Keeping It Short

I just finished writing my first short story romance unless you count the play I wrote in 6^th grade which featured 6th grade romance or the love letter I wrote in 3^rd grade to my long distance boyfriend. Why, you ask, would I write something so complicated as a romance story in less than a thousand words?

I love short stories and it's a challenge – and I believe:

·         romance is basic...WE make it complicated.

·         romance is universal…as you read this, there may be people on Mars at this very moment falling in love.  

I learned some things about romance writing during this short story project. You need:

1.      At least one person who is interested in another (by chance or by scheme).

2.      Two characters who are not in another love relationship (it's a short story).

3.      You need the possibility of romance (closed off people need not apply).

4.      You need flirtation.

5.      You need characters that will take a chance on love and be open to the opportunity.

And you still need to think about:

1.      Interesting and believable characters.

2.      A beginning

3.      A middle

4.      An ending
5.   Creative sentences that make the story move.

A short story romance, that's what I've been up to.

How do you take your romance story?  Long? Short? Complicated? Basic?