Many readers and authors know the most purchased stories in the novel world are in the romance genre. Literally millions of romance novels have been penned and read throughout the history of writing fiction.
As many readers and writers of romance novels as there are, it follows to add that every story has been written. So the question that must be asked is how can the romance genre continue to succeed as the leader in fiction? Those die-hard romance readers must know every possible plot from the "meant-to-be together" couples to the "star-crossed lovers" tales and every other kind of romance in between. Wouldn't that eventually cause a sweeping case of boredom and potentially be enough to knock the genre down a peg or two?
Apparently not. While other genres are truly successful, none can compare to the market share of the romance genre.
Understand I'm not complaining or even in awe of the statistics since I write romance and/or love stories. And though I write them, you might find I'm an anomaly among romance writers because I read fewer romance novels than other genres. I have specific authors I read for romance, and I can assure you it's a small number. The reason for that being that most of the inspirational/ Christian fiction authors tend to describe their romances as "clean and . . ." fill in the blank. This was no doubt prompted by the explicitness or graphic descriptions of sexual encounters in the general market's versions of "romance".
You will never find graphic sexual scenes in my novels, but you will read of temptations to both hero and heroine and peripheral characters. You will find the gospel within the pages of my stories, people who walk the talk and people who shun the faith. Because that is our world. Regarding the romance: it's authentic, it's real, and at times it's raw. I remind you every story's been told so what we as romance/love story authors must do is make our characters compelling, the scenes truthful, the results not only plausible but desirable and genuine. Knowing that so many have done it well and yet many do fail, it's a challenge to take on writing a romance novel. One thing you can't ignore when writing the story is it must come from the heart.
As Solomon once said, "There's nothing new under the sun." And it still applies to romance novels and probably every other story ever written.
Father, apart from you, I can do nothing. That's the simple but powerful truth. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.