How to find a perfect story plot? Write about the mystery about being in love.
All about Being in Love
Use this outline as the way to set up your romance story plot. It is fun and a fast way to cove the points and phases needed to give your story extra punch.
How will I know if I’ve ever experienced love? Many people argue that although being in love with someone is non-tangible, there is absolutely no doubt in their mind of it existing. If you are questioning at all whether or not you are or might be in love, then you are most certainly not.
While there is no doubt of the existence of being in love, even for a second (I am still one of those sad individuals yet to experience it), I am somewhat perplexed over our perception of what constitutes humanity’s most sought-after experience.
Decision time
For me, the decision to fall in love with someone is based on the successful matching of one’s predetermined criteria or preferences.
Phase one
I refer to the very first phase as the preliminary stage of any partner selection fondly as the ‘terminator glasses’ phase since the process filters through a potential mate’s attributes and matches them off against my unique preferences.
On New Year’s Eve just passed, I met friends at a party to celebrate. While waiting at the door with my friend, I saw HIM for the very first time. I did a quick terminator scan:
Terminator Scan
- Height: Around 6 feet. That’s a MATCH.
- Build: Not too skinny, not too buff, not too fat. That’s a MATCH.
- Hair: Dark brown. Not over the top. That’s a MATCH.
- Complexion: Dark olive. That’s a MATCH.
- Lips: Plump. That’s a MATCH.
- Smile: Oh my God. That’s a MATCH.
- Eyes: Brown, Big, expressive, with long thick lashes. That’s a MATCH!
- Stance: Gentle, not cocky. That’s a MATCH.
- Nationality: Probably Brazilian. That’s a MATCH.
Terminator glasses
With my terminator glasses still in place, the confirmed Brazilian was permitted to move onto the second part of phase one: interaction. The initial meeting is often the fatal part of any potential relationship. Each sentence uttered, every look given, and every movement put through the terminator glasses filter.
Any miss-match can lead to a premature relationship death. In this part, little is forgiven, mostly if one’s program is set at ‘long term mate’. But it is my favorite part of the process because it is often the most fun. I see it as playing a game we both know we’re playing but refuse to acknowledge as existing. Write about the mystery about being in love from this perspective.
One can withdraw from the game any time with no repercussion (that is, when both parties are working under and following the same list of rules.) When this is not the real case, there may be a few unwanted phone numbers, with a few very awkward conversations. Depending on how weak you are ? unwanted dates followed by a few unwanted kisses.
Phase two
Phase two, ‘the rose-colored glasses’ phase, is risky and not often approached with caution by either person. Looking at the impact of stage one, bombs warning’ relationship doom’ could be dropped right in front of one’s eyes, yet getting let go unnoticed. Everything usually appears and is, invariably, totally workable.
Phase two is more exciting than the terminator phase, albeit being laced with the fear of it all ending. The premature ‘I love you’ could escape one’s mouth, falling to the ground. The stakes are relatively high but could also pay off and continue you on to phase three. Or maybe not.
Phase three
Declaring the title of phase three can be challenging. The truth is, I’m not sure what to call it because I find I’m often on the way to the green exit sign above the fire escape before they can say ‘marry me.’ Continue to write about the mystery about being in love.- using this angle.
My experience with phase three is that I usually recognize Mr. Perfect as a human. I typically resist accepting him the way he is and often try to point out where he might be or is lacking (he is usually not so open to my constructive criticism.) Of course, it does not lead him to change his ways but firmly ground himself in them (and resent me in the process).
- Swap love and commitment with fear and dependence.
- Some stay to the bitter end.
- Many head straight for the green exit light.
People claim at this point that they have fallen ?out of love.’ My argument is that they were never in love in the first? place. One of my favorite movies, ‘Moulin Rouge,’ melodically states,
“The greatest thing you will ever learn in your life is just to love, and be loved in return.” ~ Moulin Rouge
I believe this is what we think being in love is all about. Yet being loved in return implies that there is a condition to your giving love. So romantic love is conditional love. If romantic love only goes one-way, it is termed unrequited love or even ‘desperate.’
True love could only be unconditional. And inside of that, true love can only mean 100% acceptance of the subject, just the way they are and just the way they’re not. What if love, real love, is just loving?
Apply these steps “Write about the mystery about being in love” to your character plot and come up with a good romance.