September 11, 2008
In Defense of Emotion and Romance
A well-known editor once said this about Romance:
“….many other forms of genre fiction get less of a bad rap, I have to believe that a greater problem is the general American spurning of the validity of emotion. Good luck working past that. Until people believe and are unashamed to admit that finding fulfillment through a personal sexual relationship is valid, romance as a genre is going to have problems.”
AH HA! Is that why Romance Writing is called smut? Trash? And cheap? No wonder.
Why is it that people have such a hard time dealing with emotion? God forbid folks admit that silly things like love, marriage, and COMMITTED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS (not just shagging anything that’s warm and breathing) are what separates us from the animals. Why does true, heartfelt emotion embarrass many of us?
In romance two people with issues meet and go through hell to find their happily ever after. In romance, (just like in life) EVERYBODY has baggage. So when two headcases (admit it, we’re all a little whacked) can scale each other’s walls and find completeness, that’s a damned miracle. It should be celebrated not ridiculed and belittled.
Romance writing isn’t easy. In fact I think our task is even more difficult. Not only do we have to sustain and develop an external conflict, we have to juggle two separate emotional journeys. That’s three sets of conflict, bucko. Two internal (hero & heroine) and one (or maybe more) external. Showing believable character growth, especially in matters of love takes skill. Anybody who thinks they can just bang out a romance novel in a weekend is sorely mistaken. This isn’t rocket science, but it’s not Fun With Dick & Jane either. It’s deep and complex. After all, we’re dealing with the intricacies of the human condition. What say you?
Damn straight!
You tell ‘em, Tanya!
With the myriad romances and plot lines already in print, it is increasingly difficult for romance writers to keep the genre fresh. The paranormal aspect has opened endless avenues of expression.
That is all.
what she said
Thank you, Raine. Back atcha!
With the myriad romances and plot lines already in print, it is increasingly difficult for romance writers to keep the genre fresh. The paranormal aspect has opened endless avenues of expression.
True, plots get worn out, tired and used, but the romance holding them together never gets stale. It’s the same romance, in that two people go on a journey to the same destination. Love. The plot is just the means by which they get there. And since most of the plots have been done to death, I guess that’s why editors keep harping on the “outside the box” mantra. That’s a delicate line to walk too since in my experience, if you give them what they want (outside the box) they slam you for that as well.
Go figure.
Thanks, Melissa.
what she said
Which one?
“It’s deep and complex. After all, we’re dealing with the intricacies of the human condition?”
Which one?
well you… but Raine too
>>the romance holding them together never gets stale
and dare I say the characterization?
Tanya it IS a fine line between outside the box and on the edge of the box *sigh*
Thanks, Jaq!
Raine rocks!
and dare I say the characterization?
Excellent point. I wouldn’t give a flip about the love story if the characters didn’t leap off the page.