The Story Corner » Discussions
Writers Discuss - Romance (#10)
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He throws his hands towards the heavens, his grip is strong, forceful. I follow eagerly. The normal gentle caresses against my fibers gone, replaced with only his primal nature. His pent up anger released in a bellow beyond speech. Yes! This is what I've been waiting for! The anticipation of being pinned beneath his pen while he channeled the rage across every contour of my form was too much to bear. Wet ink ran freely, clouding my words. For a moment I was in free fall, bliss.
Wait, no! Don't turn away! I'm ready! But my words failed to reach him, the door slammed shut, an epilogue without climax. Forlorn, I flutter to the floor, coming to rest in the dust beneath the desk. A paper abandoned to dwell in its own Accursed Gloom, forever alone.
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Maybe because true romance isn't always right or word perfect. It's a learning process where both parties learn about each other. Their likes dislikes what makes them tick... Take the fact that Sotek carries bottles of water and a wooden bowl around so Aela can wash the blood off her face after Red feeds... It's all a learning phase.
To get it right, the Chars have to get it wrong sometimes...
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Just keep writing mate. With practice it will get better. The good thing on this forum is that the majority of people are in the same boat as you and are very nice and will give you good feed back and encouragement. Hat's off to Sotek for that to be honest.
That and he's good at hunting me down for misbehaving... ;)
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(At this point, I'm not even going to apologize for the length of my responses. Anyone who knows me knows I just won't. shut. up.)
Why do we enjoy (or not enjoy) romances in stories?
I've slept, I've meditated, I've considered, conjured, and mused over this discussion. I've waited days to answer for this because; 1) I had to find an appropriate time and place in which to post this -- scrolling along this discussion and it's derailment in my school would get me flogged, and I'm at school the majority of the time -- and, 2) this is a very touchy subject for me.
I'll say this: I love romance. But it's only to a certain extent. I don't like romance as a genre. I enjoy it as a subplot, but there is a reason I won't dare read a story specified only as a romance. Now, I'm a little (over)cynical about this, but I feel romance shouldn't completely absorb your life, just as it shouldn't completely absorb a story. I probably feel this way because I've never dated someone extensively (one awkward date at someone's wedding with a guy you don't even like is not something I'd like to remember, thank you very much), and thus have little experience on the matter. But I'm at the age when all my peers think only about romance and nothing else. It's become a poison fungus to me -- something to scowl and wrinkle my nose at -- because it's been so over-emphasized. A dabbling in romance is what I enjoy. Not being seized by my ankles and drowned head first in the slobber of the first kiss.
I imagine that answers the first question. Vaguely...
What do you like to see in a romance? (And what makes a good romance? Because my answers can be combined into one.)
I enjoy it when the characters are eased slowly and gradually in the romance. Sometimes it's cliche, and that's fine; I've come to learn that it isn't the cliche that kills the story, it's the execution (pardon the pun). I like it when the characters meet to either hate, like, or be neutral towards the other, and their feelings slowly change as they bond and connect. Not this simple "it was love at first sight" nonsense.I like roughness to the romance. Romance isn't smooth. It has it's ups and downs. The couples fight, natter, love, hate, grow apart, or grow closer. Sometimes the romance shatters. And that can sometimes be enthralling to the reader. Realism is a part of romance. I'd like to see it applied for once.
How can we avoid writing bad romances?
I'll let you in on a pet peeve of mine: the pairing of Lucien Lachance and the Dark Brotherhood member. Usually, this new applicant is either the moodiest, gothic woman on the face of Tamriel, or the most innocent child just weaned from her mother's womb. Radicals, you might name them, but they're very regular in the drivel of romance people write. They have in no way any ability to connect with the personality of Lachance, and yet it happens anyway, either by portraying the Silencer as a man with a conscience for his victims (HA!) or some other out-of-character trait.
Or, in other words, when people compromise the personality of the characters in favor for the romance. I believe Sotek touched on this. Writers take for granted the phrase: "Opposites attract!" and thus assume that a man of murder can bond perfectly with a woman who's never experienced a touch of blood in her life. However, in highlight of the blood-crazed moody lady, they best make the character even more radical than our Lachance, and surely the man will fall in love with her.
The couple must have similar qualities, and must also have unique qualities to mark them as an individual. They can't move out of their personalities just to give the readers a warm feeling. Lucien would have no intention of sobbing his heart out if his significant other was in danger or dead. It doesn't fit with his character.
Just... no.
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Nicely put Sildriel.
There's nothing worse than throwing two chars together from the word go. Its fine if the reader can see it happening, but even then it shuld be a slow progression. Lets see the two chars change and grow as they slowly change from aquatances to friends and lovers. And lets not have a plain sailing for them. Everyone argues, so why not them.
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