As a first-time fiction author, it can be challenging to navigate the different sub-genres of romance. Two of the most popular sub-genres are contemporary romance and dark romance. Both have their unique characteristics, and it’s essential to understand the differences to ensure you’re moving in the right direction with your book.
Contemporary romance is a sub-genre that focuses on a love story set in modern times. It typically features relatable characters who are looking for love, and the plot revolves around their journey toward finding it. Contemporary romance is often heartwarming, uplifting, and has a happy ending. It’s a feel-good story that leaves readers with a warm fuzzy feeling.
On the other hand, dark romance is a sub-genre that explores the more intense, taboo, and often dangerous aspects of love. It often features characters that are morally ambiguous or flawed, and the plot revolves around their complex and often turbulent relationship. Dark romance is gritty, edgy, and can be emotionally challenging. It’s not for the faint of heart and may not have a happy ending.
So how do you know if your book is moving in the right direction? If you’re writing a contemporary romance, the focus should be on a relatable love story set in modern times. The plot should be heartwarming, and uplifting, and have a happy ending. Your characters should be likable, relatable, and easy to root for.
If you’re writing a dark romance, your focus should be on exploring the more intense, taboo, and dangerous aspects of love. Your plot should revolve around a complex and often turbulent relationship, with flawed and morally ambiguous characters. Your story should be gritty, edgy, and emotionally challenging. While it may not have a happy ending, it should leave readers feeling satisfied.
But what about dark contemporary romance? It’s a subgenre that blends the grittiness of dark romance with the modern setting of contemporary romance. It explores the complexities of love in a modern world while delving into darker themes. It’s a relatively new sub-genre and can be challenging to write, but when done well, it can be a captivating read.
Examples of contemporary romance include “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne, “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang, and “The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Guillory. These books feature relatable characters, heartwarming plots, and happy endings.
Examples of dark romance include “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer, “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James, and “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte. These books explore the more intense, taboo, and often dangerous aspects of love, with flawed and morally ambiguous characters.
Examples of dark contemporary romance include “The Opportunist” by Tarryn Fisher, “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover, and “Punk 57” by Penelope Douglas. These books explore the complexities of love in a modern world while delving into darker themes.
Understanding the differences between contemporary romance and dark romance is crucial for first-time fiction authors. Knowing which sub-genre you’re writing in will help ensure you’re moving in the right direction with your book. Remember, contemporary romance is heartwarming, uplifting, and has a happy ending, while dark romance is gritty, edgy, and emotionally challenging. Dark contemporary romance blends the two, exploring the complexities of love in a modern world while delving into darker themes.