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As a romance author, February tends to be a pressurized month for me. It’s the time of year when you can’t move outside your house for fear of being slapped in the face by ferociously pink plastic hearts. I feel like I’m supposed to enjoy that sensation, or, you know, at least market with it.
I do acknowledge the silliness behind memorializing, in gilt and silk flowers, the church gloss-over of a pagan fertility ceremony. Or, alternate option, celebrating the painful death of a Saint who kept letting Roman soldiers get married against the law. Yeah, put like that it does seem a bit off.
(HERE! EAT YOUR ATTRACTIVELY PACKAGED DEATH TRUFFLES!!)
Still, all commercialization aside, I do enjoy Valentine’s Day. No, really. And the Insecure Writer’s Support Group prompt for this month is appropriately themed around the exact reasons I enjoy it.
As always, go check out the co-hosts for this month and show them some appreciation:
Stephen Tremp, Pat Garcia, Angela Wooldridge, Victoria Marie Lees, and the always excellent Madeline Mora-Summonte
The question for this red-dipped glitter month is: What do you love about the genre you write in most often?
The answer is, my favorite part is writing a love story.
I’ve always been a sucker for a good romance. Some people enjoy demon clown things that drag kids into sewers, I love the twists and turns of the human heart, combined with a good big dash of happily ever after.
To be honest I like IT, as well, it’s a fantastic, freaky novel. Different days, different moods.
Anyway. I love writing in this genre because if I could, I would give everyone in the world a happy ending. Since I can’t, I write them.
The possibilities are endless. Different personalities, unique character flaws, definitions of love, expressions of trust. Every period of history is open to tinker with, if I feel like it. I get to play around with each separate element, and then bring it all together to a happy conclusion. It’s like being a chef with an endless, self-supplying pantry full of the best ingredients in the world.
Real life doesn’t end happily, so I love writing books that do. Escapism? You bet. Fluffy smut? Definitely. I feel like there are enough terrible realities in the world already without me writing true-to-life fiction about them. Plenty of other authors do that, and do it well. I’m happy in my love story niche, writing away.
Even if you don’t write romance, do you have a favorite love story? Tell me in the comments, I’d love to hear what it is.
Featured image via stocksnap.io & maria shanina
What a beautiful website you have, and a beautiful blog. You sound perfect to write romance. All the luck in 2018. I’ll follow you online.
Thank you! I appreciate the good wishes, and the follow 🙂
Most of my stories do not end happily – more along the lines of clowns dragging kids into sewers. But, in my longer works especially, I try to have some element of light, of hope at the end. 🙂
Although I don’t write them I know stories without a happy ending are important, too. Sometimes escaping is good, but sometimes looking at things head-on is better 🙂
I am a die hard romance and romantic suspense writer and I love reading a good romance group. I believe there is a lot that one can learn from good romance books. They are an encouragement in life.
Your article and reasons are right on.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Thank you Pat! And congratulations to your team on their Superbowl win. I enjoyed your post linking the Superbowl to writing.
Greetings from another romance fan. I love your line about giving everyone a happy ending. I’m feeling that appeal especially keenly these days, with so much anger and gloom swirling around us. I try to do my part to set things right, but that will be a long slog. In the meantime, it’s so refreshing to immerse myself in a love story, whether reading them (by the metric ton) or writing them. Good article!
That expresses it so well! It is refreshing. At least to me and you 🙂 Thanks!