Storylines ~ Which Ones Do You Like Best?

October 22, 2012 by ellaquinnauthor

Today I’m discussing common storylines. Do you have a storyline you like best? If so, what is it? For me it’s the forced or shotgun marriage. Now, being a Regency writer, the variations are almost endless. One needs only set up the scene and watch what happens next. So, whether it’s contemporary, paranormal, historical, or whatever, share with me your favorite storyline.

Here is an example of my favorite storyline from my as yet unnamed, unedited WIP. Miss Dorothea Stern has just overheard a plot to trap the Marquis of Merton into marriage and has decided to save him.

She caught up to Merton as he reached the meeting place. “My lord—.”

He frowned and held the note up. “Miss Stern, what is the meaning of this?”

“I’ve come to warn you.” Her heart was beating so fast she could barely speak and she’d never been alone with a gentleman. “You must go back inside.”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand. You asked me to meet you here.”

Of all times for him to pick to be difficult. Keeping her voice low, she infused it with urgency. “No, the note is a trap.” She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him towards the doors. Unfortunately, the dratted man stood stock still.

He frowned. “A trap? What do you mean?”

She resisted the urge to rail at him. It must be almost midnight, they had to leave now. “I’ll explain it to you on the way in.”

He stared down at her. “You’ll explain it to me now.”

Of all times for him to act like…Grrr. didn’t he read novels? As calmly as she could she said, “I overheard a conversation. There is a lady trying to force you to marry her.” Dotty took his other hand, and tugged. “Please, you can’t be caught out here.”

Finally he moved, but the force of her pulling, and him stepping forward brought them up against each other. Before she could move away someone gasped.

“Well, well, well, what have we here?”

Dotty recognized the voice as one of the ladies she’d overheard.

Merton was so close her breasts practically touched his chest. She knew they looked like lovers. It probably wouldn’t help, but she’d try to talk them out of this any way. She turned to face the women. One lady’s jaw dropped open and her face flushed with anger.

“I—I was delivering a note.” Dotty stuttered.

By the shocked looks on the faces of all four ladies, none of them believed her.

Merton placed his arms around her. “What you see, ladies,” he said in a wintery tone, “is a proposal.” He glanced at Dotty. “I believe Miss Stern was about to give me an answer when you interrupted.”

Posted in Uncategorized | 40 Comments

40 Responses

on October 22, 2012 at 09:45 | Reply jayne smith

I like story lines where a brother gets into difficulty and his oldest brother comes to the rescue !!!!
- on October 22, 2012 at 09:50 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Oooh, Jayne. That’s one I hadn’t thought of. I do have one running around in my head of a cousin who comes to the rescue.
on October 22, 2012 at 09:45 | Reply Gerri Bowen

Ooooh, I love this, Ella!
- on October 22, 2012 at 09:51 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Gerri, thanks so much.
on October 22, 2012 at 10:15 | Reply Barbara Monajem

This is great, Ella! I like forced marriage stories, too — in fact I’m working on one right now. I also like rescue stories.
- on October 22, 2012 at 10:22 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Thanks, Barbara. There is so much you can do when you throw a couple together. I love rescue stories, unfortunately, I’m not sure how good I am a writing suspense. Now if we’re taking about other kinds of rescues, that I can do.
on October 22, 2012 at 10:39 | Reply caseamajor

I like storylines where the heroine becomes the pursuer and the hero the pursuee. I also tend to like older men/younger women storylines. I’m sure the therapists out there would have a few things to say about that. LOL

Thanks, Ella. Great post.
- on October 22, 2012 at 11:24 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Hi Casea. Thank you. I’m sure a therapist would. LOL. I like older men, but I usually don’t have more than a 7-10 year difference in my books.
on October 22, 2012 at 11:46 | Reply Terry Irene Blain

I like stories with a little adventure that thows the H/H together when they just meet – and they fall in love quickly, work out the problem and go on to HEA.

Humm – just like to stories in my novels (wouldn’t you know)
- on October 22, 2012 at 13:20 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Hi Terry. I love it when H/H fall in love and work out a problem.
on October 22, 2012 at 11:52 | Reply Liza O'Connor

I thought this very fine. My characters are disturbed and I never know what story plot they’ll chose.
- on October 22, 2012 at 13:18 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  LOL, Lisa. Thank you. Sometimes I have an idea and the characters decide they want to do something different.
on October 22, 2012 at 11:53 | Reply Miranda Liasson

Loved your excerpt, Ella! (But waah, I want more!) I tend to love long-lost love stories…stories about second chances. But any really emotional story sucks me right in, regardless of the story line.
- on October 22, 2012 at 13:17 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Miranda, thank you. I’m only 30,000 into the book, so it will be a while. I like second chances as well.
on October 22, 2012 at 12:47 | Reply Jennifer Lowery

You always have such fun blog posts, Ella! Love this! I love rescue stories! Great post 🙂
- on October 22, 2012 at 13:16 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Thanks Jennifer.
on October 22, 2012 at 13:02 | Reply C. K. Crouch

What about where they realize they love each other but then one of the them says, does or reveals something that creates a bump they have to work through when they’re already dealing with a suspense situation? I’m not saying it right. But my hero just said something that led the heroine to think it was all a set up and the words were a lie.
- on October 22, 2012 at 13:13 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Hi C.K. I like those story lines when they’re well written.
on October 22, 2012 at 13:04 | Reply D'Ann Lindun

Like Casea, I like the older woman thing a lot. I like homecoming stories a lot. I like broken men healed by a woman…
- on October 22, 2012 at 13:13 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Here’s to older women. Thanks for stopping by D’Ann.
on October 22, 2012 at 13:52 | Reply jbrayweber

Ooohh….love your excerpt, Ella!

I love story lines that involve redeeming bad boys. I also love it when a strong woman realizes she sometimes needs to be saved. 🙂
- on October 22, 2012 at 13:57 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Thank you, Jenn. I agree with both the storylines.
on October 22, 2012 at 14:07 | Reply Georgia Lyn Hunter (@GeorgialynH)

Hi Ella, love your story. Like the same as you for historical when the hero is trapped into marriage. And simply adore ones like D’Ann, a broken man healed by a woman, and real hard-nut cases, refusing to acknowledge the heroine, but goes running after them when they realize they will lose them.
great blog 🙂
- on October 22, 2012 at 15:00 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  I Georgia. I like all those storylines as well. Thanks so much for liking my excerpt and stopping by.
on October 22, 2012 at 14:13 | Reply Inion N. Mathair

Great post, Ella. We love all kinds of storylines, especially intricate ones, but our favorites have to be unlikely heroes that are forced into action.
- on October 22, 2012 at 15:01 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Thank you. Inion. Hmm, that sounds like a disaffected male storyline. Good idea.
on October 22, 2012 at 16:28 | Reply Kristen Koster (Kaige)

Great post, Ella! I always say I’m a sucker for anything with a thief in it… but I also love best friends to lovers stories and wounded hero stories. I also like mistaken identity stories.
- on October 22, 2012 at 16:45 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Hi Kristen. Thanks for stopping by. Those are all good storylines.
on October 22, 2012 at 16:32 | Reply Cora Lee

Great excerpt! I am a fan of forced marriages, too, but I think my favorites are second chance/reunion stories. Or, at least they are right now 🙂
- on October 22, 2012 at 16:46 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Hi Cora. Second chance stories are going strong lately. Thanks for coming by.
on October 22, 2012 at 16:53 | Reply Callie Hutton (@Calliehutton)

Loved it, Ella. It has sooooo much potential. I like the forced marriages, too. The story I’m about to start for NaNo is a Time Travel, another of my favorite story lines.
- on October 22, 2012 at 16:57 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Thanks, Callie. Ooh, a time travel sounds fun.
on October 22, 2012 at 18:20 | Reply Ally Broadfield

Great excerpt, Ella. Can’t wait to read more! I tend to like the fairytale storylines – cinderella or beauty and the beast.
- on October 22, 2012 at 18:36 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Thanks, Ally. I think fairytale storylines can be fun.
on October 22, 2012 at 19:18 | Reply Jenna Jaxon

Your excerpt sounds like another winner, Ella. i too am a big fan of the forced or arranged marriage–I’ve written three so far! LOL But all have very different circumstances. There is an infinite variety of those, aren’t there. 🙂
- on October 22, 2012 at 19:21 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Thank you. There are so many variations it boggles the mind.
on October 22, 2012 at 20:30 | Reply Brenda

I enjoy heroine/hero deeply wounded and healed by love. I also LOVE the age old story of good versus evil!
- on October 22, 2012 at 20:56 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Both great ideas.
on October 28, 2012 at 18:29 | Reply karen Y. bynum

Well done, Ella! Love the description “wintery tone” 🙂 So vivid.
- on October 28, 2012 at 20:42 | Reply ellaquinnauthor
  
  Thanks, Karen.