Every notice how a really, really, really, really (really) common trope in paranormal romance is the love triangle? It’s almost like a requirement. Or is it a requirement? It shows up in a lot of stories, but in my limited pararom experience, all of them have it. (I can make a blanket statement like that because I’ve read three. I’ll read #4 soon, because my copy of ‘Supernaturally’ should be waiting in the mailbox for me ^_^)
Some people don’t like the love triangle, but I’m a fan. Just not in the standard way. I’m not so much a fan of childhood friend versus new bad-boy in town…fight! Well, maybe on some level it could be boiled down to that, but…tangent!
I have them in most of my stories, whether or not they’re the primary plot (and since I don’t write romance novels, they’re not. Not that I don’t like romance novels, I just don’t write them. Maybe I should. That would be something to try. Anyway…I think I might be feeling a little distracted today…oops). I have one in my current WIP, and just realized I don’t know which guy I introduce first. The, for lack of a better word, childhood friend, or the new bad-boy in town.
Though, to be fair, they’re both the new bad-boys in town. I’m fond of my anti-heroes. And neither one is actually secretly her brother, in case you were wondering. It’s been my experience that you introduce the one first that she’s going to end up with. And then you introduce #2 to create more conflict after the initial attraction starts to build.
Unless you’re Cassandra Claire, in which case…yeah, totally didn’t see that coming at the end of ‘City of Bones’. I’m that good at ignoring spoilers.
Does it matter which guy gets introduced first? Does the main character need to form a stronger bond with one before the reader meets the other? Am I overthinking this? Okay, I’m almost definitely overthinking something. I wouldn’t be me otherwise. But still…are there guidelines around these things? Reader expectations? Is it okay to violate that particular reader contract as long as there’s enough (subtle) warning? Once again…Cassandra Claire…
I’m going to stop thinking and just go write. I can swap the scenes later if I need to, because I’m dying to introduce this guy. He’s my favorite ^_^
I think it’s a non-delimma. Your story should dictate who comes first. Maybe, unless you’re a plotter, you don’t know who the good guy is until later on. Oh well, just an idea.
Actually, in this case it is probably best NOT to know who wins out. Even if you are a plotter, try to figure out an ending where each one “wins”. Write them with that tension as unresolved as possible. Once you figure out who it has to be, you can tweak the foreshadowing if you must.
Look at Hunger Games and try to figure out who will win out. There were times I was certain it was one, other times I was certain it was the other. That’s what you want to aim for.
I’m not a fan of love-triangles, but if you write them, I think it has to serve the story, and it doesn’t matter who is introduced first.
Three very different opinions – thanks for the input ^_^ I think you all make valid points, and in the end like all of you said, the story is most important.
I suppose what I should say is, regardless of who ‘wins’ (such a fantastic term for getting the girl), I know who I want to look like is in the lead (so to speak). That’s much more important to the story.
And of course there’s always the possibility that neither wins. A third opportunity pops up much later leaving both suitors in the dust…
Kate – *shhh* 😉 Besides, there’s no third option in this book 😀