The Allure of Predictability: Embracing the Comfort of Cozy Winter Romances
I love a thrilling adventure with magic and conflict as much as the next person, but sometimes when life gets too busy, and my list of tasks is getting longer, I start to feel like I'm living in a life-or-death adventure (minus the magic and whimsy). It’s exhausting, so I turn to cozy predictability. Christmas Romances, especially of the Hallmark variety, are fun to joke about because they’re cheesy and follow a cookie-cutter plot line. However, I think that’s what makes them appealing. Fiction can be a wonderful escape from the real world and when the real world already has too much conflict and stress, knowing what’s going to happen next can create a perfectly cozy escape.
Thinking about writing your own cozy holiday romance?
Some key characteristics of a cozy winter novel include:
A winter setting - think small town, country cottage, a chilly city, or a snowy resort.
Comforting characters - they may be going through some things, but they are determined to overcome challenges with kindness and holiday cheer.
Heartwarming theme - Love, family, friendship, community, overcoming adversity, finding hope in difficult times, and the importance of kindness and compassion.
Cozy Plot - Rather than endless action and suspense, a cozy winter novel is slow and meandering with more focus on connections between characters
Escapism - This could be considered the secret ingredient. All of the characteristics above and the overall tone combine to create a comforting, low-stakes, escape from the busy real world.
This is your story and your world so while it’s good to hit all the marks of a holiday romance remember you have the ability to switch things up. What holiday are your characters celebrating? What family dynamic is the main character a part of? The options for your world are endless. Write what makes you happy and I think you’ll find readers excited to read along.
We can’t wait to see your cozy winter novel on the shelves of StoryForge! Update chapter-by-chapter or all at once, receive feedback from readers, and forge your path to publication. The platform launches in January 2024, but in the meantime, follow along with us via our newsletter.
