contrivances
I need to know how you feel about contrivances. Publishers always talk about it as the whole, romance has to grow organically, thing, but a lot of what I see with H/H’s first meetings are contrived.
I mean, people have met in coffee shops, on blind dates, bumped into each other on street corners, at work, mistaken identity, etc. And that’s very RL. So is that what you want? Because, to be honest, the whole meeting at work, neighbors, thing gets a little old for me. Especially the neighbors part, unless you happen to live on Melrose Place, where all your neighbors are single and gorgeous. Work gives you more possibilities, but certain professions lend themselves more to this than others.
How much contrivance is too much for you? If the way two characters meet is a little bit crazy, is that considered a contrivance? Because, in RL, crazy things do happen, but in books, I want them to happen in a crazy way too.
And what’s with the organic romantic conflict, anyway? I’ve never understood these definitions all that well, maybe because I hate analyzing books. I think it’s when the characters fall in love but the external plot, and perhaps their inner conflicts, are working against it. I think.
But can this happen even if they meet in a contrived way?
Do you see me going in circles, chasing my tail? (chasingmytailchasingmytail)
Help please. Give me the first meeting each other contrivances that make you want to hurl the book against the wall, or just hurl.
BTW, this always happens when I hit the middle of the book, look back and think everything I wrote is the most ridiculous thing going. Normally, I would just whine to Katie and Larissa, but I figured all of you might be interested in my breakdown.
(Katie, I’m still going to whine to you. Larissa’s off the hook for now, having escaped to sunny Florida. I’ll get her when she’s back)
Steph T.
March 19th, 2005 at 4:34 pm
Whine away, Steph…lol. Contrived meetings…ugh. I’ve read so many it’s unreal. When I think contrived, I think things like, golly gee, the heroine was just thinking about the hero, and whaddyaknow, there he is standing just across the street at three in the afternoon, not working, just waiting for the heroine to make an appearance. I think there needs to be a reason for a first meet and it should never be coincidental.
So quit chasing your tail, lol, I haven’t seen you use coincidence yet.
March 19th, 2005 at 4:54 pm
I think the neighbors thing has to be really well done for me to buy it. Actually, anything has to be really well done for me to buy it ;-)
I actually like crazy meets and just got done judging a contest entry with a great twist on a tried and true storyline/meet.
Speaking of contrived meets I left two teenagers playing basketball, so back to work I go =)
March 19th, 2005 at 5:45 pm
Hey there! Did you get the email I sent about your WIN? It could be a help wiht this!
March 19th, 2005 at 8:01 pm
I just got your remail…and replied..if you don’t get it…check your junk folder or your blockedlist…I’ve sent a few to you…I’m getting yours…do you have msn? if you do…email me your msn addy and I’ll get online so we can figure this out.
March 19th, 2005 at 8:42 pm
There’s the “heroine renting a space, and hero moving in.” Then there’s the “heroine time-travels and meets the hero.” Vampire romances are full of these contrived first meetings. =P
March 19th, 2005 at 8:46 pm
hmmmm, I’ve never read ‘the wrong bed’ premise/meet, but that’s probably one that would have to be really well written for me to buy into. The neighbours I can *sort* of buy, except don’t people ever think about the awkwardness of what if this doesn’t work out? You see that reluctance with the workplace romances, but not so much with the neighbours set up.
You know, if you’re stuck on this wip, you can always work on Jake’s story…..
March 20th, 2005 at 3:18 pm
After Evan called me a b*tch yesterday, I think I need to borrow Jake and teach him some manners.
March 22nd, 2005 at 9:56 pm
*waves to Silma* The hero moving in thing always gets me, because I’ve lived in quite a few places and a Navy SEAL has never moved in next to me. And I’m hoping no vampires have either - LOL.
Jaq - don’t give Jake ideas and Cece, you’re welcome to borrow him…