Love Hurts - Romance Writers Weekly - #lovechatwrite

This week’s question is:

How do you approach creating conflict in a romance novel without losing the emotional connection between characters?

Conflict comes in many forms. It can be subtle or overt. It can be physical or mental. One thing is for sure – the people that can hurt us the most are the people we love.

That means, for me, that conflict in a romance novel is directly related to the depth of the character’s emotions. So, the question answers itself. Conflict should be designed to increase the emotional connection, not sever it.

When a new character pops into my head, I immediately begin to imagine the worst person for them to fall in love with. Here’s a  example from Crossroads Corner. Camryn needs to save her grandfather’s construction company from a hostile takeover. Her love interest? Will, the man responsible for completing the deal – and if he doesn’t do it, he could lose his job. To add even more complexity, Camryn is a career woman who never considered having children. Will is a single dad whose daughter is blind.

All that leads to conflict that Camryn and Will have to work their way through to achieve their happy ending. But it is in dealing with the difficulties that they forge a relationship the reader believes will last.
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Now I invite you to hop over to Jenna Da Sie for her thoughts on this!

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Does Crossroads Corner sound interesting to you? It's third story about the Bendixon Sisters - which you can get in the Taking His Measure box set today!

Three steamy, open-door, full-length contemporary romances with all your favourite tropes. Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers
 
Allegro Court
 
Determined to save her beloved construction company, Mattie Bendixon makes a reckless wager with Marcus Temple. All he has to do is stay in his hated hometown for one month. All she has to risk is her heart.
 
Gateway Crescent
 
Neither flighty Jo Bendixon nor steadfast Luke Donwell prophesies the temptation flaring hot and bright between them. It might scorch them to the heart…or spark a match made in heaven.
 
Crossroad Corner
 
Will Danson can't stop thinking about his captivating business rival. Camryn Bendixon won't be distracted by the sexy single dad standing in her way. They are competing for construction bids and career-making contracts—but it is her battered heart that he truly wants to win.