Alatariel NaNoWriMo - Romance Title: Inspiring My Love

I'm really far behind!! 

I don't think I'll make my goal at this point because the rest of the weekend will consist of Thanksgiving dinner (Saturday since my husband had to work today, real Thanksgiving) and working on the podcast to be released on Tuesday. SO....that's where my limited free time will go. Cleaning, cooking, and podcast editing.

Ah well. I'm not giving up, of course, but kinda disappointed. I'm gonna see if MAYBE I can get 30 pages done by the end of the month but we'll see.

Progress for 11/24
Page Count: 18

OMG OMG OMG

I just finished a romance novel (on my kindle) that I ADORED. It was perfect and exactly the vibe I'm trying to write. It's the FIRST one I've read that follows the construct I want to write in my novels. It's done by a bestselling author and is very popular so I think people are ready for romance novels to evolve.

Things I loved about it:

1) NO BLACK MOMENT!!
The couple did not break up near the end, instead they COMMUNICATED and worked through their fears/anxieties/trauma together. When she asked for space to process new information, HE RESPECTED HER and asked how he could better support her and then she asked him the same thing! And they followed through and kept their promises. 

2) No grand gesture
Since there was no break-up there was no need for a stupid grand gesture. Yes, she still expressed her love in a sweet meaningful way because he was a romantic at heart and she was not, so she planned a romantic date for him and it was adorable and perfect.

3) Open honest communication!!! No miscommunication trope
The female love interest (Daria) had been left at the alter five years earlier and she was bound and determined to stay single forever. Even had a popular radio show helping people choose themselves over romantic relationships and she wrote a book declaring she was never going to be in a relationship ever again. The male love interest (Theo) was a "love expert" AKA a relationship psychologist who helped people find their "soul mates" and have honest, open, fulfilling relationships. All he wants is to find love himself and get married. At first they fight a lot (they both have radio shows at the same station and for the sake of the story they have to work together on a new show as co-hosts in order to bring in more revenue and help the station from going out of business), but then they start to listen to each other and CHANGE and GROW and EVOLVE. I loved that. They both realized they were too caught up in rigid labels and strict definitions, they both find what they actually need in each other and help each other become the best person they can be. It's utterly beautiful.

I highly recommend this book if anyone wants to dive into contemporary romance without the worst parts of contemporary romance. It's called Radio Rival by Kathryn Nolan (very spicy scenes, Theo is the consent king)


So....this book showed me that what I'm trying to write can be done! And it's not boring! I was worried I needed some added conflict to keep readers interested but personal growth is hard enough and can be enough conflict on its own.