Romance Newsletter

November 21,2005

About this Newsletter

When a man has once loved a woman, he will do anything for her, except continue to love her. ~Oscar Wilde



Letter to the Editor

The Ex-Factor

         One of the hardest things to deal with in a relationship is when you know you are being compared to your partner's ex. If your significant other senses a comparison to someone from your past, they may feel as if they could never live up to your expectations. This makes the situation entirely uncomfortable. We should keep in mind that no two relationships are exactly the same. So, while we may meet someone who resembles a past love in certain aspects, it isn't right to be with them for those same reasons. It isn't fair to force the new person to be a rerun of an old chapter in your life.

         In a relationship, neither person can be truly happy if the only thing being sought after is a replica of a previous partner. At first it may seem wonderful to have replaced someone lost with someone found who seems to remind you of a past love. However, in time you'll realize that your new interest holds many characteristics or quirks that weren't common ways of your past love. The sensible thing to do is judge someone on their own merits, not on the merits of someone else.

         This relates to storywriting because plots need complications. Often romance stories have a lead character getting involved with more than one potential partner. Readers get to pick all the things they like and dislike about each character. Make sure both potential partners have qualities and faults; this ensures a tough decision for the reader. Tough decisions are realistic and guarantee the reader will want to see how the romantic complication resolves. Look for inspirations from your own life or from stories your friends have told.






Editor's Picks

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In the Dark  [13+] #882659 Soft and sweet and a little sad. by DJ

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Lady Down On Love  [13+] #993822 A meeting of old friends by Heathen57

Ask and Answer

I scan through the romance/love genre items to find feature picks. Here's a hint: if I stumble across your item, it has a good chance of being picked if it follows these simple guidelines:
          Not too many typos/errors
          Properly rated for content
          Spacing between paragraphs/stanzas

It doesn't have to be a 5-star item! I look for items that are presented in an attractive fashion.