This week: Marriage, It's Not For Everyone Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Romance/Love Newsletter by Dawn
For the romance novel and some stories, the marriage proposal or scene where they get married is common but it's not the only option. Some things to consider if doing a single novel, series with same main character, or series with different main characters. |
During an episode of Friends in the later seasons, there is a time when Chandler first considers new jobs and about working in advertising. When he's being the goofy, awkward Chandler coming up with taglines for things like, "phones, bringing people to other people with phones" attempts, Monica hits him with the line. "Marriage, it's not for everyone." It is funny and a contrast because it turns out, marriage seemed to work well for them, or that is how it is portrayed. This is funny, in part, because the words are true. Not everyone wants or needs to get married.
This is relevant for romance novels but could also be said for some long stories. We do love a good romance with a cute or dreamy proposal. But that is not for this newsletter. Instead, let's consider options. Sad or happy. There are some who actually look for or appreciate the non-happy ending type of story and still qualify it as romance. Maybe, here, it would fit in the category of love instead of "romance" to avoid the expectations of the specific genre.
What this means for the stories here is that some stories can end in heartache. That can come from different ways. Maybe they breakup with it either being mutual or one sided. Perhaps one finds someone else. They might need to focus on their career or join the military, so have to leave. There is also the storyline where one character dies. Those are possibilities when it comes to stories where love is part of the plot. Perhaps, one of the characters just decide that relationships or commitment do not meet what they want at that time. Someone changes and things happen. Murder is another option.
Bad things can be the options but it doesn't have to be either heartache or marriage either. There are different ways to do the happy for now type of story ending. The main factor is considering what is the plot, where do you have conflict, plus what will it be enough to satisfy the reader by the end of the current story.
One of the novels that I'm currently working on in novel prep is a romance where they don't jump to marriage at the end. The height of conflict is a little different than some of my others, since there is a cop main character and part of the plot was the issue of someone suspected for human trafficking. So, the epilogue type thing at the end of the novel, where one might often see a proposal and/or marriage, instead of that I've got the idea of them going for house viewings. In the one that the older character might offer to buy, instead of the proposal for marriage, there is a request to buy the house together. The move-in with me is another option for the characters in a romance story.
This might be considered gossip worthy if you are writing a historical romance, so you might need to consider that aspect. It could help or hinder if you want something other than marriage in those settings. Still, in modern romance, it's almost more believable, if they don't live together in the story already, there is a big chance that one could do that first and some time later, there is the idea that the characters might increase the level of official commitment.
And if you just happen to have characters who are going on dates, or doing the at odds hallmark style romance, the end could just be that they actually decide to date or become an official couple. Perhaps the story will end with a change in relationship status on Facebook. The options for how things end will depend on the story. But don't feel pressured to do the proposal or wedding scene. It might not be right for the characters. Remember... Marriage isn't for everyone. |
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Do you end your novel or romance story with a marriage proposal or something else?
Challenge: Write a romance story that ends in either the characters deciding to live together or they get asked to change their relationship status on a web site. 
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Romance/Love: October 15, 2025 Issue [#13393]
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