Happily Ever After Cafe discussion

How soon do you like to have the hero and heroine meet? On the first page? Within the first 2 chapters? Within the first half of the book?

I, personally, prefer it when they meet within the first couple of pages of the book. Sometimes I've noticed that the circumstances leading to their meeting must be set up so we sometimes have to wait in those books. I'm not a fan of going back and forth between present and past so when that happens I'm content to wait but not too long!

Hmmmm. Haven't really thought about it. In both my stories, they meet a couple of chapters in, but I can see the appeal of them meeting faster.

I guess it depends on the story. I don't like to wait too long, though. It bothered me that in my first book they didn't meet for fifty pages, but the story wouldn't work any other way. In the others, they meet by Chap 2.
They're romances after all and the books should be about their relationship, so the sooner they meet, the sooner the fun can begin!

I understand that sometimes its not possible to have them meet too quickly in the story depending on the plot and setup, etc... But I have read a few books through the years where the main characters don't meet until nearly halfway through the book. That bothers me. I want them to meet quickly but not if it ruins the story.

That would bother me, too. The couple doesn't have to fall in love right away, but I need to see a relationship forming between the two. The couple doesn't have to see it, but I do.

Preferably within the first ten pages. I get antsy if the whole 1st chapter goes by and they don't meet.

A long delay in the main characters meeting doesn't generally engage me. Sometimes the author is world building and the main characters don't meet for several chapters, but in that case, I have had to go back to the book blurb to see who is who. (Sometimes I get a bit confused as to who is going to be the hero or heroine.) I really don't like last chapter resolution, where they don't get together until then!

I don't think I've read a romance where they don't meet until the end!

Abigail wrote: "I don't think I've read a romance where they don't meet until the end!"

I meant they're relationship doesn't come together until the last chapter, not that they don't meet until the end. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Me either, Abigail, but I have read a few where they don't meet until about halfway through.

A well developed character is important to me. I can see developing one character in the first few chapters until a point were you have a clear picture then bring in the other character to mix in with the first personality. It makes no sense to wait too long for that to happen because the second character needs just as much time and building for the reader to get to know them and to understand where they may be going emotionally together.

The sooner the better for me... but I do have some patience, if they don't meet for a chapter or two. I've certainly gotten better about this as I age. LOL!

Also, it depends on the genre of the book...sometimes in a "chick-lit-lish" or a "historical-101" type, I know they won't meet right away.

Note to Self: when you start writing Who Wants to Marry a Fireman, have them meet in chapter 1.

LOL!

Well, I must admit that some of my favorite scenes are when they meet at the very beginning, usually due to some humorous circumstance.

lol I like it within the first few chapters. I really dislike it when I don't get a lot of couple time.

I think they need time to cultivate the relationship.

I agree on the couple time thing, Namericanwordcat. I like to start my couples off on the first chapter. They may not like each other right away, but you need time to build the relationship. The spark has to fly, and then build into a raging inferno! LOL

Hmmm...never really thought of it. I don't mind if they don't meet for a couple of chapters or so. As long as those first few chapters are geared towards painting a picture of who our hero and heroine are, as sunny pointed out.

I just read a book where the female character literally bumped into the male in the first chapter, but you don't really "meet" him until the third chapter or so. And the author did a wonderful job of building up the anticipation of meeting the stranger on the street.

Now that kind of buildup, I don't mind. Makes it even more better when the two finally meet and talk to each other.

Leslie wrote: "Hmmm...never really thought of it. I don't mind if they don't meet for a couple of chapters or so. As long as those first few chapters are geared towards painting a picture of who our hero and hero..."

Nothing better than sexy buildup, Leslie! ;)

As long as they interact somewhere in the first third of the book then it should be ok, the sooner the better, like Lisa K said. Past the halfway point would be too much for me, that would probably annoy me :S.

There was a movie where the H/h didn't meet until the end, but they knew of each other and saw what the other one was doing. Though I don't remember how it ends.

In Sleepless in Seattle I don't think they met til towards the end.

That's true! Though that wasn't the movie I'm thinking of. :)

Rosanna - You know it! Although the actual meeting better meet expectations. Otherwise it would all be just one big let down.

Does it work better in movies where the H/h are separated for the majority of the story? Or it's the same either way, book or movie? It just came to me thinking of the popularity of Sleepless in Seattle.

I think it works better in movies. Don't know why.

I think it's timing. At the end of two hours, they're together. A book takes longer than two hours to read.

Hmmm, could be.

I also think in the movies, it's easier to go back and forth between the characters. Info about the character is still fresh in your mind whereas in books, it takes so much energy and time for each character.

I think it would bother me if the two main characters of the book don't meet until the halfway point, but I'm ok if they don't meet in the first few chapters. I like to get to know the characters individually, and understand their personalities first, then see how they mesh and interact with each other when they do meet.

But I've read stories where they meet in the first or second scene and have enjoyed those as well.

I guess if it's engaging and well written and I like the characters, I would be less likely to be thinking about the timeframe of their first meeting.

How soon is too soon for sex?

Some of my old critique group members had a fun time posting when the word "breast" was used in our manuscripts. The winner was the erotica writer who had it on page 2. *laugh* I think it came up in mine at around page 80.

Abigail wrote: "How soon is too soon for sex?

Some of my old critique group members had a fun time posting when the word "breast" was used in our manuscripts. The winner was the erotica writer who had it on pa..."

I don't mind a tease and I like the build up to their first time. To steal a term from the movie Vanilla Sky, I guess I'm a "pleasure delayer"...

But it would depend on the story. An early-on sex scene that may work for one book, wouldn't make sense in another.

Agree with Rachel. Depends on the story. And also how long they have known each other. Sex with a stranger is not my fave. I prefer they know each other for at least a few days. But it won't put me off a book. The sex has to be right though. Not one of those sex scenes thrown in to take up space.

Also agree, depends on the story. Although even if the characters were to have sex early in the story, I would like to have the backdrop to be developed. Help me understand why things are happening the way they are. Otherwise, if I don't understand what's going on or it doesn't make sense, it wouldn't work for me even if the sex scene was well written.

And nothing wrong with a little anticipation. Actually, I enjoy the sex scenes more if there was good build up/tension to it. I just feels it adds more to it.

I remember the first book I read where the H/h were basically strangers when they did It on the hood of his car at a rodeo. It was pretty much chapter 1. I remember it being a Harlequin, so it must have been a Blaze. And it was pretty hot. ;)

Yes, for me it depends on the genre - and probably my mood. I just finished a re-read of and I said in my review that LH sometimes gets her H/h in the sack too soon; but she always manages to make me change my mind by the end.

That was such a funny book, LK.

It was. I was glad I splurged and bought it on audio. Actually, I'd rather be listening to it again, than the one I'm currently listening, too. LOL!

I like the hero/heroine to meet within the first two chapters. If the book is a romance and the story is about both of them, then I hate to wait for them to meet and finally start talking!

Me too. I want them to meet earlier than later.

Yeah, I like to read the dialogue between the H/h. It is important to get the feel of the book.

I want the couple to have time to develop the relationship and they can't really do that if they meet after the halfway mark in the book.

Yes exactly....if they meet soon, then they spend more time and the relationship has a natural developement. I really don't like books where the main leads meet after half the book is over, then the next day they're suddenly in love and having sex and all! Becomes annoying...

It kills my little author heart when I read this thread. :)

Oh, dear!

Well, it's just that in my two stories, they don't meet until late chapter 2/chapter 3-ish. Which some reviewers complained about. I never thought about having them meet earlier when I was writing it.

Oh, I wouldn't complain about Chapter 2 or 3. Of course, it depends upon how many chapters you have...

Chapter 2 or 3 sounds good to me (so long as each chapter is not 45 pages long!)

Chapter 2 or 3 is all right....it's pretty soon:))