A couple of years ago I subbed a short novella to a publication (not one I’m currently working with, nor is the editor).  Without getting too specific, it dealt with the ill-advised love of a human protagonist for a very life-like android.  Yes, it was a romance, and yes, it did have a HEA.  And yes, it was rejected.

One of the two reasons given for that rejection threw me, I must admit.  The receiving editor basically stated that ‘since our audience consists primarily of women, I don’t think they’d be receptive to the message that a robot is preferable to a human female.’

:shock: :no: :shock: :no:

Now, I’ll freely admit that, if that was the impression I gave, I didn’t do my job as a writer.  At no point did I make a comparison between the two or intend to give off that vibe.  But the R did give me pause to think, at least.

What was the message, if any, I was trying to convey?

In this case, I suppose it was the typical “love conquers all” main course, with a side dish of accepting flaws, seizing happiness before it was too late, followed by a huge helping of hot, syrupy sex.
Did I have these messages in mind when I first started the story?  I don’t think so.  I think they came with the situation and characters.  Like luggage.
Still, it bothered me to have somebody read something into it that wasn’t there.

Do you begin your stories with some message in mind?  Do you know what it is, if any?
Love conquers all?
Morality tale?
Hardship makes you stronger?
Journey of self-discovery?
Sex can be an important part of the journey?
Sex is good in and of itself?
Good and evil, shades of gray?

(and btw, so nobody gets paranoid—the blog title is just morse code for “Raine”). :grin:

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