The Craft of Creating Romance Novels: The Dark Moment

by Katie Lovette

The following appeared in the November issue of Smoke Signals, newsletter of the Smoky Mountain Romance Writers.

The Dark Moment. Some call it the Crisis. Some call it the Black Moment. But what is it?

The Dark Moment is when all is lost. It is the bleakest of all moments, when the worse horror is happening or has happened. It is an event that separates the hero and heroine. The reader is completely convinced the characters will forever be apart. For example, an intense Dark Moment is when there is a chance the hero or heroine will die. In “Dark Secret” by Christine Feehan, the hero has had his heart almost ripped from his chest and it is up to the heroine to confront her fears and save him. Will she be able to save him or will he die?

Dark Moments can begin a book. In “Slow Burn” by Elda Minger, the heroine finds the hero in a compromising situation. While separated they realize how lonely their lives are without the other. The story revolves around the resolution of this conflict. Whatever reason the characters are apart, the reader is certain there is no possibility of them being together again.

The Dark Moment is physically found at the beginning of Act 3 or at the beginning of the resolution, when the story tension reaches its highest level. Many consider it the actual climax of the story.

In romance, there are two Dark Moments, one for the external conflict and the other for the internal conflict. Most authors resolve the external conflict before reuniting the lovers. The internal conflict is solved when the two profess their love and their promise of forever.

One of my favorite dark moments is found in “Tangled Sheets” by Lori Foster. Cole and Sophie have just spent a perfect night together though she has pretended to be her twin. The next morning, not knowing how to handle the situation, she leaves before confronting Cole. Cole knows about the impersonation, knows he loves, but is at a lost as to how to find her. The scene takes place at a bar Cole and his brothers own. (I am only using lines needed to show a good dark moment.)

“So, what’s wrong with you? You’ve looked ready to commit murder all night.”

Without answering, Cole stalked away from Chase. He felt heartsick and so damned empty he didn’t know how to deal with it.

Of course, Chase wouldn’t let it go, “Give it up, Cole, and tell me what’s wrong.”

His eyes burned and his gut clenched. Furious, he turned to Chase and said, “You want the details? Fine. She walked out on me.”

“I don’t have her home phone number or even know where she lives.” He laughed, the sound devoid of humor. “After seven months after last night I don’t have her damned address.”

Every story, in any genre, has at least one dark moment. Some are more intense and catalystic than others, while others are serene and at times slip by the reader without being understood. But with each one, the reader will sense on some level that the characters will never be able to resolve the conflict. Therefore, they will never be happy again.

Katie Lovette is the author of Loving Care for Alzheimer’s Patients and is SMRW secretary.

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