April 25, 2006
What Plots Work For You?
Written by Margo Maguire in Writers and WritingWoman in peril is one of my favorites. It’s one of the best ways to show an alpha male at his best, and let a feisty heroine go to it. I vaguely remember a Linda Howard book from years ago in which the h&h were stuck in a jungle – escaping from something, maybe? I can’t remember the details, but the couple had a few rudimentary supplies and each one had a lot of attitude. The scenario was fabulous for developing conflict and character. (See? I can’t even remember the details, but something about this book stuck with me!)
Fairy Tale stories are great, too. Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella … Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel … well, sort of. Marriage of Convenience is another popular scenario, but it took years before I could ever appreciate it. On first glance, I couldn’t figure how this kind of story could possibly be interesting. The h&h are together, right? So what more is there to say? (heh, heh, heh). MOC lends itself to a historical setting, but I’ve even seen some contemp authors do it well. The film Green Card is a pretty good example of this, although I can’t think of a book offhand.
Mistaken identity or identity subterfuge? Both of these can work well, although every author I know is very careful to avoid the “big misunderstanding” plot, knowing that readers think it’s stupid and contrived. The one I’ve never been able to get into is the masquerade. For some reason, that just doesn’t sit well with me. Of course there are exceptions to this. Wasn’t one of Victoria Alexander’s recent books about a woman who has one glorious night with a hot prince, then tries to keep her identity secret when they meet up later? That worked for me :-).
My personal preference is a story that has a lot of plot as well as romance. I’m not much for ‘situational’ books – in which the characters agonize over each other and their predicaments. I like action and suspense. I enjoy a heroine who moves the plot with her strong personality, and doesn’t just get dragged along by the hero. I like an alpha hero, although if he’s too alpha, I’ll probably want the heroine to ditch him :-).
OK, I’ve only scratched the surface here. What kinds of plots do you all like?
10:29 am | Share This
Jennifer Y. Says:
I love any plot as long as it is well-written and enjoyable. One of my favorites is the best friends-to-lovers plot. I love watching friendships develop into romantic relationships. There is a different kind of intimacy level I think when friends become involved with each other. Plus it is a plot that can span across time…it can be in a historical or a contemporary.
I am sure I will think of more plots later.
Robyn DeHart Says:
I think you hit the nail on the head for me, Margo, with that last paragraph. I really like the heroine leading the action. I think this is why my heroines generally have jobs or something close to a job. It gives them substance and something to do besides look pretty. Just works for me, I suppose. I also LOVE the marriage of convenience/close proximity plot. I’ve done it a few times myself and I always enjoy reading it. Another one I love to read, but haven’t tried writing yet is the best friend. They don’t seem to be as popular in historicals as they are in contemporaries, but it’s still a plotline that works well for me. Along the same lines, I like the unrequited love thing. I think the one I’m working on right now might be classified as an Ugly Duckling. I’d love to see what more readers think about this. Great post, Margo!
Shana Galen Says:
I like Fish out of Water. Put the hero or heroine in a place or situation out of their element, and watch the funny stuff happen. like to read it and write it. I also do a lot of marriage of convenience. I don’t know why, but that plot seems to work for me, too.
Great topic!
Haven Rich Says:
I really enjoy the “when enemies become lovers” plot. I enjoy watching how they totally think they hate someone only to fall so hard in love with them.
But of course, I enjoy almost every plot line there is.
Candice Gilmer Says:
I prefer the action as well, I hate hate hate pages upon pages of introspection. I’m one where the story just has GOT to keep going… I get bored and my eyes glaze over when I have to read tons of introspection.
As far as plots, I love the best-freind-to-lovers plot as well, and the enemies-to-lovers plot. I also like the dark-heroine-meets-innocent-angel-that-turns-him/her-from-the-dark storyline as well.
Shirley Karr Says:
I’m with you, Candice — I dislike excess introspection so much, my early drafts have way too little of it.
One of my favorite MOC books is Married By Mistake, a traditional Regency by Melinda McRae. The problem starts because the hero is too vain to wear his glasses when he signs an important document in the wrong place. Fun, fun story.
I love the friends-to-lovers, and am working on one of those for my next proposal. Enemies-to-lovers has to be done very carefully, or there’s too much hate for my taste. I confess to being a sucker for a good amnesia tale, but secret-baby plots make me gag.
Anne Mallory Says:
Chiming in way late. I like fairytale and fish out of water. I like anything done well, even secret babies, Shirley.
Friends to lovers is definitely on my mind at the moment. My current wip is one. There’s something very magical about the best friend turned lover that is just so right. Then again, I really like the wham, bam, you-are-the-one-that-completes-me-where-have-you-been-all-my-life stories too. Best thing about love, it’s always exciting no matter if it’s been simmering for a long time or an abrupt explosion.
Lessie Says:
Great thought-provoking post! I need to start analyzing the plots when I read. Right now, all I can say for sure is I LOVED Bride Hunt. Just finished reading it, for the second time. It seems to be a Woman-in-Peril plot — but the thing that “got” me is the “gamma” male (referring to your other post) and the strength but kindness of the heroine.
As a postscript — I hate the enemies-to-lovers plot, like Shirley says above, b/c it usually is so full of anger. I want the characters to respect each other, whether they are together or not. (And there was a lot of respect in Bride Hunt. And philosophizing, so I’m surprised that you said you don’t like a whole lot of that.
:)) But anyway, even though Katherine’s upcoming book will most likely be an enemies-to-lovers plot (I’m guessing she will fall in love with a Scot), I’m sure you’ll show me how such a plot can be used to the best advantage. 
Can’t wait for it!
margo Maguire Says:
Lessie - a little teaser here - Kathryn does not fall for a Scot. You need to check out my blog from last week at Romantically Inclined, from Saturday 5/6, there’s a teaser from The Perfect Seduction http://romantically-inclined.blogspot.com/