A Sweet Reunion

 

by Wendel Potter from the March 29, 2021 issue

Tagline: When Allison Fletcher visits a lemonade stand, she discovers she's in for a sweet surprise--and a chance at renewed love!

Observations: This charming story is the perfect time to suggest a strategy that I've seen emerge in the world of romance novels which is focusing on tropes. 

Related to that, we all have certain story elements that we are drawn to, sometimes on a subconscious level. I attended a workshop once that talked about this very thing and how, if we incorporate things that really flip our own switches, it will make the act of writing more intrinsically fun which, in turn, helps us produce a better book. The workshop prompted to make a list of the things I'm drawn to in stories and movies so that I can include them in my own writing. (Obviously, some of the items on these lists aren't appropriate for a Woman's World story.)

For instance, some of the character types I love to see in books or movies are: 

• bad ass older people, especially grand dames who everyone is afraid of
• male friends who are like brothers
• chefs
• twins
• royalty
• honorable gentlemen
• overprotective big brothers
• narcissists who end up to be caring and generous
• bookworms
• wallflowers
• serial killers
• chess masters

Some of the details I love to see in stories or movies are:

• comeuppance scenes
• bets or pranks
• kisses in the rain
• shopping for clothes for a special date or event
• reluctant makeovers
• swooping up a woman on a motorcycle or horse or vine or what have you
• ice skating
• using fame for good
• grand entrances
• fictional reality shows
• surprise reunions, especially military
• animals being rescued

Places/locations I love to see in stories or movies:

• boarding schools
• a rooftop oasis
• trains
• bakeries
• bookstores
• hidden passageways
• yachts
• penthouses
• palaces
• any place decorated with fairy lights

In this story, I saw several tropes that have proven over and over to be attractive to readers and the editors. The first one I noticed was including something nostalgic. In this case, it was a lemonade stand and the soda jerk cap. The demographic of the readership skews older so it makes sense to include things that they can relate to, something that hails from "the good old days." Teachers are also popular as characters, and as far as plots are concerned, having people return to their hometown is seen often. This could be a story-generating method--choose a few popular tropes and try to come up with a story that includes them all. Give it a try!

Photo by EvinDC via Flickr Creative Commons License