My Buffy comic kingdom

For a romantic arc!

As a romance writer I didn't think it'd be this difficult to plot a romantic arc between two people who will make a damned fine couple if I do say so myself. If only they'd fall in love! I mean come on, people! Be nice to each other, smile that little sexy smile, show a little interest.

I decided to plot through each act then do each chapter in the hopes this new book would go faster. I am stuck, not with the plot, with the romantic arc. As in why oh why can't I figure out Grayson and Juliette and why they are two stubborn people?

Pft.

I'm doing something wrong here, I know it. I just can't think what it could be. I even took 2 of this gorgeous 3 day weekend and DIDN'T think about the story. I hate to start a new story, this is the one I really want to write. Alas.

Conflict

I struggled all day yesterday with conflict in my American Historical. Most of the day. A good 6 1/2 hours worth of the beautiful day when I could've been doing something else beside sitting in front of the computer and scowling at the screen. Looking back, it could have been anything else I did yesterday. Seriously.

I wanted this story to be a non-paranormal, spicy, angsty, gripping historical. All well and good. I wanted this to take place pre-American Revolution. Ok, fine. I want this to be longer than 50 pages. Because as it's shaping up now, I can't imagine writing more than 50 pages on the current plot. Or lack thereof.

Here's the problem as I see it in the harsh light of Monday morning: I can't seem to work my head around conflict in pre-Revolutionary America that doesn't involve Indian attacks or the war itself.

There are 100 conflicts out there, emotional and external. There are 1000 ways I can write this stupid freakin' story. There is exactly 0 ZERO ways I can think of to do it.

So in sleeping on it, and having bizarre dreams involving Christmas, I came up with something that might work. The issue was resources. With enough money, there's no conflict. With enough people around you, there's no problem. So take all that away and what do you have? Problems! Issues! Conflict! Angst and heartache and separation and above all, sexual tension. Gotta have that.

So now, despite 8 hours of sleep, some exhaustion and lack of caffeine this morning, and missing some key summer clothes, I HAVE A CONFLICT! It's pathetically exciting, but there you have it.