 Romance/Love: June 01, 2022 Issue [#11384] |
This week: Is There a Villain in Romance? Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Romance/Love Newsletter by Dawn
Considering the conflict in romance, in particular the source of conflict through a discussion on villains/antagonists. Sometimes there are people who might get in the way of a romance, or it might just be the protagonist themselves causing their own problems. |
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Conflict is an important element in stories. While all genres have their form of conflict, some have particular ones that are known or a little more common. Speculative fiction is going to have more of what is seen as a traditional antagonist or villain. Romance, itself, isn't as known for a focus on the antagonist but it still has the potential for having the source of conflict. There are different options for who might be the antagonist, depending on the conflict and story. It's not going to be an over the type, crazy villain, or maybe it can be if you write the story that way.
One potential source is some of the people who are around the point of view, protagonist character. The basic nature of the antagonist is that they are the cause of problems, or that they are working against what the one character wants/their goals. This can be someone close to the person such as a friend, relative, or coworker. It could be a rival that wants the same thing, whether that "thing" is something physical, work related or the love interest. The can be conscious of their opposition or might not even know they are causing problems.
In some stories, the love interest could be seen as the antagonist. Sounds a little contradictory at first, as we might think the main character wouldn't want to fall in love with the person getting in their way, but there are times when that happens. Also, there is another way to look at it. Consider the antagonist and protagonist as two people with either similar or opposing goals, but it's something that causes them to interact, maybe even fight, and the climax is where they find out that their connection is what they really want or enjoy. They might know that there is an interest or have a goal for love, or they might not even be aware of that element.
Internal conflict is also common, which might make the protagonist also the antagonist. This is the classic, lover getting in their own way. The strong character who says they don't need love and struggle throughout their story to resist the temptation of someone who might just be the one, to have to decide how much they need to stick to their convictions and what happens if they make a change. That is conflict and self-induced.
Finally, like classic literature, there is the option to use a non-person type of conflict as the "antagonist" for a romance story. There might be some type of natural disaster or conflict that goes against the character. Whatever causes the struggle, gets in the way of what the main character wants but eventually leads to love, that will work for a romance story.
So, the question is: what is the conflict in your story? Who is getting in the way and why?
Consider the questions, then start writing a romance story. |
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Does your story have an antagonist or someone who is in opposition of the main character?
"The antagonist of a Love story can be one of the lovers, a rival, or a character who represents the external conflict. Internal Conflict is a war within the protagonist." - Rachel Stewart Ramirez
“What we need to know about loving is no great mystery. We all know what constitutes loving behavior; we need but act upon it, not continually question it. Over-analysis often confuses the issue and in the end brings us no closer to insight. We sometimes become too busy classifying, separating, and examining, to remember that love is easy. It’s we who make it complicated.” - Leo Buscaglia
“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs. Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes. Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers’ tears. What is it else? A madness most discreet, a choking gall and a preserving sweet.” - William Shakespeare
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