 Romance/Love: January 15, 2014 Issue [#6099] |
  Romance/Love
This week: All About the Girls Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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An Elf (written) Romance Newsletter
There is a rainbow of romance available for the writing and many options to choose in way of characters. Today I look at the female side in writing romance about girls who love girls. |
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Hello fellow romancer,
A while back, I did my first romance/love newsletter on glbtq in the genre. I'd like to continue the topic by delving further in the many options available when it comes to rainbow romance (not sure it's a real term but I'm calling it that anyways). For the first one, let's look at female/female, that is to say girls who love girls.
I think one of the key things to remember is that the romance and love aspects aren't that different. The story need the same elements that any other romance would require. If you're going to write a girl romance then you'll need characters, setting, plot, conflict and a resolution to said conflict. The plot needs to focus on the love/romance and pending what type going for, have to follow some of the conventions of the genre.
Because even though it's two girls instead of the usual girl and boy, at the end of the day it's still a romance story. But here are a few things to consider if planning to write about girls:
Pronouns
This is a common topic for any story where most of the characters in any given scene are the same gender, so not just with this type of romance. In a female only romance, it's particularly something to consider. Sure, using first person is easier because one of the characters is I while the other can be she, but not all of us like first person pov. Third person still works for romance stories. One just has to be careful when writing one where it's a she and a she because the reader needs to be able to keep track of who is talking.
First v Third
Speaking of first person and third person. Consider your options. First person does work but there is a limit in that too because some readers won't catch on if you don't have some hints that the main character is female. I've read a couple that were first person about loving a boy only to be sad later it was a girl main character (what can I say, I am a boy loves boy writer so I hope to find others too). When picking first person, still give the reader some hints as to who the main character is and try to limit the "mirror" description for looks. On the other hand, third person also has limits and its own struggles. Do whatever is best for the romance story you are trying to write.
Stereotypes
Okay, here does get a little tricky. At times, a well used stereotype works, depending on the story and character used. But you want to be careful when using such. For women the stereotypes include but are not limited to: moving in together on the second or third date, overly butch characteristics, lumberjack fashion, man-hating, and cat ownership. I might have made up one of them... I forget. Anyways, the point is that at times, it can work in a story but you don't want to use a stereotypical character just for the sake of making sure the character is female loving enough. Let the characters be their own people, and go from there.
I would love to see more girl love on the site. And not even saucy ones, though I do run an erotica contest. In fact, I'd rather see more that are about young love. Young adult is a great genre for a romance plot or subplot and girl love works there too. Need an example? Try Ash by Malinda Lo. It's a published YA fantasy book about two girls. And that is just one example as there are a few others out there as well. Plus many more left to be written. Maybe yours can be next. Write and we'll find out.
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Here are some stories and poems I found that involve female relationships. Some are poems and the rest are stories ranging in length. Some are happy, and others not quite as much. All are in relation to this week's topic. And of course, consider entering in a contest with a romance story. There is always room for more girl romance. 
| |  | We Danced Anyway (E)
Flash Fiction. Just a cute little drabble of my two girls admitting their true feelings.
#1950014 by starstar   |
| | | Maybe (13+)
Someone I met and thought we were meant to be
#890442 by Alex |
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1966078 by Not Available. |
| | | Love Martyr (13+)
Locked away in a conversion camp, Mel devises a plan to overcome corruption and hate.
#1881299 by Samuel Pear |
And blatant self advertisement time as I have a young adult round going and welcome romance as well as glbt characters:
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This week we focused on the girls. Don't worry, there will be others in the future about the boys and beyond. But for now, I'm curious what you think. Have you tried writing a love story with just females? Have you ever entered a contest on wdc with a girl focused story? Any aspect of writing these characters catch your attention? Let me know.  
Last time I did a Cliche Christmas newsletter. Not much in feedback but here is a good comment that was left in relation to the use of cliche items in Christmas romance stories:
Sent by Quick-Quill 
Christmas is about using what is "cliche'" in your story. It's expected. Why write a horror story with masks and goblins at Christmas? It is a time for showing kindness, generosity and rekindling lost relationships. I don't think there is anything "Cliche'" about Christmas. Sappy is different. If its too sweet and the theme is overdone, then maybe one needs to put a little more conflict in the story. Christ in Christmas is what it is all about. Its what embodies the whole season. Without it, December would be just a another month like August or September. Make your Christmas story stand out!
My response:
To a degree but I guess that depends. I'm sure the horror writers are all for writing scary at Christmas time. But you do have a good point. Cliche can work in a story but it still needs a way to stand out.
Thank you and hope everyone looks forward to the next newsletter.
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