I once had a man say to me, “Angie, how can you write romance when you don’t have a romantic bone in your body?”
I was shocked… flabbergasted. What? How could he say something like that?
And then I remembered the first submission that was rejected by Kensington Publishing that came with a short handwritten note, “Show me they’re in love, don’t tell me.”
What were they saying?
I was confused. So I started reading other romance novels, comparing them to mine while trying to figure it out. And it wasn’t until I started dating someone else that it finally clicked.
Chemistry.
According to the Wikipedia, chemistry is an emotion that two people get when they share a special connection. Rapid heartbeats. Shortness of breath, and excitement that is often similar to sensations associated with fear and danger.
Chemistry.
That three syllable word is so powerful, it speaks volumes. His kiss. A soft caress. The look in his eyes. It’s emotional. Something you can’t pretend exists when it doesn’t.
Over the years, I learned it wasn’t that I didn’t have a romantic bone in my body, it was because my prior relationships lacked chemistry.
Once I’d figured out what my manuscript had been missing, I’ve been turning it up a notch ever since.
And the complaint of a lack of chemistry and romance in and out of the bedroom… no longer exist.
