  Romance/Love
This week: Love: What Does It Actually Look Like? Edited by: shaara
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Welcome to the kingdom of the heart:
The Romance & Love Newsletter
Today I get to be your guest editor again.
Yeahhhhh!
Although I love to write science fiction and fantasy, I have to admit, I can't write a novel - even about aliens -- without planting a bit of LOVE.
I'm not sure that anyone can write a tale without a hint of romance, although I know some try.
(But I don't read those books. LOL)
I find romance vital to my interest in a book's story.
After all, even Harry Potter felt its twinges;
Spock, of Star Trek fame, was conceived in it;
and even most fictional vampires fall in love.
Doesn't that prove that LOVE. is essential?
LOVE.
is the creeping vine that curls about and invades even the most logically sane existences.
Humanity can't seem to live without it.
It rocks our boats, our carriages, our super-powered whatever.
Which just goes to show that
throughout all history
and
well into the future.
LOVE.
will forever sneak itself into every beating heart.
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Love: What Does It Actually Look Like?
Today we're going to be taking a look at love, checking out its vital signs, studying its shades and hues, and trying to figure out how to SHOW not tell that someone is in love.
As you already know, when it comes to writing, we writers all need to live in Missouri - the SHOW ME state.
We writers have to: show, show, show -- NEVER tell.
That is the constant refrain.
(Do you hear the echo of it in the deepest regions of your brain?)
Mine plays the same melody as Row, row, row your boat.
My version sounds like this:
Show, show, show the scene.
Never, ever tell.
Show the readers every mood.
Paint the canvas real.
But what does SHOW mean?
Ah, there's the problem.
Of course, we know that we need to paint a scene:
Carl's hair must have a flash of sunlight in it that steals Briana's eyes.
And . . .
Carl sees the tear quivering in the corner of Briana's right eye.
That tear, like a rainbow of her emotions, envelopes his heart until its beat goes pitter patter, pitter patter.
(Yes, I'm being playful here, but I have written it that way to hopefully provide a chuckle with my illustration.)
The message my attempt at humor is meant to display is that we authors need to REFLECT emotion through a character's eyes and soul.
Hence, we cannot say that Carl adores the woman. That is telling.
Briana and Carl must physically display the depths of their feeling.
Briana clenched her teeth to keep from crying out that she loved him.
Carl's hands trembled with the ache that came from wanting to stretch out his hand and caress her flesh, arm, hair, shoulder, knee . . . etc.
To portray such feelings with your characters, a writer can discuss physical characteristics:
His tongue hung down with lust. (Ok - maybe that's only appropriate with a wolf cartoon.)
His lips curved.
His eye ticked.
His body tightened.
Her mouth grimaced.
Her body shook with need.
Her hair swept across her face so that he could not see the desire in her eyes.
Thus we can move fingers, hands and arms. We can align the head with nods and shrugs and other positions. We can place the characters upright, sitting, or in motion.
She turned so he that he could not see how much she longed to touch his face and feel the burn of his whiskers on her hand.
Whoops. Maybe not BURN.
Maybe we should discard the whiskers.
(A little giggle now and then keeps me sane, you know.)
Are his brows moving?
What about his jaw and mouth?
Is she smiling, laughing, or gasping for breath?
Finally we get to the eyes. A volume lies in the eyes, not just what color they are or whether they are liquid (or not.)
What is their expression?
Warm
Steel-like
Reflective
Limpid
Bored
Is there movement in their regard?
A glance left, right, up, down . . .
A blink of dismay
Pupil dilation
Wide-opened surprise
At half-mast
Are the eyes of the characters offering cold, hard, warm, hot yearning/lust looks?
Onto the voices.
Are they raspy, whispered, cooing, harsh . . .
Provide an inlet to Briana and Carl's thoughts: joy, definance, surprise, annoyance, anxiety:
Does she tremble because it's her first time, or does she fear his temper?
Does he tremble because he needs a drink badly, or because he's afraid he'll ruin everything by going too fast?
All right. Finally the kisses, the embraces. All that touching.
(Yick, as my second graders would say, but then they don't write romances.)
Now that you've well-presented your characters,
hurry off and write that
love-filled and steamy romance!
I can't wait to read it!
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FEATURED PIECES for September
|  | Golden (ASR)
A Microfiction to portray an event of a single moment; one some may feel is controversial.
#899633 by Jack Goldman   |
In a few words, this person conveys a whole lifetime of love.
"Fifty years," she said, "love of my life, love of my life,"
and after a final kiss, reached to close his eyes.
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Sometimes romance doesn't go the way we envision it. We have to learn to love ourselves, to know ourselves first. I liked this story because it was so unpredictable and filled with truth.
"Why do you insist on drinking it if you don't like it?"
Grimacing as I downed the second glass, I considered his question, feeling slightly ridiculous. "My parents drink it."
He smiled a little, taking my glass and setting it on the carpet, along with his own that was only half-drunk. "Do you think that's a good enough reason?"
"Sure, why not?" I shrugged, shifting to lean back on my elbows.
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This is a lovely piece that teaches about why love and marriage offer so much. The story is filled with quiet love, a love that is shown through its consistency and patience.
Olivia puts candy out. Then she keeps returning to the bowl to fill her hand with the tiny pieces. She eats too much without tasting. The candy fills that aching spot. She has the excuse of anxiety about Mark. Also she eats for him, hoping osmosis between two married people will work and put some weight on him.
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#1095721 by Not Available. |
This is a touching piece that reminds us to place imagery into whatever we write - poem, prose, or essay. Because the author does that, this poem really touches the heart.
daring love, its spark
extinguished too soon
wax without a wick, dead candlelight
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#1248246 by Not Available. |
This story is about forgiveness. It is filled with the kind of movements that I spoke about in SHOWING love. It is wonderfully written.
Slowly her hand reached up and touched the side of his face. His eyes closed, the tears he was holding back slipped through his lashes and he leaned into her touch. Her finger wiped one of the tears away and almost inaudibly she whispered, "I forgive you."
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| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1304964 by Not Available. |
I have selected an odd piece for you this time, it's a tale that is told through an old man's words - a tale about the endurance of LOVE.
Ah, those were the days -- the days when I was broke, immature, and high on hormones. And stupid, of course. Oh, so very stupid.
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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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Comments from my August 11, 2010 Romance Newsletter:
If you missed it, you can still catch it at | | | Invalid Item
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#1531809 by Not Available. |
havencloud
het iy's cute i want to write one two but when the time i started it found it so difficult to continue, its happen all the tine. I really wannt to write, a love story can you help me?
I wrote you already and suggested that you just dive in. Practice, practice, practice is what turns (hopefully) a writer into a WRITER. With today's Romance Newsletter, I've given you so more hints. I hope they help.
Kaeru Miyano
Hi! I liked this letter; actually I'm very attached to every love newsletter, that's what I write the most, I'd like if you review one of my works; is called "mysteries of a love song", there's only the first part but I would be glad if you could give it a glance and give some advice =) thanks!
I am glad you enjoy the Romance Newsletters. Love is the cornerstone of life. I shall take a peak, but, in the future, please remember to include the bitem. It makes life so much simpler when we can go directly to the item.
StephBee 
An enjoyable newsletter! I have that book too. hehe. Highly recommended for writers just starting out in the romance genre.
It really gets one into the mood, doesn't it? LOL
Fiona Hassan
Your newsletter made me think. Romantic authors need to think about what love is to be able to write a better love story. I mean, maybe we could squeeze by just by knowing about the actions and thoughts that are the results of love, but thinking about what it really is will help us write more realistically. Thanks for your newsletter!
-Fiona
Thank you for your comments. I'm not sure still what LOVE is. Is it a mood, a lifestyle, a riptide that envelopes and drags us under, a railroad train that cannot be avoided, or the secret to delight . . . like a taste of chocolate that melts and sweetens every second?
monty31802
Enjoyed your newsletter very much. Good points on people and the way they feel on love. I am 70 and was taken back a lot of years to The Flying Purple People Eater. Link was a high point for me.
Thank you! I really appreciate your comments. Isn't it amazing how a song whirls us into our memories?
a. waits
This is so completely ridiculous, but true! Just last week, I went to see The Phantom of the Opera at Allen Theatre in Cleveland. I love the story and the music and the lyrics so much. But I was listening to the soundtrack while I was reading this newsletter and wouldn't you know it? I read the words "that's all I ask of you" just as they played on my itunes!
Thanks for a great newsletter.
What a story! Wow! I can't believe the timing! Thanks for your comments and for letting us know that coincidences ARE sometimes quite amazing.
writetight
I enjoyed all of your newsletters this week. I do disagree with one quote, however:
Love is a many splendored thing.
I always encountered love as a many "splintered" thing.
Danny
You're too funny! Thanks for the compliment!
Susanne )
I loved this letter. Made my quite mouth turn up several times. I will be looking for that book! I hope you are asked to write again.
Alas, I've gone into avoidance mode again. Guess I need a courage pill. Big gulps and springs cower me. Sigh. Thanks for giving me a push.
saraiv
You did great for your first time. lol.
Thank you, thank you. Here I go again!
QUESTION:
What is your favorite way of SHOWING two people are in LOVE?
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Romance/Love: September 08, 2010 Issue [#3952]
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