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writercisesOriginal Posting Jan. 7, 2016
Well... at least over here
http://madgeniusclub.com/2016/01/06/lets-get-romantic/
Sarah is taking up the banner of the romance! So let's see...
The stereotype Romance is boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl. Or vice versa, mix-and-match, feel free to throw in a best friend or whatever. It's a play about the attraction between two (or more) people, okay? (not to be confused with buddy cop shows and odd couples and such, except... they do look kind of similar, don't they?)
But since the 80s or so, romances have gotten complex. Often they mix in a healthy helping of mystery, for example. Something like girl accused of crime, runs away and meets hero, who finds out about crime and one or both run away, but... hero solves mystery, redeems her, and they forgive each other, then happily ever after (marriage, children, or something like that).
So, basically, two people meet, circumstances push them apart and then back together, and pow! Love and romance save the day.
Some problems to watch out for:
1. Just because it has a romantic subplot does not mean it is really a romance.
2. Romance, mystery, and science fiction can dance together just fine. In a romance, the relationship is the central element, though.
3. You can always use romance to complicate things! After all, competent people fall in love and lose track all the time.
4. Just because your character is not interested in romance doesn't mean that romance is going to skip right past. Romance trope says if two characters spend time together, sparks will fly! To avoid this in SF/F/mystery/thriller land, you have to strongly signal it.
5. Enjoy the love triangles (and more complex geometries of romance). When A loves B, B loves C, and C loves... anyone but B, you have built-in conflict.
Key concept, and I'll quote from the master here, "Use romance. Be aware of the leads you're laying down, and follow them."
Now, what can we do as an exercise? An obvious one is to take that story you are working on, and consider mixing in a little romance subplot. Or even just make explicit the hidden romance that you've been ignoring!
Or, of course, you could try outlining a romance plot. Classic, or one of the modern variations? You choose!
And write about it. With all the fun stuff!
tink
Well... at least over here
http://madgeniusclub.com/2016/01/06/lets-get-romantic/
Sarah is taking up the banner of the romance! So let's see...
The stereotype Romance is boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl. Or vice versa, mix-and-match, feel free to throw in a best friend or whatever. It's a play about the attraction between two (or more) people, okay? (not to be confused with buddy cop shows and odd couples and such, except... they do look kind of similar, don't they?)
But since the 80s or so, romances have gotten complex. Often they mix in a healthy helping of mystery, for example. Something like girl accused of crime, runs away and meets hero, who finds out about crime and one or both run away, but... hero solves mystery, redeems her, and they forgive each other, then happily ever after (marriage, children, or something like that).
So, basically, two people meet, circumstances push them apart and then back together, and pow! Love and romance save the day.
Some problems to watch out for:
1. Just because it has a romantic subplot does not mean it is really a romance.
2. Romance, mystery, and science fiction can dance together just fine. In a romance, the relationship is the central element, though.
3. You can always use romance to complicate things! After all, competent people fall in love and lose track all the time.
4. Just because your character is not interested in romance doesn't mean that romance is going to skip right past. Romance trope says if two characters spend time together, sparks will fly! To avoid this in SF/F/mystery/thriller land, you have to strongly signal it.
5. Enjoy the love triangles (and more complex geometries of romance). When A loves B, B loves C, and C loves... anyone but B, you have built-in conflict.
Key concept, and I'll quote from the master here, "Use romance. Be aware of the leads you're laying down, and follow them."
Now, what can we do as an exercise? An obvious one is to take that story you are working on, and consider mixing in a little romance subplot. Or even just make explicit the hidden romance that you've been ignoring!
Or, of course, you could try outlining a romance plot. Classic, or one of the modern variations? You choose!
And write about it. With all the fun stuff!
tink
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