Romance/Love
This week: Love Tokens: Flowers Edited by: shaara More Newsletters By This Editor
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
** Image ID #829577 Unavailable **
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 about ANYTHING
without planting a bit of LOVE.
That's why I ponder its meanings and its secret looks.
I examine its displays:
the winks, the smiles, the bashful flittering eyelashes,
the way young girls giggle and
immature (and very mature)
boys (and men) show off,
the way flowers fill fists
that have never before held them.
LOVE is the source of eternal youth.
It is the rhythm of most good songs
and in the rhyme of the sweetest of all poems.
It is the reason some find spring,
even when the snow is piling into drifts,
the trees are dark as winter gloom,
and chills slither across everyone else's
cold and lonely hearts.
** Image ID #824255 Unavailable **
|
ASIN: B07YXBT9JT |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
|
|
** Image ID #778448 Unavailable **
Editorial for the Romance Newsletter
Love Tokens - Flowers
Romance needs to be shown. That's what I wrote about last month.
To continue my analysis of showing LOVE, I want to talk about LOVE TOKENS, the kind a man or woman can bring or pay to have delivered to a loved one.
But before you put those flowers into your main character's hands and send him on his/her way, you must consider something - the description of the posy.
According to http://www.teleflora.com/flowercolors.asp
it is very important to determine the color of the flowers that your character offers his/her desired one. This list will hopefully help you to decide:
Blue
Blue represents calm.
I'm not sure that calm is a really romantic
mood, however. It seems to me that
romance provides a wide span of emotions,
but calm is not usually one of them.
Blue can speak of water and vastness.
I think the recipient of blue flowers
Might ponder such a gift and
wonder if the giver is actually
saying goodbye (as in --
going across the ocean
and leaving you behind.)
Pink
Pink implies youthfulness.
It could, therefore, be considered
a bit of an insult -- unless
the woman/man is chasing thirty
(again.)
However, pink is also the color of
flirtation
According to my sources,
it's also reminiscent of
princesses.
In general,
pink is rather fun.
However, the giver must be aware,
that historically, pink showed
gratitude,
something a young lover
might NOT
want to convey, for
gratitude doesn't sit
beside the concept of
TRUE LOVE.
It erodes,
or at least makes passion
questionable.
Still, I think pink is nice!
When your character inhales
the pink roses (or whatever,)
I bet he or she smiles!
Green
Green signifies life-giving.
That's ecologically great,
but not too good if it implies,
"I want to make you pregnant,
sweet young thing I just met."
Of course, green also means
GOOD FORTUNE --
As in I'm rich; you're not.
For the tech-minded,
green flowers convey,
GO,
as in all systems
are up and running
smoothly.
And Mother Nature
adores green, so if
you're saying:
"You're ecologically my cup of tea,
then I think you've got a winning
(or at least very green) combination.
Black
I think black flowers are
SCARY.
They could be considered a threat.
They could mean death is coming
or a great fear or evil prediction,
as in - it's very dark in here!
However, for the sophisticated,
black can can show that one is hip
I recommend that
if the flowers are black,
they come with a card
that clearly states
their intended meaning.
(Ie. These flowers are for
the most sophisticated
lover I've ever had . . . )
Purple
Purple stands for royalty.
Purple flowers can mean admiration.
It's nice to be well-liked, but
most lovers don't want
to be placed on too high a pedestal.
It's far too high up for good kisses.
Lilac, which is very close in hue,
means love at first sight.
Lavender represents
femininity and beauty.
What could be a better choice?
White
White tells of purity.
Think of angels and weddings,
and the innocence of baby lambs.
White is elegant and sometimes
Shows reverence.
Okay, that's not a bad color
to give a lover, but it's
not exactly full of
passion
In Scotland white flowers
predict an early marriage.
The beau in your story
better think twice
if the female (or he)
has any Scottish blood,
unless
he thoroughly likes the idea
of walking down the aisle
SOON.
Red
Red is the color of
LOVE.
Everyone knows that.
Valentines are red.
But, then, it's important to note that
vampires adore R E D.
So if you don't mind
a little passionate
love bite . . .
Also, according to:
http://www.teleflora.com/rose_numbers.asp
"It's no surprise that a bouquet filled with
rich, red blooms knows no restraint."
No restraint? Well ...
I warned you it was a
passionate hue!
Yellow
Yellow flowers speak of friendship.
It's absolutely not a courtship color.
But daisies and their like
are full of sunshine and light.
They make everyone happy.
In Victorian times, though,
yellow flowers warned of
jealousy,
A point which might
be useful if your story
takes place a few
centuries ago.
Orange
Orange flowers signify a passion for life,
which is nice, but again,
not about romance.
Orange flowers remind one of clowns
or at least flamboyance.
Still, it's my
favorite color for roses.
Maybe that counts for something?
At least when one receives
an orange rose,
one can assume
it's never the gift of a
vampire.
Thus, you see that the color of the flowers can truly be significant,
but what about the number of them and other important details?
Next month, I shall enjoy describing certain other aspects
one should know about flowers
and/or love tokens
when one is writing about
TRUE LOVE
or relationships that alas,
AREN'T.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
** Image ID #830447 Unavailable **
My choice of Delicious
Featured Items for the
Romance Newsletter of
October 6, 2010
Do you ever have doubts that love ever after really exists? This is a tale, a true tale, that will sway you towards belief.
Then, at the very moment when the opening music fades to make way for his solo, he catches sight of her; their eyes lock; and in an instant, he is caressing her with the tender lyrics of Thomas Moore's love poem:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a truly unique story about a proposal we'd all liked to have seen. But it's almost as good even just hearing about it since the writer tells it so well.
And then he lowered himself down on one knee.
I still didn't know what was going on. The lights were in my eyes and I was nervous that I was so clueless about an event that I was supposed to be running. All I kept thinking was, "This isn't listed on my schedule!"
I didn't realize what the "act" really was until I heard the girls in the crowd gasp and squeal. SM had reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a red wooden box.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.The following poem has some lovely images - enough to send your fingers fluttering (or pounding) as memories of loves past or loves you hope to come tug at your heartstrings.
| | Invalid Item This item number is not valid. #1689355 by Not Available. | From poem #3: HEART and SOUL
Are they the moon
to the tide,
pulling you closer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, Bill, you were so right. This is perfect for the Romance Newsletter. Thanks for suggesting I read it. I hope the rest of you do, too. You won't be sorry!
Excerpt:
Dear W.D,
I followed your advice to a tee, and I can honestly say that my social life has completely changed. I've got a hundred boys asking me out for a date!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just because it's almost Halloween I think we need a romantic witch story!
| | Invalid Item This item number is not valid. #1458748 by Not Available. |
I was heading that morning to my mother's house. She'd been sending nightly visions of a black-haired, blue-eyed rather handsome fellow who kept haunting the lower corner of my bed, staring at me all night long. I knew this was only another case of my mother's needling. She'd been trying to set me up with the young warlock who lived next door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Image ID #777029 Unavailable ** |
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! https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
ASIN: B01DSJSURY |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99
|
|
** Image ID #827627 Unavailable **
Comments from the September's Romance Newsletter
billwilcox
Hi Shaaaaarrrra,
What does love look like? I think you need to check out "W.D's Advice For Forlorn Lovers" to really understand
You are absolutely right! What interesting advice! I shall list your piece under the featured for today! Hip! Hip! Harrah for W.D's Advice Column for Forlorn Lovers! LOL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joan Twist
I am having trouble showing the beginning of love in a fantasy story-but the love is very important to the story.
You say you are having trouble showing the beginning of love. Eyes meet. That's the usual. Then hands touch and tremble, perhaps. She licks her lips, her tongue darting out in concentration as she fights the pull of his spell.
Do they touch metaphysically? Do their souls dance in the air above their heads?
Does the scent of their longing twine together in a fragrance not of either but of both?
Does that help?
Shaara
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
StephBee
Awesome examples for show vs tell. My favorite way of SHOWING two people in love? A kiss. hehehe. Great guest newsletter, Sweetie.
Thank you for your comments. It's hard to beat a kiss. The intensity SHOWS so much - is a meager peck? Is it a love touch on the forehead? Is it the merest tap on the tip of the nose, dropped in passing. Or is that ultimate star spangled banner breathless fireworks touchdown? (And everything in between! LOL)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling
Item he recommends: "A Different Red Riding Hood Story" (Note its rating.)
Here is an interesting way of doing the Little Red Riding Hood Story, in which Red and Wolf are friends, or perhaps more.
Of course, one way of showing love would be careful hugs, and gentle kisses. That's what I use a great deal of the time to show that two of my characters are in love.
I agree. (See response to the above.) However, we must not forget that eyes tell a story, too. Eyes sparkle, challenge, soften, grow dim, close slightly, and tear. Eyes really are the windows, as well, as the unspoken TRUTH.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LJPC - the tortoise
Hi Shaara!
This was a terrific 'teaching' Romance Newsletter! The understanding of "Show not tell" is so important no matter what the genre. I'm not a romance writer, but I also believe that any story (where length allows) can be improved with the addition of sparks flying and a love interest. I loved your poem, too. (Shouldn't the last word be "well" instead of "real"?)
Thanks for the well written and helpful newsletter. -- Laura
Thanks for the sweet comments.
Last time I mentioned that I sing: Row, row, row your boat, using the words:
Show, show, show the scene.
Never, ever tell.
Show the readers every mood.
Paint the canvas real.
You are correct that "well" would rhyme better, but I am always trying to make a scene REAL. (Too many times reading the Velveteen Rabbit, I guess.). Therefore, in my mind, when I write, I AM there, at that place, and I want to transport you with me, so I try to paint the canvas REAL.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
writetight
Showing two people in love? Easy! When they kiss, they swap their chewing gum and never miss a beat.
Dan
Ack! By your definition, I've never been in LOVE. I won't share toothbrushes, either. LOL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DRSmith
One favorite way I show the type, depth, and relationship of love is with a "look"; a glance, a prolonged measure, a sparkle in the eye, a coy smile, or blushing cheek. IE: << So few words from trepid lips, yet so much said by an expectant face. Alessa's shameless appeal for her brother's protection had woven a thread around my heart, an image that will never leave me. At that moment I witnessed the supernal depth of how families must reconcile fear for loved ones in harm's way.>> or... <<I spotted the wife standing atop the stairs, looking down at me with a kind but forlorn face. It was only a moment, but seemed like an hour we stood eyeing each other in silence. She spoke naught, yet so much said with love in her eyes; she was worried about me. My god, what if I'd lost her?
Yes! Yes! I'm with you. What intriguing passages. You have me in the cup of your hand for I can see and feel and understand the passion of their love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
saraiv
Again great newsletter! I've been getting many questions as to how you show your reader instead of tell. Now, I can refer to your newsletter. =D
Thank you for your kind words. I am so happy I made my point. Showing vs. Telling is something we have to work on always. It's amazing how easily the concept slips away, and we fall back into telling. (I know it bites at my heels all the time.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Susanne
In answer to your question my favorite way of showing two people are in love it is the feeling that I remember the strongest each time I flew from London to Copenhagen to meet my now husband - a shaky ache in all my muscles, like the feeling you have after doing strenuous exercise - a really good, contented feeling.
Ah, how sweet! What a wonderful story. How lucky you are! I know that I've heard others who fall in love and think they're coming down with something. LOL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Question:
What was your favorite bouquet,
and what did it mean to you?
** Image ID #844829 Unavailable **
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
ASIN: B07N36MHWD |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 7.99
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|