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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5723
Romance/Love: July 03, 2013 Issue [#5723]

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Romance/Love


 This week: Romance or Drama
  Edited by: NaNoNette Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Hello romantically inclined readers, I am NaNoNette Author Icon and I will be your guest editor for this issue.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor


Romance or Drama


Today's Romance/Love newsletter is more of an opinion piece. My opinion. Once you're read over it, I'd love to find out in the submission box if I'm completely off, or if others feel similarly.

Almost to the day a year ago, I created a romance/love short story contest. I planned to run it once a month with a prompt. One thing that struck me was how many entries I got to my romance contest in which one of the partners in the romance was dead. After reading several entries where lovers were separated by death, I had no romantic feelings at all. I felt hollow and cheated out of a fun reading time.

Instead of reading warm and fuzzy stories of people overcoming obstacles to find each other, I was left with images of dead and mutilated characters. I felt so distraught that I stopped running the contest. I simply didn't want to read a single story about dead people when the contest specifically asked for romantic stories.

This year, I decided to revive the contest. To shield myself from death, I made it a rule that I wouldn't accept any short stories involving dead partners into the contest. That worked out. A little bit. Instead of reading about dead partners, I was now confronted with a romantic story that described a heinous crime against one of the partners. I stopped reading that story. In my review, I told the writer exactly when and why I stopped reading. Although the story was a contest entry and a review was certainly one of the perks in entering the contest, I refused to allow those images to get closer to me.

Am I too plain, too simple, too silly that I desire my romance to make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Is there something wrong with me that I don't want a bucket of cold hard reality dumped over my head when reading romance?

Readers and writers of romance, what are your expectations when you think about a romantic story? Should it be mainly romantic and make you feel good in the end? Or are you okay with reading a romantic story where there is death and maiming? I'd love to get your feedback through the submission box below. Or take my poll for a quick one-click answer. "Invalid ItemOpen in new Window.



Editor's Picks

 
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Little Tom Boy Open in new Window. (E)
She was a Tom Boy and not a girly girl.
#1937591 by Kings Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1937583 by Not Available.

 
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Metamorphosis Open in new Window. (18+)
Poem written for my lovely other half early on in our relationship
#1937569 by Amalie Cantor - We Got This! Author IconMail Icon

 
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The Woods Open in new Window. (E)
A story of 150 words, for a site contest.
#1937556 by Pen Name Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1937538 by Not Available.

 Love's Flowers For Us All Open in new Window. (E)
Love is like a neighborhood grocery store - a poem.
#1937453 by Tim Chiu Author IconMail Icon

 The Barrier ..Time Open in new Window. (ASR)
A poem I wrote in a cafe while at University of Minnesota.
#1937150 by Edword Author IconMail Icon

Something  Open in new Window. (E)
Life changes with the blink of an eye but my life changed with the blink of a heart...
#1936813 by ChrisDaltro-Chasing Moonbeams Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1266635 by Not Available.

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A Romance Contest - winners announced Open in new Window. (13+)
A short story contest for the Seasons of Romance: August = Winter
#1892844 by Osirantinous Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Ask & Answer


Comments for my last Romance/Love newsletter "Consider Your AudienceOpen in new Window..

Turkey DrumStik Author Icon wrote: Hey, Giselle! I can't believe I just found this newsletter. I normally don't read it, but after randomly stumbling upon, I did have one question about the adult audience. Is it possible for an adult romance reader to want something between or completely removed from the two groups you mention? When I want to read something romantic, I want the piece to be as morally gray as possible. Sexual content can be relayed, but I generally like to see one scene fade to black before the author dives back into the mind games the romance plays on either the main or supporting characters. Now if the content shows the physical activity catalyzing a significant change in the game for character development, then I'm all for it. This is the approach I use when writing romance. Is there anyone out there who will read it?

I don't know. I've read books that left me frustrated because the writer set up a scene in so many pages and then faded me out just when the pay-off was supposed to happen. In other books, sensuality seemed to jump at me when I least expected it. I think what resonates with a reader is going to be very individual. In my newsletter, I merely wanted to highlight some of the bigger, defined groups of readers.

StephBee Author Icon wrote: Giselle, I loved your topic - consider your audience. It's very important. As author, I always try to be upfront about my "heat" levels because I've gotten 1/2 star reviews because someone expected a sweet story and my novel had mainstream love scenes.

Even those who gave you 1/2 star reviews could only go by their own tastes and likes. Of course none of us wants to get such a rating - and I don't think any of your stories would deserve it on the whole. Seems like that reviewer should have slept an hour longer and eaten proper breakfast before reading romance. *Laugh*

ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy Author Icon wrote: Thank you for this newsletter. I write Lesbian and Gay men Romance for Questioning, Just Out individuals and family members who desire to understand the normaliness of those who love differently; we are normal people in every way and our reading audiences are surely the same type of readers so I am glad you taught me something new today. And, thank you for posting one of my Lesbian Romance stories. I seek to keep learning and you keep teaching me new information. Thank you very much for that. ANN "Invalid ItemOpen in new Window.

Thank you for your positive feedback to my newsletter. *Smile*

BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon wrote: Watch out for soldiers; there's bound to be "Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer." *Bigsmile* "What Happens at the Barracks; StaysOpen in new Window.

I hope not too unbecoming. Lately, officers haven't been depicted in very romantic light in the news. Rather grim.

Bonnie Author Icon wrote: Thank you for choosing to highlight my contest in your newsletter. "A Romance Contest - winners announcedOpen in new Window.

You're welcome. I saw there is a new round, so I featured it again. :-d


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