Disclaimer: Though I have long loved and read romance, I have never written it. I do have a WF novel under my belt, and a very poorly written old chick lit manuscript I wrote years prior. It's really not good, and my first attempt at ever writing anything long, but I was looking at it again recently and realized there are some gems inside and I'd like to do something with it. I'm considering taking certain aspects and writing a whole new novel. I'd like to maybe try writing it as a romance.
My question or concern is, the main character goes through two (brief, but important) relationships prior to meeting "the one" so essentially, is this more of a Women's Fiction (I've seen previously defined as where the heroine's journey is more crucial than the relationship itself) or is it still possible to be a romance if she dates these other men first before falling in love with the hero?
Thoughts? I'm not opposed to making it WF but I thought it might be a challenge, although fun, to try something new. I really enjoy reading romance, but it seems most if not all I've read the characters meet near the beginning of the story. Not always fall in love right away of course but at least meet.
Help? Thanks!
My question or concern is, the main character goes through two (brief, but important) relationships prior to meeting "the one" so essentially, is this more of a Women's Fiction (I've seen previously defined as where the heroine's journey is more crucial than the relationship itself) or is it still possible to be a romance if she dates these other men first before falling in love with the hero?
Thoughts? I'm not opposed to making it WF but I thought it might be a challenge, although fun, to try something new. I really enjoy reading romance, but it seems most if not all I've read the characters meet near the beginning of the story. Not always fall in love right away of course but at least meet.
Help? Thanks!