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Romance/Love: September 17, 2025 Issue [#13340]




 This week: Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
  Edited by: Annette 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

"Semper in absentes felicior aestus amantes" ~ Roman poet Sextus Propertius around 15 BCE.


Letter from the editor

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder


Typical romance deals with two people glommed together as much as possible. Time spent apart is described as painful and longing for a reunification is all consuming. This works well for Young Adult stories. But what about those stories that have older characters?

It's not normal to spend all day every day together. People need time to be themselves, time to work, time to be creative, and time to meet other friends. At that stage of a relationship, the butterflies are a little less wild. The union is no longer based on being a couple, it's based on living with each other and getting through life together.

For some reason, there aren't many romance books that deal with times of separation as a good thing. Separation is usually described as something put upon the people from the outside.

It would be nice to see more stories about two people who are each a whole human and want and even like to spend time apart. In long term relationships, the day to day can easily smother previously felt passion to death. It doesn't have to be like that.

When setting up a romance, even if at the beginning the story deals with the typical craze of young love, ask yourself at what point will you separate your characters for a while. Don't let the separation be something forced, but one that they want to have. One wants to go visit relatives. One wants to go be an archeologist in China to help carefully digging up Terracotta Warriors. Think about the way that they say goodbye. Think about the way they communicate during the separation. Consider their feelings when they find each other again.

Allow your romantic characters to be mature in your story.

Have you traveled without your significant other?


Editor's Picks

STATIC
Absent Love Open in new Window. (E)
Love lasts even in long absences
#2268086 by Pumpkin Author IconMail Icon

FOLDER
The Underground Open in new Window. (E)
The journey began here—now paths erode by time, wash out with the tide. Never the same.
#1213150 by Brian K Compton Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
On Mars, without fear, an end is near  Open in new Window. (ASR)
These are the last words of a well traveled man.
#2312555 by Joey's Ready for the Fall Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
The Road Taken Open in new Window. (E)
A practice session for The Poet's Place Cafe
#2339471 by Seabreeze Author IconMail Icon

STATIC
Rewind Open in new Window. (13+)
A little act of clairvoyance to keep the party going.
#2267514 by J.B. Ezar Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
A Lifetime With You Open in new Window. (E)
Traveling through life together
#2301510 by 👼intuey Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
Two Summers Open in new Window. (E)
Traveling down the road of memories.
#1916177 by Kotaro Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
Small Act of Kindness Open in new Window. (18+)
A small act of kindness, a road less traveled, and a new adventure for two longing souls.
#2197911 by Vick Rolling 🏳️‍🌈 Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
Cavalier Open in new Window. (18+)
Lily, a time-travelling assassin, defies The Society. Historical Fantasy.
#2159809 by A E Willcox Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
This Traveler's Delight Open in new Window. (13+)
An old cliche, love is in the eye of the beholder.
#1163243 by turtlemoon-dohi Author IconMail Icon

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Replies to my last Romance/Love newsletter "Romantasy" Open in new Window.

Cadie Laine Author Icon wrote: The genres are okay to be mixed because sometimes the story needs to be both romantic and an aspect of fantasy. When it comes to placing the book on the shelf, the author needs to choose one genre to shelf the published work. What happens when you mix romance and action/adventure - romaxion or romventure?

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