a growing romance in addition to the growing physical intimacy between them.

So I guess that leads to today’s Tuesday Tip:  How can you build a romance arc and create believable intimacy when you are writing a short work of fiction?

The first rule is:  Writing short fiction is not much different than writing long fiction.

The second rule is:  There are really no rules.  What works for one story may not for another because each story is unique and has its own needs.

But there are some hints I can provide despite the above.

First, make sure that your first chapter establishes the “ordinary world” of both your hero and heroine.  We need to know where they are emotionally and how that relates to your storyline.

Next, ask yourself where you want the hero and heroine to be at the end, namely, what will be there happily-ever-after.

Third, be sure of what doubt/emotional wound/hesitation the hero and heroine have in the “ordinary world” and what they will have to overcome at the “black moment” of the story in order to have their happily-ever-after.

That’s it.  That’s what I ask myself before I start each and every story, whether short or long.

The one big difference is that the shorter the work, the more important it is that you have a believable reason for the immediate attraction of the hero and heroine.  This may mean that the hero and heroine have known each other in the past.  It could be that something else, like a paranormal element, connects the two.  This will let you deepen the emotional and physical intimacy faster while still keeping it realistic.

Thanks for dropping by!  I hope you’ve found these tips helpful.