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Post by Zoni on May 11, 2015 10:55:01 GMT
Today, I was reading through an original novel and also peering at some fan fiction, and I came to the realization that "romance" has three or four very different connotations, depending on what you're reading.
So, I have a few questions:
1. What does romance mean for you as a writer?
2. How does romance in original fiction differ from romance in fan fiction?
3. As both an author and a reader, what does an author have to do to achieve success in romance writing?
4. What preconceptions do you have when you see romance listed as a genre? |
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Post by tigress on May 12, 2015 20:13:04 GMT
Oh goodness. Those are some good questions, that I am not sure I know how to answer. I'll give it a try though!!!
1. What does romance mean for you as a writer?
Since I mainly write short story AUs, I have quite a few stories where something ends up as an 'I really like you' kind of thing instead of a love confession, and so I suppose I would consider the romance tag to be for when a love story of any sort plays a big part in the story. So like... my story The Dark Kingdom is tagged romance because of the big impact the lead's romantic feelings play in the story.
2. How does romance in original fiction differ from romance in fan fiction?
A lot, I think. Back when I worked retail, anything called romance would be in the section for 'women's porn', those stories which are halfway a story and mostly smut (and entertaining reads at times). In fan fiction it tends to be more of the high school connotation of romance... first love and whatnot. Not exactly my cup of tea but that is what I think the majority of the romance tags would be.
3. As both an author and a reader, what does an author have to do to achieve success in romance writing?
Success?? For a fanfic author, just write EXO high school OC romance. OTL
But for those serious about it... I guess... write a true love story that doesn't go into the cliches of the genre, something with real emotion and feeling so that the reader can actually feel like the characters truly are in love. I think that would be what I look for in enjoying a romantic story.
4. What preconceptions do you have when you see romance listed as a genre?
It really depends on the other tags. If it is fantasy/romance, then I typically think that it might be something I am interested in reading. But if it has EXO or any of the members in the tags, then... no. I avoid. I guess I just figure that it will be cliche and sappy and unrealistic. =/
Aaaaaaaand my answers have probably proven my little knowledge of this genre in general. lol
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Post by Zoni on May 14, 2015 13:26:12 GMT
Hey, no problems with that. Thanks for the input!
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Post by qimbra on May 18, 2015 19:58:44 GMT
1. What does romance mean for you as a writer?
Eh...romance is the highest emotional compatibility rate between two characters. Yay faux-science. Simply put in my [lack of] understanding, it's when a set of two people have something that only the other one understands and can see past for the actual person. Sense? nah, I don't think so. But something like that.
#ForeverSingle
2. How does romance in original fiction differ from romance in fan fiction?
Romance in original fiction is better constructed because we are introduced to whole new people, in a sense. The emotions and quirks and issues are explained in more detail by default whereas in fanfiction, because we're already predisposed to certain qualities and fanbases have already made certain pairs to be chemically balanced when thrown together [fanservice] then it takes less effort to display romance between the two. Like gravity: what goes up, must come down. Fanfiction: because the fans pair these two, they will work, no matter what.
3. As both an author and a reader, what does an author have to do to achieve success in romance writing?
Don't put the romance all in my face unless the romance is the main plot of your story. And give fair warning T_T. If it's mainly romance, give each side a fair chance. Especially if you're going to have sexual tension or even a bit of mind-play with it. Battle of the minds is all well and good but give a bit of spice. Street smarts against a corporate mentality or even streets against streets. Chess. Checkers. Rock-Paper-Scissors, even. But don't have one person hopelessly in love and the other just takes advantage of it and comes out on top in the end or has to do all the groveling later on. Make it interesting. Mix it up a little. Surprise me.
4. What preconceptions do you have when you see romance listed as a genre?
Goo-goo. Ga-ga. Mary Sue Gary Stu. Hot rich stud; Makeover Matchup; bleh. Mindless sex. Side-eye material.
This probably shows that I'm not a fan of romance oO Even though I can write it with almost no issue.
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Post by tigress on May 18, 2015 20:21:45 GMT
qimbra, lol about #4. I take it you're not a fan of the mass amount of, ahem... You are the nerdy girl who falls for the Kingka who doesn't like you because he's with his girlfriend the bitchy Queenka who hates you because she's jealous even though you're the nerdy girl who no one knows who you are and you can speak perfect English and you're actually gorgeous and smart but no one knows that until you are revealed to have been engaged to the Kingka since you were a child and you have a makeover and suddenly the Kingka admits that he always loved you and the Queenka gets dumped and you and Kingka live happily ever after!... stories?? Me either.
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Post by qimbra on May 18, 2015 20:30:59 GMT
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
-insta dies
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Post by tigress on May 18, 2015 20:33:53 GMT
lol
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Post by Zoni on May 19, 2015 14:12:30 GMT
qimbra... so I take it you've read some bad stories, then. Especially from #4.
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Post by qimbra on May 19, 2015 14:40:52 GMT
Even if they were good, they always had at least one, or some combination of any of those. I just want a breath of fresh air.
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Post by tigress on May 19, 2015 21:49:00 GMT
Sadly it seems that most fanfiction authors don't really know how to do romance that is not cliche or overly done. Myself included. >.<
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Post by Zoni on May 20, 2015 2:01:57 GMT
Tigress, you could start with a giant clay dildo. Haven't seen that one done yet.
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Post by qimbra on May 20, 2015 11:29:11 GMT
This damn dildo xD
Zoni - The Giant Flying Clay Dildo God
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Post by Zoni on May 20, 2015 11:55:51 GMT
I'm seriously considering changing my blog title to Arts and Crafts and trying to find a vaguely suggestively awesome image to use as my header.
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Post by qimbra on May 20, 2015 12:40:21 GMT
lool i'd love to see it
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Post by Zoni on May 20, 2015 12:43:46 GMT
I may just do that when I get home from work.
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