Why survival romance is THE best romance (from a reader's & writer's standpoint)
Survival romance sets a better stage for romantic tension. Here's how...
First, I’m a romance junky, so I don’t say any of this lightly. That being said, writing disaster fiction and romance together is epic for three reasons. I’ll make it short and sweet.
1. It’s fresh and hardly done.
I love a good sports or billionaire romance as much as the next romance reader. As much as I enjoy them (because I know what I can expect) , it’s easy to get bored. But survival romance? How many of those have you read? How many end-of-the-world, we-could-die-tomorrow romances have you even hear of or seen out there? In comparison, barely any. And definitely not enough.
2. It’s gutting, gritty, feels real, and it’s relatable.
Fear is something we can all relate to. Especially that guttural fear that makes your throat close and your heart jump. That’s the real heart-pounding, high-stakes moment in a story when you can put yourself in that character’s place because you’ve been in an earthquake or been evacuated during a wildfire, or experience a flood… You’ve questioned whether you’d made it through the blizzard safely. Right?
3. The villain is top-tier
There is NO greater villain than Mother Nature’s fury. No one is safe—not the mobsters from a Mafia romance. Not the hockey player or the rockstar. Sometimes not even the billionaires who can afford to prepare for the end. Everyone is fair game.
4. The BEST sexual tension
And finally and most importantly for your romance readers, in survival situations, anything goes. It’s the PERFECT setting for high-stakes and mega tension. Forced proximity is at its finest! Whether it’s characters hunkering down together in an abandoned house or cuddle up for body heat in the middle of a storm, there is no better setting and reason to force our characters closer. And don’t get me started on how fun it is to add enemies to lovers into the mix. *EVIL LAUGH FOR DAYS*
So, there you have it!
Have I sold you on survival romance is better than “contemporary” romance? If you have any reading recs, let me know!
Dean and Harper are what got me thinking about this. Their time together was the most fun I’ve had writing in a while. And don’t get me started on the banter. Ha!
I post free teasers and snippets in my Weekly WIP Wrap-up over in my Rogue Reader Community - and $5+ members get full access to my drafts and other exclusives. 💜
https://poguegonerogue.com/