Would one book be set in the inner city? another out in the country? another in a wealthy area?

 

Would one book be set in the inner city? another out in the country? another in a wealthy area?

No, they're just large towns/small cities throughout (mostly) the US South like Raleigh, New Orleans, Baltimore and a fictious town that's a tie in to another series I'm writing.

I also must clarify that it's not romance. It's more Joy Luck Club meets Steel Magnolia's vibe.

 

Personally I wouldn't read it because you are making 2 out of the three women nothing but pawns for someone to play with.  Oh and on the arranged marriage more than likely someone else would have picked out her dress.  That woman would have no say at all over anything that happens to her.

Seriously,  you might want to rethink the story line.  Too much publicity right now on arranged marriages and other things about those women.

 

I might read one, but if I really loved one of the characters, it would discourage me to know I wouldn't encounter that character again. If the first set of books was about the weddings, but then there was a set about the marriages, that might tempt me to continue. It may be just me, but I look for characters whose story I can follow for a while. This just sounds like a bunch of vignettes without a future for the people in them.

 

Maybe the series should progress with the same women at different stages of their relationships in each book?

Maybe even one on how it all turns out:

"One Got Married, One Got Dumped, One Got Prison and One Got Everything"

 

I am seriously thinking of deleting the last post because that would make an interesting stand-alone too

 

I am seriously thinking of deleting the last post because that would make an interesting stand-alone too

So write it. More than one person can write about the same idea.

 

#7 or 8 on my list I guess. lol

 

I'm confused as to why a woman would marry a cheater. She must have really really low self esteem and that isn't much of a selling point for romance readers. Now, if it was a standalone book and there was some element of revenge or horror going on- you might be able to sell that one. (Think Twilight Zone episode). (FYI: of all the cheaters I have known, 100% of the men continue to cheat even AFTER the wife finds out. The two women I know who cheated, actually stopped cheating.)

Or if it's a story about how people make very bad decisions, and she dumps him and lives happily ever after. That would be fine. But that's not a romance and you don't need to involve a store.

As for the arranged marriage- I've known of one or two arranged marriages. They went to the courthouse and signed papers. NO need for a dress.
All of the weddings I've been to (regardless of culture/faith) where the bride had a wedding dress, have been where the couple is in love and they chose to marry.

Falling in love with your best friend and getting married- how is this different from existing romance novels? I'm sure there is at least 10% existing romance novels with that trope. You need something unique if it's going to be romance.

 

There is nothing wrong with the concept you described. It isn't an unheard of idea to structure a story the way you are. The important thing to keep in mind is who is the target audience. It won't be romance readers. And you need to accept that right now. I also don't think this works as a series, because the driving point of a series is following the same characters across the course of an overarching story. But as a stand-alone work, it could make for great women's fiction if you handle the relationships in a way that resonates with women.

 

Personally I wouldn't read it because you are making 2 out of the three women nothing but pawns for someone to play with. Oh and on the arranged marriage more than likely someone else would have picked out her dress. That woman would have no say at all over anything that happens to her.

Seriously, you might want to rethink the story line. Too much publicity right now on arranged marriages and other things about those women.

Cin, I'm not sure what you mean by pawns for someone to play with.

Intersting point on arranged marriage. I'm not thinking in terms of the stereotypical Asian bride who's parents have a dowry for her. I'm thinking of, say a young Jewish Charedi woman who's parents have selected her groom here in the US. They still go forward with wedding plans and buying dresses as any bride-to-be would.

I'm confused as to why a woman would marry a cheater. She must have really really low self esteem and that isn't much of a selling point for romance readers. Now, if it was a standalone book and there was some element of revenge or horror going on- you might be able to sell that one. (Think Twilight Zone episode). (FYI: of all the cheaters I have known, 100% of the men continue to cheat even AFTER the wife finds out. The two women I know who cheated, actually stopped cheating.)
...You need something unique if it's going to be romance.

Hi, Diana. Thanks for the feedback. Tons of women marry cheaters, I know at least two and I'm sure you do too. These aren't romance books at all but Women's contemporary fiction.
The revenge part is an interesting plot point I might want to think about more.

There is nothing wrong with the concept you described. It isn't an unheard of idea to structure a story the way you are. The important thing to keep in mind is who is the target audience. It won't be romance readers. And you need to accept that right now. I also don't think this works as a series, because the driving point of a series is following the same characters across the course of an overarching story. But as a stand-alone work, it could make for great women's fiction if you handle the relationships in a way that resonates with women.

I might read one, but if I really loved one of the characters, it would discourage me to know I wouldn't encounter that character again. If the first set of books was about the weddings, but then there was a set about the marriages, that might tempt me to continue. It may be just me, but I look for characters whose story I can follow for a while. This just sounds like a bunch of vignettes without a future for the people in them.

That's my concern, is that without following the same women over the arc of the books, it's not as engaging but more like a series of short stories.

Maybe the series should progress with the same women at different stages of their relationships in each book?

Maybe even one on how it all turns out:

"One Got Married, One Got Dumped, One Got Prison and One Got Everything"

I think that is a really great idea, actually. That would let things develop more naturally over time.

 

Hi.  Let me explain what I mean by pawns.  It means the woman has no choices and that her father/brother/husband can do whatever they please because she is just a female and they must do whatever their  male says.  Her father will pick out everything.
As for arranged marriages,  I was thinking of some religious sects here in the US.  I cannot in my heart call them Christians.

As to the cheaters,  most do end in divorces.  Sorry but if she knows then why is she marrying him? Is she gonna support him financially too?  I agree with Diane on that one.

 

Hi. Let me explain what I mean by pawns. It means the woman has no choices and that her father/brother/husband can do whatever they please because she is just a female and they must do whatever their male says. Her father will pick out everything.
As for arranged marriages, I was thinking of some religious sects here in the US. I cannot in my heart call them Christians.

As to the cheaters, most do end in divorces. Sorry but if she knows then why is she marrying him? Is she gonna support him financially too? I agree with Diane on that one.

She might be marrying the cheater because she thinks she can change him.

 

or shr's the one he's cheating with.

 

or shr's the one he's cheating with.

I forgot about that scenario. Seen it way too many times too.

 

My first thought was, yeah, write it. The readers' market has fractured. Even though what you have described is only a collection of vignettes, not stories, there may be those who will buy that and come back for more.

My second thought was, no, don't write it. Why? You are asking strangers about the worth of your idea. Seems like you are asking for permission to go forward. That means you doubt your idea. You have no passion for it.

So I say 'No'.

 

While many readers will want to follow characters throughout a set of books, changing your character set won't scare off all readers. There will be plenty of people who will go for the next book because they liked the writing style or certain elements of the book. It's mostly just up to you, as the author, to give the readers a reason to come back even if the characters are different.

 

The thing that strikes me is that it sounds like it's going to be all back story. These women have a story up to the point where they meet in the bridal store but then what? I think for it to work, the meeting has to have some impact on them and become a turning point in the story.

If you look at a story like the Joy Luck Club, sure it's mainly flashbacks but they work for a reason and that reason is that the stories impact on the main character and, through them, she reassess her mother's life.

Just as a rough example, instead of the woman being in the store because she is marrying her best friend, she could be in the store as a bridesmaid and, through the stories she hears, come to the realisation that she is in love with him. The one with the cheater could hear the other stories and reassess why she is actually going through with the wedding. The meeting of the characters comes the turning point in their lives not just a chance encounter.

 

Hi. Let me explain what I mean by pawns. It means the woman has no choices and that her father/brother/husband can do whatever they please because she is just a female and they must do whatever their male says. Her father will pick out everything.
As for arranged marriages, I was thinking of some religious sects here in the US. I cannot in my heart call them Christians.

As to the cheaters, most do end in divorces. Sorry but if she knows then why is she marrying him? Is she gonna support him financially too? I agree with Diane on that one.

Ah, okay, I see what you mean. At least in many non-Christian arranged marriages, the woman still picks out her gown and plans a wedding. They also must do whatever their male says but that could be an interesting part of the story that I don't want to rule it out.

I'm not sure what the story is yet for the cheater story. As with most women who marry abusive or cheating men, they have low self esteem, few choices, cultural pressures or like Bluebonnet said, they feel they can change him. Don't we all know someone who's in a bad relationship because they think "maybe s/he did that with the others but s/he won't do that to me"?

My first thought was, yeah, write it. The readers' market has fractured. Even though what you have described is only a collection of vignettes, not stories, there may be those who will buy that and come back for more.

My second thought was, no, don't write it. Why? You are asking strangers about the worth of your idea. Seems like you are asking for permission to go forward. That means you doubt your idea. You have no passion for it.

So I say 'No'.

I'm not asking strangers for the worth of my idea or permission. I'm brainstorming with fellow writers. I'm moving forward with some iteration of this story because most of the backstory is fully formed in my head. I just have a block figuring out how to get it out.

But I agree, there is a market out there for people who'd read this and want more.

While many readers will want to follow characters throughout a set of books, changing your character set won't scare off all readers. There will be plenty of people who will go for the next book because they liked the writing style or certain elements of the book. It's mostly just up to you, as the author, to give the readers a reason to come back even if the characters are different.

Yes, that's the sticking point for me. I can't figure out how to make this meld properly. Maybe it just needs some more time to cook.

The thing that strikes me is that it sounds like it's going to be all back story. These women have a story up to the point where they meet in the bridal store but then what? I think for it to work, the meeting has to have some impact on them and become a turning point in the story.

If you look at a story like the Joy Luck Club, sure it's mainly flashbacks but they work for a reason and that reason is that the stories impact on the main character and, through them, she reassess her mother's life.

Just as a rough example, instead of the woman being in the store because she is marrying her best friend, she could be in the store as a bridesmaid and, through the stories she hears, come to the realisation that she is in love with him. The one with the cheater could hear the other stories and reassess why she is actually going through with the wedding. The meeting of the characters comes the turning point in their lives not just a chance encounter.

Thanks for that, that's an interesting spin on the story. I especially like the idea of the cheater reassessing (and possibly deciding to move forward anyway)

 

I think you need more of a tie between each book. If the stores are a chain, then why not have the employees email or meet periodically.

Think Red Shoe Diaries series. There is a tenuous opening and closing scene with the same character, but the stories are all completely different.

You can tie it together by each store person knowing the others and throwing in some dialogue at the beginning and end (skype meetings, emails, phone calls) between them. The books have something to hang them together, and in one book along the way, each store person has a personal stake in one of the weddings.

 

I think you need more of a tie between each book. If the stores are a chain, then why not have the employees email or meet periodically.

Think Red Shoe Diaries series. There is a tenuous opening and closing scene with the same character, but the stories are all completely different.

You can tie it together by each store person knowing the others and throwing in some dialogue at the beginning and end (skype meetings, emails, phone calls) between them. The books have something to hang them together, and in one book along the way, each store person has a personal stake in one of the weddings.

I love this idea. I kind of remember the Red Shoe Diaries and would have to hunt it down. I'm thinking maybe it's a head seamstress who travels to the other stores and while she's making alterations, the stories come out. And she shares the stories with someone.

---

I really appreciate everyone spitballing with me

 

Hey I have another scenario for you.  She is marrying him just to get out of town and he has a very stable job.
(Did I mention she was young and stupid)

 

I love this idea. I kind of remember the Red Shoe Diaries and would have to hunt it down. I'm thinking maybe it's a head seamstress who travels to the other stores and while she's making alterations, the stories come out. And she shares the stories with someone.

Now your cooking.

 

Hey I have another scenario for you. She is marrying him just to get out of town and he has a very stable job.
(Did I mention she was young and stupid)

The young and stupid bride to be. I think they go hand in hand, unfortunately. I like this approach.
I'm also thinking that maybe they have a kid together and she wants a father for her kid so she looks the other way. Less 'self esteem-y'

Thanks again, y'all!

 

The young and stupid bride to be. I think they go hand in hand, unfortunately. I like this approach.
I'm also thinking that maybe they have a kid together and she wants a father for her kid so she looks the other way. Less 'self esteem-y'

Thanks again, y'all!

Or perhaps she was pregnant and chose that one as the father because he was supposedly the most stable of the potential fathers.

How many more ideas do you need?
Out of town to get away from her so-called friends that are nothing but partiers.
Marries the guy so her father doesn't get any more stupid ideas that she should marry one of his friends sons and raise the grand babies at the bar.

Maybe you do have a cool idea for a book.