I don’t watch soap operas. I used to. Avidly. I knew every character. Who they slept with, pined for, or vowed to see in hell. I understood their individual plights as well as the interconnecting relationships. I was/am in awe of the writers who juggle several sub-plots, weaving them into a one-hour adventure. To be continued the next day.
I’ve noticed a similar trend in romantic fiction. (Speaking single-title here since that’s what I primarily read.) Multiple heroes and heroines. Multiple love stories. Interconnecting relationships and sub-plots weaving into one adventure. And, if part of a series, to be continued in the next book.
Pulp Soap Opera.
Mostly, I’m hooked. In ‘Fast Women’, Jennifer Crusie wooed me with Gabe and Nell, and Suze and Riley, and heck for a nano-second, Nell and Suze! I also got a kick out of Jase and Lu, and Chloe. Oh, and poor Margie and that bastard Jack. Crusie introduced a lot of characters, but each one had a distinct personality and strong purpose to the overall story. The large cast and multiple points of view didn’t detract from the central romance. They enhanced.
Another example of stellar ensemble writing is Suzanne Brockmann’s ‘Out Of Control’. I found the romance between Molly and Jones as intriguing as the romance between the primary hero and heroine, Ken and Savannah. Then there were the sub-plots involving Jules, Max, Alyssa, and Sam—recurring characters of the series. All of the characters and storylines meshed beautifully into one compelling book.
Multiple love stories are not restricted to contemporaries. I recently read Lisa Kleypas’s ‘Again the Magic’, set in England, mid 1800s. I was equally fascinated with the central and secondary romances. Why? Because Livia and Shaw were as complex and interesting as Aline and John.
There it is, the key element, in my opinion, to writing satisfying romantic fiction involving sub-plots and multiple points-of-view. The secondary characters need to be as interesting as the primary hero and heroine. If you want me to root for these people, if you don’t want me to skim, then make me care. Deliver rich, well-rounded characters. If they’re nasty, I want to know why. If they’re traumatized or intent on saving the world, provide a little insight please.
Although I’m mostly hooked on ‘big’ romance, there is the occasional miss. I recently read a book that featured four evolving romances and a boatload of recurring characters. I felt cheated because I didn’t get to spend enough time with any one of the couples. Just when things heated up, the story cut to another personal drama. In addition, several minor characters were no more than cardboard cutouts. They did not enhance. They detracted.
I’m not casting stones. I just wrote my own pulp soap opera, and it wasn’t easy. Hats off to writers who do it, and do it well. As far as trends go, multiple love stories seem to be the current rage. Are you hooked?
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Yes, I love stories with interconnected characters and multiple subplots! I love when they reappear in subsequent books, too. I used to watch soap operas, too, but don’t anymore, so I get that fix out of books now! I never thought of it as related to why I used to enjoy soap operas, too, but you’re right. It’s very similar!
I’m probably going to be the exception on this one.
I like series, but only if each book can stand alone. I hate when I pick up a book that turns out to be the 2nd or 3rd in a series, and then realize I’m some how out of the loop. The story line doesn’t make sense because I’ve missed earlier books. Or even worse, the author spends half the book giving you the back story to catch you up–what a waste of space.
I even like secondary romances, sometimes they’re more interesting than the central romance. But, if there are too many sub-plots going is any one plot getting enough attention? Sub-plots are fine as long as they don’t detract from the main theme of the book.
But, I absolutely HATE unresolved plot lines. Maybe I’m spoiled, but I DO NOT want to wait for another book or several books before a plot line is resolved. There are several authors I don’t read because of this. Don’t make me care about characters and then make me wait a year or two to resolve their relationship and story. I was a faithful Brockmann reader until Sam and Alyssa took so long to have their own story. I hate to admit it, but the cynic in me sees this as a ploy to sell more books.
Just one readers opinions.
This was an interesting post for me, because I can swing both ways, LOL. I love a big juicy romance with tons of characters, when they’re all written well and fully drawn, and I don’t feel like any one story is taking away from the other. But at heart, the romantic in me wants a single love story to be the focus …
I swing both ways too, Jill. LOL My reading is pretty equally divided between bigger romance and the more traditional single romance story. Tara, regarding your last comment, I’m not so sure I see the unresolved plotline you mentioned as a ploy to sell books, so much as way to entice readers to return for more. Look how long the writers of the sitcom FRIENDS, teased us with the on-again, off-again romance between Rachael and Ross.
Although, come to think of it, that was kind of annoying after awhile. Hmm.
Quality not quantity. If a writer can weave three or four different subplots in the story, I’m all for it. But this is a talent. I agree with Tara. The book must stand alone. I should be able to pick up one and be satisfied. And if the characters are done well, then I will pick up another. I’ve picked up the second in a trilogy only to have to go find the first or NOTHING would make sense. (Part of the harsh reality of having a library the size of my bedroom. You take what you can get.)
And I’ve also read the second and sought out the other two in the trilogy for pure pleasure. I LOVE these.
On a totally different note, I love to multi-task. And when an author can keep me occupied with several stories at once, I’m hooked.
And when they can’t…I’ll remember.
Grins*
I love serial novels – I get hooked on the characters. But any serial novel – fantasy – science fiction – romance – murder mystery…
And yet I grew up with no TV and no soap operas (maybe I’d like them if I tried, but I never got to like TV!)
For me, continuing characters either really work or really miss. I hate it when the hero and heroine from another book are shoved for no other reason than to show us how happy they are and maybe to give advice to the new h/h, but some authors do a great job of giving the characters a reason to be together and the old h/h don’t just turn into “boring marrieds.” Those books I really enjoy!
If the secondary characters are sympathetic, I love subplots. Susan Elizabeth Phillips did a great job with this in several of her contemporaries. If it’s done well, I love it. Like you, if it’s too cluttered with characters, it detracts from the main story.
I used to watch soap operas. I don’t any more as I don’t have time to wait for months for characters to resolve their problems, no matter how interesting the characters are or how huge the problems. The same with the books. I agree with Tara; I want the plot lines resolved in the book I’m reading. So please don’t leave me hanging for a year. Yes, I like the series, and if I love the secondary character (and there are plenty books with wonderful secondary characters, as it had been mentioned), I’ll be happy to see his or her own story. I already know what I’m going to get and that I’m going to enjoy it. But if it takes me to go through 20 or 30 pages of the previous characters’ story, by the time I get to the main characters, I might be too stuffed to have any hunger left for them.
I love books that have secondary characters that go on to have their own stories. That’s how I deal with my own books in a series. It’s a nice way to revisit with older characters, even have then actively involved in the plot, but not overwhelm the main characters’ story. What I don’t like as a reader is, as several of you have mentioned, having to read prior books to understand the 3rd book in a series. I ‘try’ my best to make my books stand alone for that very reason.
I prefer to read one romance per book–no romantic subplots. Though there have been exceptions, of course. And I’m not usually a fan of connected series where secondary characters get their own stories, but again, there have been exceptions!
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