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Writers Discuss - Romance (#10)

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  • Okan-Zeeus
    Member
     
    August 26, 2015

    Keep it on topic guys. Let's not get carried away. 

  • Andrew Shepherd
    Member
     
    August 26, 2015

    Sorry, my bad.

    So, examples of good romances people have read? Romeo and Juliet? Or more specifically fantasy novels with good romance aspects?

  • Okan-Zeeus
    Member
     
    August 26, 2015

    Whatever you feel is appropriate. I personally hate Romeo and Juliet, but mostly because of its more antiquated elements. The core of the story itself is fine, I guess...

  • Accursed
    Member
     
    August 26, 2015
    Why is every discussion that starts around here have to do with thing I'll be handling in my next freaking chapter? Werewolves? Check. Romance? Check. Oh well, whatever.
    1) We enjoy then because it's nice to see a character not be brutally stabbed or stabbing someone else and be relaxed and happy instead. It appeals to humanity.
    2) Depends on the setting, characters, time period, etc. keep it realistic, but keep it of the time it takes place as well.
    3) There is no formula for a good romance, but there needs to be a reason for it. Physical attraction, emotional attraction, it doesn't matter. Just don't make it for the sake of making it.
    4) Rushing things without reason. If there is a real specific, realistic reason the romance must be rushed, then that will slide (by me anyway). I can't give an example without spoiling my next chapter, but I'm sure there are a few I'm not thinking of. Don't have random combinations (like a Khajiit and Argonian) unless there is a very good reason. Blah, blah, blah. Everyone else has said everything.
  • Andrew Shepherd
    Member
     
    August 26, 2015

    Anybody read Ursula Le Guin's Earth Sea novels?

    Beautifully written and set in a fantasy world with the main protagonist Ged going from a young to an old wizard over the series of books. He strikes up a relationship with one of the other main characters (Tenar) from one of the books and they grow old together.

    From http://io9.com/10-reasons-why-le-guins-earthsea-books-can-still-chang-1459354329

    "Even just in the original trilogy, Le Guin shows Ged moving past "coming of age" into confident adulthood and then into real maturity — but when she returns to the series in Tehanu and The Other Wind, she gives us older versions of Ged, Tenar and other major characters, who have aged in real time and have very different perspectives than their younger selves. But also, Le Guin manages to show us a youthful romance between Ged and Tenar, and then a romance in old age — which is one of the great pleasures of a series that allows its characters not just to grow up, but to grow old.

     

    A good example of romantic fantasy and great books too.

  • Andrew Shepherd
    Member
     
    August 26, 2015

    Okan, it's Shakespeare! Its all antiquated!

    Rather than a romance its actually classed as one of Shakespeare's four great tragedies - the other 3 being

    Othello

    Hamlet

    and I'm not sure about the other one: The Taming of the Shrew perhaps?

  • Accursed
    Member
     
    August 26, 2015
    Taming of the Shrew is a comedy. Is it King Lear? I'm forgetting my Shakespeare.
  • Andrew Shepherd
    Member
     
    August 26, 2015

    Yeah I know. Sorry, its just my very twisted sense of humor at work...

    You are right of course, and I was totally wrong about Romeo and Juliette. 

    The four great tragedies are:

     Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth

    But I'm getting off topic again. Sorry!

  • Exuro
    Member
     
    August 27, 2015

    I wouldn't use that as a good romance example. It's an excellent story and writing, but their relationship is fatally codependent. Their hormones take over their thoughts to the point where they are nothing without each other. Passion is good, but I think a good romance is between two people who are their own individuals and just become stronger when together.

  • Andrew Shepherd
    Member
     
    August 27, 2015
    Personally I always thought they were weirdos.

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