Today for HEA Writing Week, we’re talking about story hooks and tropes.
Romance novels use classic tropes to drive the plot – think of fake dating, second chance romance and friends to lovers storylines— and hooks are the story elements related to characters and settings that grab readers’ attention, not to mention editors!
For example, you could have a reunion romance (the trope) set during the holidays or at a friend’s wedding (two popular hooks). Imagine a grumpy/sunshine romance (a variation on the “opposites attract” trope) involving the stars of a New York modern ballet premiere (multiple hooks to make the story interesting).
When combined with tropes, hooks offer endless options for creating catchy, one-of-a-kind romance stories. Here’s a list of different types of hooks to inspire your thinking:
- Character types – business rivals, brooding billionaires, royals, single parents,
- Professions – firefighters, doctors, ranchers, dancers, restauranteurs, and sports professionals
- Settings – glamorous destinations, big cities, ranches, mountains, and seaside villages
- Holidays – Christmas, Hannukah, New Years parties, Valentine’s Day
- Seasons – spring flings, summer vacations at beachside resorts, ski getaways where the characters get snowed in
Looking at story titles and covers is a great way to discover popular hooks that romance writers use to capture readers. You can see the character, setting and holiday hooks in action on these covers.
In TEMPTED BY THE BOLLYWOOD STAR, we have a reunion romance between a celebrity and the producer of her new show who meet again after an intense holiday fling they abandoned years ago. The fire still burns and the character hooks of movie stars, fame and Hollywood fan the flames for readers.
In MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE, searching for her missing ex brings Eva together with a tough military vet-turned-investigator. Military characters, a mystery to solve and the remote and dangerous mountain setting serve as exciting hooks in this romantic suspense story.
THE MATZAH BALL is an enemies to lovers rom-com about Rachel, a self-professed “nice Jewish girl”, with a secret career as a Christmas romance novelist! The cover shows off the hooks for the holiday-themed romance where Rachel collides with her childhood archenemy.
Paris anyone? We can see you already downloading these books to your ereader so we’ll take that as a yes. Romantic Paris is an alluring hook that’s ever popular. Books set in London, Florence and other glamorous destinations are equally enticing backdrops for romance stories.
Reading Material:
The Write for Harlequin blog is packed with content about tropes and hooks to help you out before jumping into today’s activities. Check them out below!
Trope Spotlight: Enemies to Lovers – Write for Harlequin
Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity – Write for Harlequin
Today’s Challenge:
Choose your favorite romance trope and brainstorm 10 hooks that would work with it using the list above. Let your creativity soar!
Looking for more of a challenge? Try writing the opening lines to a novel using various combinations of tropes and hooks.
Have fun and happy writing!
HEA Writing Week Editor Q&A
Don’t forget to join us today for the Editor Q&A in the Write for Harlequin Facebook Community at 1PM EST. Find the event here and we’re looking forward to answering your questions!
