Hello all! I'm new to Absolute Write, and to writing novels in general; up til recently, I've stuck with writing music (but 3 minutes's worth of lyrics, I have found, present very different challenges than 75,000 words! 
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So, here is mthe pre-question. I'm writing a novel-likely YA- set in a post-apocolyptic future wherein The State (read:the government) is very wary of close attachments or relationships between citizens; thus institutions like marriage, etc. are gone. People are very closely monitored, and male/ female relationships are strongly discourage, with romantic relationships being absolutely forbidden. Think 1984/ V for Vendetta sort of atmosphere.
The novel has other focuses that are probably more in the forefront than the love story, but the love story is definitely very important. MC is a 19 year old girl; her LI is a boy who has been in love with her for quite some time, but they obviously can't do anything about it, as they would be risking their lives.
So, finally, to the question: any ideas or formulas (left-brain thinker alert) you guys use to adequately pace the romantic arc in your novels? I don't want things to happen too quickly, but, at the same time, I don't wasnt thim to have looked at her longlingly once and then in the last 5% of the book, they are getting married....What are your ideas for pacing here that would get the reader really involved/ wanting them to get together, but not do away wit the suspense too soon, and maintain a level of realism?
I'm definitely a plotter, rather than a pantser, and do have a pretty detailed plot, but am just unsure of how to make a love story progress in terms of when which things should happen. Thanks in advance for any input!
)So, here is mthe pre-question. I'm writing a novel-likely YA- set in a post-apocolyptic future wherein The State (read:the government) is very wary of close attachments or relationships between citizens; thus institutions like marriage, etc. are gone. People are very closely monitored, and male/ female relationships are strongly discourage, with romantic relationships being absolutely forbidden. Think 1984/ V for Vendetta sort of atmosphere.
The novel has other focuses that are probably more in the forefront than the love story, but the love story is definitely very important. MC is a 19 year old girl; her LI is a boy who has been in love with her for quite some time, but they obviously can't do anything about it, as they would be risking their lives.
So, finally, to the question: any ideas or formulas (left-brain thinker alert) you guys use to adequately pace the romantic arc in your novels? I don't want things to happen too quickly, but, at the same time, I don't wasnt thim to have looked at her longlingly once and then in the last 5% of the book, they are getting married....What are your ideas for pacing here that would get the reader really involved/ wanting them to get together, but not do away wit the suspense too soon, and maintain a level of realism?
I'm definitely a plotter, rather than a pantser, and do have a pretty detailed plot, but am just unsure of how to make a love story progress in terms of when which things should happen. Thanks in advance for any input!
