Having written around twenty books for Harlequin Heartwarming, there are a few things that I have learned over the last decade. One of those things is how challenging yet rewarding it can be to write a character with a big ol’ family. I am so fortunate to be one of the authors who writes the Blackwell series for Heartwarming. The Blackwells are all about family. They are a big, messy family with multiple generations trying to figure it all out. So, how does one go about using all these generations to create something authentic, full of conflict, and that stays in the romance category? Here are a few tips!
First, it’s so important to remember that each generation has their own unique voice. Be careful not to have the eighty-year-old great grandfather using the same phrases as the hero’s fifteen-year-old nephew and vice versa. Generational slang is a thing and it’s important to make sure everyone sounds their age. This can also be reflected in their vocabulary, syntax, and even their mannerisms. Now, I don’t mind an older fella trying to fit in with the younger generation by trying to speak their language, but let’s be sure that everyone knows it’s never going to be as cool as he thinks it is. Cue the fifteen-year-old’s eye roll!
Another consideration should be made to showcase different attitudes and philosophies toward life, work, and relationships. This diversity will help highlight each generation’s distinct perspective. In the latest Blackwell series I was a part of, The Blackwell Belles, my character J.R. is a single-mom, focused on her preferred career. Her mother, on the other hand, is frustrated that her daughter didn’t want to carry on in the family business. Here, the older generation values tradition and legacy while the younger generation is looking to break away from the old and do something she views as new and exciting. Similarly, all of the Blackwell series strongly focus on the eldest Blackwells and their desire to repair relationships within their family, As Big E and Grandma Denny begin to acknowledge their mortality, their attitude towards old grudges and family squabbles changes. They see the reasons behind those feuds and falling-outs as nothing compared to the benefits of forgiveness and repairing broken family ties. Sometimes that’s more challenging for the younger generations to grasp.
Using symbolism and generational themes is another tool when writing these kinds of stories.
Developing symbols or recurring motifs that represent generational dynamics, like heirlooms or shared locations can be helpful. In my story, A Cowgirl’s Thanksgiving Kiss, there is a charm bracelet that once belonged to J.R.’s aunt and was passed down to her. It becomes very important to the story when it goes missing but also happens to be the key to her mother getting what she wants. This heirloom means something to her mother, to her sisters, and even her daughter, bringing them all into the fray. Likewise, the themes of legacy, tradition, progress, and change can all play a part in the storytelling when you have multiple generations involved. Be sure to consider how your characters react and adapt to change, how their attitude towards tradition may cause conflict in the story.
Lastly, showcase those relationships! Highlight the complexity of relationships between different generations. Mother/daughter, grandfather/grandson, even brother/sister. This could include rivalry, admiration, or estrangement (the Blackwells are big on overcoming estrangement!) Having multiple generations in your story allows for complex dynamics to exist. Illustrate how each generation adapts to or resists change, and how these shifts influence their interactions with one another. Allow characters to evolve over time. Show how their experiences and relationships impact their growth. My favorite part of writing the Blackwells is when the old and young come together and share a moment that creates a shift in perspective and opens new paths for a hero or heroine who was feeling stuck to find that love and happily ever after. After all, isn’t that what romance is all about?
Having multiple generations in one story can be a lot to manage, but it can also deepen your conflict, help with your main character’s growth, and push a story down the right path to a satisfying resolution. Good luck and have some fun with it!
Check out A Cowgirl’s Thanksgiving Kiss … out this October!
Turkey, pumpkin pie…
And unexpected love!
Working in a man’s world of Texas bull breeding, stressed-out single mom J.R. Blackwell can’t help being annoyed by her handsome coworker, Hunter Robbins. So when their boss pits them against each other for a big promotion, J.R. is ready to step up and grab the prize. But Hunter’s offer of a place to stay after a tree crushes her home, and his easy connection with her daughter, melts her reserve. Despite J.R. doing everything she can to ignore the feeling—and Hunter’s baby goat winning her daughter’s heart! — will the charming former bull rider be her true prize this Thanksgiving?
