Revenge is a hot hook for any romance, but it can also present a challenge! To help you bring that all-important spark to your revenge romance, here are the editors’ top ten tips…
- Motivation for revenge is key! It can’t be something petty, or make the hero look weak (e.g. enacting revenge on a girl for breaking his heart aged 16 just makes him look like he’s never grown up!) It needs to be bigger than this, so…
- Make the reason something juicy and multi-layered to add motivation and keep the reader (and even the heroine) guessing why it has affected him so deeply.
- Beware the revenge plot based on a misunderstanding – this can get very frustrating for the reader!
- Spare a thought for the person in the wrong – their behavior needs to be just as, if not more, well motivated as the person seeking revenge years later! Perhaps they did something bad, but for a very good reason…?
- There needs to be more to your character than just a thirst for revenge that has consumed and driven them for decades. Otherwise they may seem like a crazed psychopath, or even worse, a pantomime, 2D villain!
- Remember, revenge is not an emotional conflict! What else will keep your characters apart (or together) once they’ve resolved the issues that trigger the revenge plot?
- Heroines out for revenge – use with caution! They can work brilliantly, but she must be very well-motivated as it is essential your heroine has the readers’ empathy.
- A revenge plot is, by definition, driven by characters pushed to their emotional limits. if you’re drawn towards very dark-hearted heroes seeking vengeance for past sins, you might need to work that bit harder to persuade us why why should fall in love with him – especially if his behavior is particularly outrageous!
- The power balance in a revenge plot is inevitably skewed towards the avenger…so make sure the other character has personal traits that allow them to balance this out!
- And the best way to seek revenge – well, in the bedroom of course 😉 (for some series!) They do say it’s best served hot…!
Have we missed anything? Let us know in the comments below!
2 replies on “10 Tips for Writing a Killer Revenge Plot!”
Your ideas re revenge are well received, but seem to be mostly applicable to romantic mystery. My story is more about stopping and getting back at Big Corporate’s underhanded looting and pillaging of the planet. How would Carl Hiaasen do it? It needs to be funny but very satisfying and non-gory, hopefully. I prefer revenges where the blackguards are hoisted on their on petards.
How about forgiveness is the ultimate revenge in order to understand this concept you have to learn to understand forgiveness Everything in between is just dance revenge is good for as long as you enjoyed this dance
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I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!