tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post5110097192332045942..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: How to Write Romance WellGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-11529642195193873462015-07-16T05:01:47.740-07:002015-07-16T05:01:47.740-07:00Hi there! Characters who are already in a romance ...Hi there! Characters who are already in a romance when a book starts do <i>not</i> count as being in an insta-love relationship. Insta-love is when two characters meet and fall pretty much immediately head-over-heels before even getting to know each other. <br /><br /><br />Many books have started with a couple already with a history, which is totally fine. Good luck! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-18283488102759264172015-07-15T16:37:32.706-07:002015-07-15T16:37:32.706-07:00What romantic sub-plots in stories that start in m...What romantic sub-plots in stories that start in medias res? In other words, would writing romantic relationship between characters whose relationship started before page one count as insta-love? I'm thinking of explaining how these characters got hitched by having them fondly reminisce about how they met, their first kiss, etc. Advice?Elijah Deckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-2865779199543804552015-02-14T16:36:48.081-08:002015-02-14T16:36:48.081-08:00I agree! The anticipation is a huge part of it, an...I agree! The anticipation is a huge part of it, and insta-love definitely cuts down on a lot of the romantic tension potential. Even when characters are together, tension is usually worked out by having them <i>not</i> get along, because then we want them to get <i>back</i> together! But when they're happy? Less interesting.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-91271865736629547302015-02-14T16:34:05.498-08:002015-02-14T16:34:05.498-08:00Great post! Insta-love is the bane of romance. Wha...Great post! Insta-love is the bane of romance. What makes a good romance really work is the tension and anticipation of the characters getting together. That's why on t.v. shows writers always keep viewer's favorite characters apart. Because once they're together...well, that's sort of it. Most of the fun is in waiting for them to get together--Does he like her? Will they kiss? Will he ask her to dance? Will she confess her love? The anticipation is tantalizing.Kaitlin Hillerichhttp://inkandquills.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-12526698799528863002014-02-20T09:11:23.618-08:002014-02-20T09:11:23.618-08:00You have to fall in romance first and get pained t...You have to fall in romance first and get pained to write romance. By the way, Why don't you use favorite words.com for your list? It's a free tool, lacks some features but it's still in beta, so... I am pretty sure you'll love using it. Thanks for posting your words.Manisha Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-48968715906345332232013-05-11T12:37:39.343-07:002013-05-11T12:37:39.343-07:00Yeah, very true. Sometimes they purposely write th...Yeah, very true. Sometimes they purposely write the blurbs that way and the romance is actually a pleasant surprise, but it's rare. I wish insta-love wasn't in the majority. But then maybe the more valued romances wouldn't be as valued anymore.Margaret Alexanderhttp://twitter.com/markedforpowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-60914705060598425122013-04-26T05:21:30.780-07:002013-04-26T05:21:30.780-07:00That's a really interesting way of putting it,...That's a really interesting way of putting it, Robin, but I think you're right. Thanks for the post suggestion and sharing your thoughts!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-37366314419168321442013-04-24T11:04:26.838-07:002013-04-24T11:04:26.838-07:00Not to mention the control. "Jeesh, I know yo...Not to mention the control. "Jeesh, I know you're 117, but you're not my father. Don't tell me what to do!"Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47584640298718253692013-04-24T11:02:56.038-07:002013-04-24T11:02:56.038-07:00The answer hit me after I emailed you. I realized ...The answer hit me after I emailed you. I realized that a big deal with romance is intimacy, a connection. If the reader sees the mush and smut before without seeing the connection, he/she will discard it as fake. It's like when you're watching the Barefoot Contessa, and Ina Garten spends half an hour showing you how to make this wonderful dish, puts it in the oven for "an hour", then suddenly whips out the cooked meal a second later from behind the counter. Good romance is like baking a sweet pastry; it tastes better when you've watched its conception from step 1. Thanks, Ms. Jae :)Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-22359597463278261392013-04-24T05:23:18.587-07:002013-04-24T05:23:18.587-07:00Thank you, Hudson! They're both issues that ar...Thank you, Hudson! They're both issues that are fairly common and good to be aware about. I wish you the best of luck!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-1091099848082751102013-04-24T05:22:45.327-07:002013-04-24T05:22:45.327-07:00It's a common problem. Good luck!It's a common problem. Good luck!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-26042246868169325162013-04-24T05:22:30.814-07:002013-04-24T05:22:30.814-07:00I know exactly what you mean. It bothers me, too. ...I know exactly what you mean. It bothers me, too. In the case of protection, it makes the female characters seem weak, and in the case of obsession...I don't really understand it. Obsession isn't sexy--it's scary. :/Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-19255884282390580542013-04-23T10:09:52.786-07:002013-04-23T10:09:52.786-07:00Once again, beautiful post Ava! It got me wonderin...Once again, beautiful post Ava! It got me wondering if my own manuscript had any of these in it.Hudson Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-68773379231810481662013-04-23T07:57:20.249-07:002013-04-23T07:57:20.249-07:00I always have the insta-love problem. I'm work...I always have the insta-love problem. I'm working on it :)J. A. Bennetthttp://twitter.com/j_a_bennettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-91032957704233416372013-04-23T06:28:13.325-07:002013-04-23T06:28:13.325-07:00The one thing I can't stand in YA love stories...The one thing I can't stand in YA love stories is the female character who thinks she's in love simply because the dude is protecting or obsessing over her (think Twilight). She doesn't ever stop to think, "Hey, how about I grow a pair of ovaries and protect myself?" Or at least the chick should learn to be strong and independent before relying on someone else. Great post!Rachel McClellannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-45497662041028965222013-04-22T18:12:05.903-07:002013-04-22T18:12:05.903-07:00Thank you, Margaret! Yes, I too have found that th...Thank you, Margaret! Yes, I too have found that the YA genre is particularly rife with insta-love. I've also found that you can usually spot it from the summary though--any time the summary starts talking about a stranger who the protag is inexplicably drawn to is often a red flag.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-74793872246448854492013-04-22T18:10:44.712-07:002013-04-22T18:10:44.712-07:00Internet Explorer is the worst. Sorry about your t...Internet Explorer is the worst. Sorry about your troubles, though. :) <br /><br /><br />I've dealt with forced love twice. The second time I realized that I was wasting my energy forcing it and let it go--then I ended up with a romance with an unexpected character that turned out to be one of my favorite romances ever (that I've written). So. There's that. <br /><br /><br />Insta-love is a major problem--both in unpublished and published works. It's definitely something to keep an eye out for during revisions, and it's also something that's good to ask CPs to look out for if you suspect you may have fallen victim to it. <br /><br /><br />Finally, Hermione and Ron are EXCELLENT examples. Such a fun match. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-24675101954681798622013-04-22T15:04:55.075-07:002013-04-22T15:04:55.075-07:00Insta-love is something I cringe at all too much. ...Insta-love is something I cringe at all too much. And it comes up again and again in YA novels, I've no idea why since it's so annoying. But you know. Agreed on forced love as well. Gradual development is always the best. Great post, Ava!Margaret Alexanderhttp://twitter.com/markedforpowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-29930729059143017312013-04-22T10:28:58.003-07:002013-04-22T10:28:58.003-07:00Annoying Internet Explorer. I always have to use F...Annoying Internet Explorer. I always have to use Firefox if I want to post a comment. <br /><br />Anyway, glad you covered this topic! Comes in handy, since I'm writing a romantic short story at the moment. Mostly, I'm like you, though. Romance is no more (or less) than a subplot in my stories. However, that doesn't mean it's not important. <br /><br />I don't think I've ever had problems with forced love. I love being a matchmaker, so I always have a pretty good idea of who to put together. That insta-love is more interesting to me. I should look out for that. I think I made that mistake in the past without really realising it. <br /><br />Hermoine/Ron is also a good example of what you're describing :-)Jeremy Feijtenhttp://twitter.com/JFeijtennoreply@blogger.com