In “6 Ingredients of a Good Sensual Romance Novel” Tom Retterbush lists, I think, what are the pretty standard elements of, well, of a sensual romance novel. Check out the article for details, but the summary is:

1. A very strong, sexy hero.
2 A spunky, spicy heroine.
3. A sensual plot.
4. Red-hot scenes.
5. Teasing, bold dialogue.
6. Ecstatically satisfying ending.

In other words, if you can fill in the blanks and write well, there you go. Well, that’s not what he’s saying, but that’s one way to read lists.

I always have difficulty with lists. On one hand, it’s all true. For me the first reactions is often something along the line of, 1) can I get away with going slightly off-perfect examples to make it more interesting? Like a hero that doesn’t seem strong at first? Or a heroine who is excessively spunky, but later changes or was being misunderstood? Or any other way of sneakily appearing to not fit the perfect structure?

And then, for me, I go to 2) If I do follow the rules, how can I make it my own? This usually means creating another entire structure that runs parallel to the given elements of the “assignment”. Like taking the given elements but making the story as much as anything a representation of ethical issues surrounding euthanasia, or an exploration and comparison of mental health issues by having a character with anorexia and another with drug addiction.

Or just twisting things in a simple way. Make the hero/heroines gay but only one openly so? Or go the other way; one is trying to appear gay but in truth is not? Maybe the hero tries to give the appearance of being gay because he’s striving to become a fashion designer but he’s actually hetro?

I dunno; but it generates fodder for thought anyway.