Win a digital copy of About Last Night!
You Wanna Fight?
I’m the youngest of three children, the only girl, and I seem to have been born missing whatever gland it is that makes one want to pick fights. I am a peace-maker by nature and birth order, and nothing unsettles me more than the idea of having to fight with anyone about anything, ever.
And yet, in order to write books that are more interesting than wallpaper-hanging instructions, I find myself constantly throwing my characters into situations of intense conflict.
Those poor little characters. It’s for their own good.
When I first began to write fiction, I didn’t understand about conflict yet. I was reading a lot of category romance, particularly Harlequin Blaze, and I had this idea, I think, that the conflict aspects of the novels were trumped-up and silly. I wasn’t going to write that sort of book. I was going to write some other type, with less trumped-up, silly stuff in it.
So I wrote my first novel manuscript, and it was grand. I worked really hard at it. I learned a lot of useful things. I loved that book, I really did. When I had something close to a final version, I put it on my Kindle and took it on vacation with me. I opened it up at my mother-in-law’s house and started reading…and a horrifying thing happened.
I got bored.
I got bored, reading my own book.
This is bad. This is, like, writerly death.
That’s the point at which it became clear to me that I needed to learn more about conflict—how to write it, how to sustain it, how to do it well so it doesn’t seem trumped-up and silly, but it does keep readers flipping pages.
I think we have this sense, as romance readers and budding romance writers, that romance novels are “about” the romance—that they are love stories about interesting people, and the reason we enjoy reading them so much is that we enjoy being immersed in the slow, unfurling development of romantic love.
I’m here to tell you that that’s bullshit. I wish it were true, but here is the actual truth: the slow, unfurling development of romantic love is horribly, painfully, unremittingly boring.
I’m sorry I just said that, but I had to.
I know it sounds like sacrilege, but it’s true, I swear. I wrote a manuscript like that, and I’ve seen a bunch of them written by other people, too. The hero and heroine meet. They like each other. They’re sexually attracted to one another. They fall in love. Excuse me while I get a cup of warm milk, some warm flannel pants, and a blankie. I’m not going to remain awake longer than thirty seconds reading this book.
To be interesting, a romance novel requires conflict. The good news is, “conflict” doesn’t necessarily mean fisticuffs, or even arguments that feel trumped-up. Conflict means, very simply, “making your characters want something they can’t have” and then “putting them in situations that force them to deal with it.” Your heroine can want a 1982 Volkswagen Fox for all I care. As long as you give me compelling reasons to root for her finding one—and then continually deny it to her—I will keep reading, and I will think things like, Go, heroine! Get that Fox! I know you can do it!
As readers, we think we know what we want, but we’re wrong. What we really want is denial and disappointment. In order for the triumphant resolution of a novel to be so satisfying that it makes us weep, the characters have to suffer first. They have to suffer bad.
But the other good news about conflict is that this suffering can take a million and one forms. And—this is the best part, for me—it can take place almost entirely in the characters’ heads. Sure, bad guys with guns are fun, but I’ll take a wounded heroine with a penchant for bad boys and a shaky sense of self-worth over a gang of ninjas any day.
Hmm. In fact, I may have recently written such a heroine. Here’s Cath, the protagonist of my June release, About Last Night. Having just been kissed stupid by a man she barely knows (his name is Nev, but she doesn’t know that yet, so she calls him by the nickname she’s given him, “City”), and having then eaten the bacon sandwich he made her, Cath is now arguing with herself about what she ought to do next:
Maybe it was the hangover, but it was the best sandwich she’d ever had. Or maybe it was City. He moved around his tiny kitchen like he knew what he was doing, and he’d fussed over the sandwich for a long time.
Beyond asking her how she liked her tea, though, he didn’t say a word, and that was fine with Cath. She wasn’t sure what social script applied when you’d passed out on someone, woken up in their bed, and then immediately thereafter come very close to mating with them on a table. The best strategy would no doubt have been flight, but she’d needed the sandwich.
The food gave her necessary fuel, and it also provided time to regroup. Bad Cath and Good Cath were duking it out in her head, and she was having trouble keeping her wires from crossing.
Good Cath was screechy, slightly hysterical: What do you think you’re doing? Sex on a table with a stranger? You don’t do that anymore! Hell, you didn’t even do that before. Knock it off. Put your clothes on. Go home. It’s still possible to turn this into a blip! It’s not too late, but you’re cutting it close, missy.
Bad Cath, by contrast, practically purred with lust: That man can kiss, Mary Catherine. What could it hurt to do it again? You’re already here. You made your mistake. What’s the big deal if you make it a little bigger? And speaking of big, did you notice the way City felt pressing between your legs? Yeah. That. You’re going to walk out on that? Don’t kid a kidder, babe.
What could she do but feed her stomach and try to drown out the voices?
Plus, it wasn’t like she could simply flee the scene. She was only half dressed. At least she knew where her clothes were now. She’d spotted them drying on a rack in the corner as soon as she walked into the kitchen. City must have put them through the wash for her, but he, like so many of his backward countrymen, didn’t have a dryer.
He could deny being nice all day long, but the guy was definitely a Boy Scout. A Boy Scout who kissed like a Hell’s Angel. Not that she’d ever kissed a Hell’s Angel. And not that anyone had ever kissed her quite like City just had. Zero to sixty in three-point-four seconds. The man knew how to ring her bell.
But she was done with the bell ringing, right? Right. New Cath didn’t sleep with strange men on studio tables. New Cath said, “Thanks a bunch,” got dressed, and clomped on home.
Do that, New Cath instructed. Do that right now.
See? Conflict. It’s not so difficult. But it sure livens things up, doesn’t it?
About Last Night, coming from Loveswept (Random House), June 11, 2012!
About Last Night Description:
Sure, opposites attract, but in this sexy, smart eBook original romance from Ruthie Knox, they positively combust! When a buttoned-up banker falls for a bad girl, “about last night” is just the beginning.
Cath Talarico knows a mistake when she makes it, and God knows she’s made her share. So many, in fact, that this Chicago girl knows London is her last, best shot at starting over. But bad habits are hard to break, and soon Cath finds herself back where she has vowed never to go . . . in the bed of a man who is all kinds of wrong: too rich, too classy, too uptight for a free-spirited troublemaker like her.
Nev Chamberlain feels trapped and miserable in his family’s banking empire. But beneath his pinstripes is an artist and bohemian struggling to break free and lose control. Mary Catherine — even her name turns him on — with her tattoos, her secrets, and her gamine, sex-starved body, unleashes all kinds of fantasies.
When blue blood mixes with bad blood, can a couple that is definitely wrong for each other ever be perfectly right? And with a little luck and a lot of love, can they make last night last a lifetime?
Preorder/order links — only $2.99, releases June 11
Barnes and Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/about-last-night-ruthie-knox/1108296251?ean=9780345535160
Other links
Book page at Random House – http://www.randomhouse.com/book/219015/about-last-night-by-ruthie-knox
Book page at Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13414764-about-last-night
Ruthie Knox website – http://www.ruthieknox.com/
Ruthie Knox on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/ruthieknox
Follow @ruthieknox on Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/RuthieKnox
About Ruthie:
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Ruthie Knox figured out how to walk and read at the same time in the second grade, and she hasn’t looked up since. She spent her formative years hiding romance novels in her bedroom closet to avoid the merciless teasing of her brothers and imagining scenarios in which someone who looked remarkably like Daniel Day Lewis recognized her well-hidden sex appeal and rescued her from middle-class Midwestern obscurity. After graduating from Grinnell College with an English and history double major, she earned a Ph.D. in modern British history that she’s put to remarkably little use. These days, she writes contemporary romance in which witty, down-to- earth characters find each other irresistible in their pajamas, though she freely admits this has yet to happen to her. Perhaps she needs more exciting pajamas. Her debut novel, Ride with Me, came out with Loveswept (Random House) in February.
What kind of conflict do you like in your romances?
Love/Hate relationships? Friends to Lovers? Villians/Suspense?
One lucky commenter will receive an About Last Night ebook. Winner will be selected using random.org on 6/11.
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27 comments
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Kanya
June 6, 2012 at 9:26 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi Ruthie! Great post! I love a love/hate relationship, particularly between an alpha male and a feisty heroine. It makes sparks fly!
About Last Night sounds awesome. Thanks for the chance to win!
Kanya
kanyachhetATyahooDOTca
The_Book_Queen
June 6, 2012 at 9:57 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Awesome post, Ruthie!
I’ll be honest, until you mentioned it, I never really thought of it, but it’s true: conflict is needed to make a story, any story, interesting! 
And, I might add, ‘About Last Night’ had more than enough conflict, all well done. No blankies and warm milk for me while I was reading. No way!
Loved every minute of it, please keep up the great work!
Enjoy!
TBQ
TBQ’s Book Palace
Susan W.
June 6, 2012 at 10:12 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I really like to read love/hate and villians/suspence romance. Not being able to predict what’s going to happen next is important to keep a readers attention. At least for me! Thanks for the giveaway!
suz2(at)cox(dot)net
Kathleen O
June 6, 2012 at 10:14 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We have much in common Ruthie. I the only girl, but I have four brothers. I was the peacemaker lots of times too.
But I still love Conflict in my books I read.. So yours is going on my “must be read list”. And I can relate a bit to Cath…
thanks for a chance to win a book.
Slick
June 6, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Welcome Ruthie!!! After reviewing About Last Night, I became an instant fan! Conflict, I admit I love stories with the love/hate conflict but I also adore friends to lovers stories. Personally as long as the characters are well developed and there is some plot, I’m a happy camper…oh and great sex scenes…gotta have those! LOL!
Maria D.
June 6, 2012 at 11:09 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
As long as it’s well developed and fits the story and the plot, it doesn’t really matter to me what the form of conflict is. It really all depends on the writing and the characters themselves because I happen to read all kinds of romance books with all different reasons for conflicts. Thanks for the giveaway!
Anne
June 6, 2012 at 11:51 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I like a variety iof conflict and situations in my romances. One of my favorites is the friends to lover trope.
acm05atjuno.com
Ruthie
June 6, 2012 at 12:47 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thanks for the comments, everyone! Keep them coming!
My favorite conflicts … hmm. Marriages of convenience (I know I shouldn’t like them, but I CAN’T HELP IT), friends to lovers, flings. Yum.
Leni
June 6, 2012 at 1:34 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I prefer staying out of any kind of conflict in my life, too. But I love it in books
Love a good villain. And it’s fun to read about a hero and heroine that start off not liking each other then it turns to love.
StacieD
June 6, 2012 at 2:23 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love enemies to lovers stories. I like rivals to bicker and argue but be attracted to each other. One of their explosive arguments usually leads to a passionate encounter.
geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com
KcLu
June 6, 2012 at 2:46 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love all the conflicts in my books. I absolutely adore when we know one charachter is hiding something, and you want to yell at the. But you know that when it comes out it will be explosively good!!
MaryC
June 6, 2012 at 4:25 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love them all. Absolutely loved Ride With Me and can’t wait to read About Last Night!
MelissaS
June 6, 2012 at 5:08 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I LOVE that cover!! So yummylicious!!
I’m in the minority here but I like the “great betrayal” storylines. As long as they’re done right.
Barbara E.
June 6, 2012 at 6:27 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love not only friends to lovers, but also enemies to lovers. It’s always a lot of fun to see two people dislike things about the other and then find out that their ideas are all wrong and there is a lot to admire and even love about the other person. Or they are just so attracted to the other person, even though they think they don’t like them, they just can’t resist.
andieleah
June 6, 2012 at 6:59 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love all romance especially friends to lovers
andieleah78@gmail.com
Mel Bourn
June 6, 2012 at 9:51 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love conflict in my stories. Makes the stories more interesting as well as the HEA much sweeter. I like the tortured hero/heroine as well as the snarky, sarcastic banter.
Mel
Timitra
June 6, 2012 at 10:50 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I can’t choose just one I love all three conflicts!
RachaelM
June 7, 2012 at 6:57 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi Ruthie. I love any kind of conflict in a romance. It always makes the story better to have some sort of conflict. There have been many good conflicts listed and truth be told, I am not picky. I like them all.
Filia Oktarina
June 7, 2012 at 11:29 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Awasome post!! I love read all the conflicts in books. Variety of conflict and situations make story very interesting and hard to dismiss, want read story until end book^^
hregtvedt
June 7, 2012 at 10:48 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi Ruthie. I LOVED LOVED LOVED Ride with me. I am (not so) patiently waiting for About Last Night. You are completely right with conflict. I love stories where the main characters should know better but just can’t help themselves. Any sort of conflict just draws me in. I had a typical, slow romance with my hubby of 17 years, so anything with a good and emotional conflict is exciting to me.
Heather E
Catherine Lee
June 9, 2012 at 8:18 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
You know it’s bad (or something’s missing) if you get bored reading your own writing! LOL. I LOVE the cover on the book.
I live vicariously through conflict in books since I have none in my own life!
YWLiang
June 9, 2012 at 4:53 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thank you for the giveaway!
I love reading romance novels where friends become lovers
And I especially love it when there’s lots and lots of angst! (I love to weep my heart out) haha
Occasionally, I like suspense romance also and love/hate relationships, though not that much ^^
yiliang0124(at)hotmail.com
The Brunette Librarian
June 10, 2012 at 8:23 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love me some love/hate relationships! Maybe not necessarily that part of it but I think its so fun to see the characters come together.
Then when they finally do its so rewarding!
brunettelibrarian AT gmAil . c0m
The Brunette Librarian Blog
rubyswan
June 11, 2012 at 4:11 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
There’s nothing like a good,good all fashion dosage of Marriages of convenience with a heaping helping of mystery ,suspense thrown N the mix with hate 2 love..!!! hey why settle on just one theme..;)
redz041@yahoo.com
jessiel
June 11, 2012 at 9:51 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Ienjoy conflicts in the books I read. Especially love/hate. Love seeing how it ends. Great post! And I’m looking forward to reading this book.
DiDi
June 12, 2012 at 3:33 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thank you all for stopping by!
Ruthie, thanks for a great post and best wishes on the release of ABOUT LAST NIGHT!
CONGRATS to brunettelibrarian you have won Ruthie’s contest!
rubyswan
June 12, 2012 at 4:02 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Woooohooooo..Congrats 2 the winner..brunettelibrarian..U lucky Duck!!