H is for Heartbreak
Ah, heartbreak: that terribly awfully perfect piece of a love story. Most of us love happy endings, but if we're honest, we also love to see some heartbreak before our heroes and heroines get what they want. After all, happiness is all the more precious when it's hard-won, and to set aside humor for a moment, we all know what it's like to suffer, and feel like we won't survive it. It's part of being human, that awful grief - as is the rush of light when we come out on the other side, and find that somehow, miraculously, we're still alive. But I already wrote about that in Cloudland.
In this novel, I get the delicious fun of adding heartbreak into six different stories, and of subjecting my two souls to a variety of different forms of heartbreak. I mentioned this at length in an earlier post, but I'm planning on using quite a few of the love story plots at my disposal.
So I'll have heartbreak because someone isn't loved; heartbreak because someone is and the love isn't reciprocated; heartbreak because love is forbidden; heartbreak at being rejected, not once, not twice, but three times, by the same person; heartbreak at once-perfect love being destroyed; and quite a bit more.
I'm not just being sadistic, here, although that is fun. I'm trying to build a story arc through six different lifetimes - which means, really, that things can't work out perfectly until the last story. What a pity, right? ;)
If you're not torturing your characters some, you're not doing it right. LOL
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for you to publish that book! :D
That big dark moment before everything is resolved is crucial to a romance novel--although it can be found in all other fiction, too--just in a different way.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I'm a big fan of heartbreak in fiction. I love tragedies more than happy endings most of the time. I know I'm weird LOL.
ReplyDeleteBring on the heartbreak! Because you're so right---the HEA is only satisfying if the characters have worked for it.
ReplyDeleteThere are some who marry(my in laws) and never knew heartbreak but for most of us we have gone through this more than once and it hurts just like the first time so I think that is quite realistic
ReplyDeleteIt's moments like this in a story that I route for, especially those awesome "yes, but" moments. :)
ReplyDeleteI love Melissa's comment...I feel the same way. I love heartbreak in stories.
ReplyDeleteOh I love heartbreak in a love story. "Let the waterworks flow" is my motto. We have to think the souls won't come together or we won't care when they do. Love your post and I'm excited about this story. It sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteLeanne Ross ( readfaced.wordpress.com & @LeanneRossRF )
Hi Liz .. six different heart-breaks ... well you're certainly stretching your characters somewhat ... and keeping your readers engaged - does sound very interesting ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteFor me, the almost perfect example of heartbreak is One Day by David Nicholls. The book, though, not the movie. The movie was awful.
ReplyDeleteSuch a heartbreaking post... oh, wait.
ReplyDeleteI say a good heartbreak is great for a plot. Really shows what the characters are made of. And as others have said, I concur with Melissa. Torture them!
Think about your poor readers! They're going to be going through boxes of tissue like mad.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous that you're good at showing emotions like that in your writing. I'm sure my attempts would be pretty dry, which is my I tend toward the humorous in my writing.
Oh, you're going to tear people apart and I'm sure they'll love it.
ReplyDeleteNow that's a lot of heartbreak, Liz! I like reading heartbreaking stories now and then, though....because that's where the real, true writing is. Not every relationship is sunshine and rainbows. Some people have to go through the worst of experiences and I think being able to read about and relate to similar experiences would help them feel less alone. Go for it!!
ReplyDeleteBoy oh boy...What I can appreciate about heartbreak (now that I've actually experienced it), is that afterward, when the storm does break, there is so much more of an appreciation for life. And all that it can and still has to offer. :)
ReplyDeleteIs it wrong to say that I like to see a character go through heartbreak? It makes them that much realistic. You have a bunch going on with your characters…I hope they all make it through =P
ReplyDeleteElsie
AJ's wHooligan in the A-Z Challenge
Sadistic or not, I think hurting your characters like that is a fantastic way to keep the conflict and drama high and help the reader fall in love with them and really celebrate the final victory.
ReplyDeleteMy content editor actually pushed me to stay away from conventional love story plots with this last book. It was fun and challenging to try and meet those demands. I think I succeeded...
ReplyDeletelol, being a little sadistic with characters is a bit fun :) And finding new ways to tell a love story allows it to have such a satisfying ending!
ReplyDeleteI'm reaching for the chocolate - my go to whenever I think of heartbreak. BTW - I listened to the audio version of the J. Campbell/B. Moyers interviews. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteYes, to create that perfect black moment is so hard and here you are creating six throughout your story!
ReplyDeleteMaybe one in between might turn out happy?
ReplyDeleteHow about heartbreak over death? I've used that one. More than once...
I think you've got all the heartbreak scenarios down. Now all we need is a box of tissues and chocolate!
ReplyDeleteYeah... as horrible as it sounds, there just isn't any story when we don't make things terrible in some way.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why it is, but heartbreak is compelling. It must be all the emotions involved. Keep on being mean!
ReplyDeleteOog, heartbreak is so hard to read sometimes. >_< The book I just finished reading sets up the main character's heartbreak throughout the entire story, and it was so hard to see that in the end.
ReplyDeleteBut still, it's incredibly damn compelling. Anyone can get a happy ending, which is probably why the sad ones stick with us more.
Sounds like you're torturing your characters in all the right ways!! :)
ReplyDeleteHeartbreak adds intense emotion as well as a plot twist to a story. It's a must in many stories.
ReplyDeleteLove my stories with a little heartbreak! It's what makes the romance seem believable! Nothing is ever that easy, not even falling in love. There has to be a little complication there somewhere, which makes the final outcome that much more rewarding. Your characters sound like they are getting their fair share of heartbreak! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, heartbreak upon heartbreak. That sounds fun. Well, not for them. For those of us reading.
ReplyDeleteI think the very fact that the protagonist undergoes a heartbreak makes him/her value their love eve more.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreak is a feeling and it can be realized by all.
ReplyDeletePleased to meet you, Liz.
ReplyDeleteI love weepies, and although heartbreak is sad we've all been there at some time and can empathize. Romance wouldn't be the same without it.
Thanks for commenting on my blog. Hope to see you again sometime.