What is Romance?
Exactly what is a romance novel?33 total reviews
Comment from estory
I think it's a great essay, concise, well laid out, informative, and probably useful to those who need advice on writing in this genre. You laid out all the big points numerically, you gave good background and history of the form, you gave some pointers on how to develope stories. Nice job. estory
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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I think it's a great essay, concise, well laid out, informative, and probably useful to those who need advice on writing in this genre. You laid out all the big points numerically, you gave good background and history of the form, you gave some pointers on how to develope stories. Nice job. estory
Comment Written 03-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Thank you for the understanding.
Comment from Ric Myworld
I'm a true sucker for happy times; although, I write a lot of action junk, mostly because I wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to write true romance and sound convincing. I'm a fan who has read your romance stories for a long time, as throughout all the turmoil, two people fall in love and live happily-ever-after. What I think, everyone finds the greatest part of life. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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I'm a true sucker for happy times; although, I write a lot of action junk, mostly because I wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to write true romance and sound convincing. I'm a fan who has read your romance stories for a long time, as throughout all the turmoil, two people fall in love and live happily-ever-after. What I think, everyone finds the greatest part of life. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 03-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Thank you for the encouragement.
Comment from RPSaxena
Hello Barbara.Wilkey,
It's a nice piece of Non-Fiction touching all the aspects of Romance and Romance Novel in an interesting way such as - Definition of Romance; Basic elements; Genres of Romance Novel; Moreover, your own opinion in the last which I like most: "If anybody was confused...suspense or mystery."
Undoubtedly, LAUDABLE Attempt!
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Hello Barbara.Wilkey,
It's a nice piece of Non-Fiction touching all the aspects of Romance and Romance Novel in an interesting way such as - Definition of Romance; Basic elements; Genres of Romance Novel; Moreover, your own opinion in the last which I like most: "If anybody was confused...suspense or mystery."
Undoubtedly, LAUDABLE Attempt!
Comment Written 03-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Thank you for the kind review.
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Most Welcome!
With best wishes,
~ RP
Comment from giraffmang
Hi Barbara,
I'm not sure I prescribe to the 5 basic elements.
All genres have certain tropes that folk expect, but sometimes these tropes develop into cliches and are too overplayed which gives the opportunity to play around with them.
These elements - the elements of the heroine and hero have become stereotypical in a lot of ways.
I also have a dislike for the happily ever after ending. It would seem contradictory to the believability aspect of the fourth element! lol
Just because they make money, doesn't mean they're good.
All the best
G
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Hi Barbara,
I'm not sure I prescribe to the 5 basic elements.
All genres have certain tropes that folk expect, but sometimes these tropes develop into cliches and are too overplayed which gives the opportunity to play around with them.
These elements - the elements of the heroine and hero have become stereotypical in a lot of ways.
I also have a dislike for the happily ever after ending. It would seem contradictory to the believability aspect of the fourth element! lol
Just because they make money, doesn't mean they're good.
All the best
G
Comment Written 03-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Thank you for your opinions. Everybody has a right to them. I find in writing romance that most of my audience demands a happy ending.
Comment from Fleedleflump
Thank you for doing the footwork on this - I found it really interesting. Having read this, I'd say your current WiP is a romantic crime drama :-). I have tried to write romance (the closest I came was 'The Cook and the Time Traveller') but I do find it quite difficult - my brain is usually looking for the next joke or action sequence.
I thought this was great.
Mike
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Thank you for doing the footwork on this - I found it really interesting. Having read this, I'd say your current WiP is a romantic crime drama :-). I have tried to write romance (the closest I came was 'The Cook and the Time Traveller') but I do find it quite difficult - my brain is usually looking for the next joke or action sequence.
I thought this was great.
Mike
Comment Written 03-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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LOL Thank you for your support.
Comment from CrystieCookie999
I thought this essay of sorts did a good job as an overview of what a romance novel is all about. It sounds like you could teach romance novel writing next. I am considering writing a western-romance sometime but am still stuck on chapter 2 or 3. Thanks for the inspiration.
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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I thought this essay of sorts did a good job as an overview of what a romance novel is all about. It sounds like you could teach romance novel writing next. I am considering writing a western-romance sometime but am still stuck on chapter 2 or 3. Thanks for the inspiration.
Comment Written 03-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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I have written a western short story before. It's in my portfolio. It's pretty old. Thank you for the kind review
Comment from Gert sherwood
Barbara you wonder if you are on the right track I know that I will be anxious to read your romance novels
I found it interesting of the various types of romance books
Thank you for sharing telling us fanstorians that you are
I'm thinking mine fall into the contemporary category with hints of suspense or mystery. Some of my novels more than others. If you disagree, PLEASE help me get set straight.
I say write a mystery novel with romance I would like to read such
Gert
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Barbara you wonder if you are on the right track I know that I will be anxious to read your romance novels
I found it interesting of the various types of romance books
Thank you for sharing telling us fanstorians that you are
I'm thinking mine fall into the contemporary category with hints of suspense or mystery. Some of my novels more than others. If you disagree, PLEASE help me get set straight.
I say write a mystery novel with romance I would like to read such
Gert
Comment Written 02-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Thank you for the kind review and opinion.
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you are most welcome Barbara
Gert
Comment from John Ciarmello
I believe you're on the right track by saying you're in the contemporary category. However, adding a religious aspect to your novel would be easy without damaging characterization or conflict. Simply my thoughts on where your novel could be categorized. I love the read the way it is, though! Best, JohnC
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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I believe you're on the right track by saying you're in the contemporary category. However, adding a religious aspect to your novel would be easy without damaging characterization or conflict. Simply my thoughts on where your novel could be categorized. I love the read the way it is, though! Best, JohnC
Comment Written 02-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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The next novel I'm posting is very religious. I've already written it. When I post, we'll see how it does.
Thank you for the kind review.
Comment from Wendy G
I do definitely feel you are on the right track, and I think many people prefer your style of writing without the erotic elements. Yours provide a little bit of escapism, and the happy endings tend to be a bit of a relief from an unhappy world with too many stories with sad or tragic endings. I liked the research - found it very interesting to see all the different kinds and categorisations of romance. Well done. Keep doing what you do.
Wendy
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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I do definitely feel you are on the right track, and I think many people prefer your style of writing without the erotic elements. Yours provide a little bit of escapism, and the happy endings tend to be a bit of a relief from an unhappy world with too many stories with sad or tragic endings. I liked the research - found it very interesting to see all the different kinds and categorisations of romance. Well done. Keep doing what you do.
Wendy
Comment Written 02-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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Thank you for the support. I appreciate it.
Comment from sandramitchell
That was really interesting, Barbara. I didn't know there were so many types of romance. It is a wide playing field. Then you have to look through the many agents to see who would be prepared to take you on. Or a publisher. Both are hard to find. Too many want you to pay 'half' the costs, but when you look at what they are prepared to do, it's not a lot. I wouldn't suggest anyone go down that road. If they like your work that much, they would cover all the costs and pay you a fee. Now to try and sort my book out and see which category mine is! Loved this, my friend. Well done. Sandra xx
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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That was really interesting, Barbara. I didn't know there were so many types of romance. It is a wide playing field. Then you have to look through the many agents to see who would be prepared to take you on. Or a publisher. Both are hard to find. Too many want you to pay 'half' the costs, but when you look at what they are prepared to do, it's not a lot. I wouldn't suggest anyone go down that road. If they like your work that much, they would cover all the costs and pay you a fee. Now to try and sort my book out and see which category mine is! Loved this, my friend. Well done. Sandra xx
Comment Written 02-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 03-Aug-2022
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I enjoyed reading. Let me know where you feel yours falls into. I have an idea, but not sure.
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That's just it, I don't know. There are a couple of sexual scenes, and the romance is definitely there. Mystery? I think so. Murder, yes. What do you think it would come under. I think 4 is the closest but not quite it.
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I would say 'Speculative romance is any romance "in which the 'laws' of that world (explicit or implied) are different than ours.)'
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I would go with that! 😊
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I think it hits all the elements.
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Yes. And I agree with your assessment of your own romantic books. As you said of mine, 'contemporary romance' ticks all your buttons.
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LOL You're sweet.
