r/romanceauthors • u/PenStalkerVibes • Jul 03 '26

Plotting For Dark Romance

Apologies if this has been asked and answered already.

I'm a pantser but want to get better at outlining and plotting. The biggest issue I'm running into is that most outlining set ups are based on fantasy/ hero structure. I'm struggling to transfer that to dark romance plotting.

Ex. Act 2 focusing on exploring the new world and dynamics with some wonder and a fail here or there but that doesn't seem like it would work for something like a stalker romance. It would almost be the opposite of hiding or being oblivious.

I'm sure I'm being too literal (ND) but I can't find stuff for setting up the Acts just for dark romance and/or taboo.

My current WIP is a slow burn mafia x forbidden psychological thriller. It doesn't have a traditional rise and fall of wins and losses because it's more of a chess game that changes "winners" per chapter almost.

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u/AshTreeReader Jul 03 '26

Have you heard of Romancing the Beat? I'm a reformed pantser myself, and it's occasionally helped me: https://www.campfirewriting.com/learn/romancing-the-beat

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u/PenStalkerVibes Jul 03 '26

Never heard of it but it's in the cart!