tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post3791689966401997277..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Love Stories: Reluctant LoveNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-44702380330049184242010-01-03T18:09:10.065-08:002010-01-03T18:09:10.065-08:00Yes, JaneyV's example of Bones and Booth is SO...Yes, JaneyV's example of Bones and Booth is SO GOOD. That show has fantastic writing, and that's a relationship that is SO well done, because it's not even a glimmer in their eyes for like 3 seasons, even though it's totally in OUR eyes from day 1.Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-4861941496751189192009-04-01T07:57:00.000-07:002009-04-01T07:57:00.000-07:00I love reluctant love one of my favourites to see ...I love reluctant love one of my favourites to see unfolding in a book or on screen and one of my favourites to write too. I do like putting obstacles in my characters way, one step forward, two steps back kind of thing.Alix https://www.blogger.com/profile/04684209302932310537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-33211455352266300842009-03-31T22:57:00.000-07:002009-03-31T22:57:00.000-07:00Jessie, you just did a much better job than I did ...Jessie, you just did a much better job than I did of phrasing my feelings on the subject. <BR/><BR/>So, scratch my first comment. I'll say:<BR/><BR/>Ditto to what Jessie said.Renee Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08170818341212519937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-47601532682351523302009-03-31T20:08:00.000-07:002009-03-31T20:08:00.000-07:00I think P&P works so well because the reader k...I think P&P works so well because the reader knows and understands WHY their love is reluctant. Some writers don't fully develop the recipe for their reluctant love, and you are so mad wondering, "What is their problem? Are they really that dumb? Why can't they just get over themselves and get together?" You as the reader don't want to be asking these questions. You want to understand why the reluctance exists, and then you can discover how wonderful Mr. Darcy is right along with Elizabeth.Jessie Oliveroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232456334069794107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-29152636667804404862009-03-31T17:07:00.000-07:002009-03-31T17:07:00.000-07:00I have some elements of this in both my novels and...I have some elements of this in both my novels and I have to admit that it's fun!<BR/><BR/>You've Got Mail is one of my favorite movies of all time. Yep, cheesy. :)Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-92140035303143384782009-03-31T14:19:00.000-07:002009-03-31T14:19:00.000-07:00LOL! I just read the other comments. They all say...LOL! I just read the other comments. They all say the same thing I just said. So I guess I'm just adding my voice to the masses. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-56372053062225584852009-03-31T14:18:00.000-07:002009-03-31T14:18:00.000-07:00I love reluctant love. It's a big part of my WIP,...I love reluctant love. It's a big part of my WIP, but only through the first half. I think it can get a little old if it goes on the whole book. After a while there has to be other reasons keeping them apart, or they have to be working out how they can be together. Great post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-27725893185118842282009-03-31T14:13:00.000-07:002009-03-31T14:13:00.000-07:00Yes this category is fantastic and I don't think i...Yes this category is fantastic and I don't think it ever gets old. The only place where it has limited appeal is in TV. You drag it out too long and the audience gets frustrated, you give them what they crave and they lose interest.<BR/><BR/>That said, if Bones and Booth don't kiss soon, I will be throwing a big hissy fit. Then there's House and Cuddy - where's that going?<BR/><BR/>I like the idea of soulmates recognising each other but having to overcome obstacles (possibly of their own making) to realise what the reader always knew - that they were meant for each other.<BR/><BR/>I think I'm mixing up all the "love" categories.JaneyVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04951739945670483199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-71935885388283034782009-03-31T13:19:00.000-07:002009-03-31T13:19:00.000-07:00Yes, yes, the reluctant love. IMO, one of the most...Yes, yes, the reluctant love. IMO, one of the most used versions of romance in all fiction. In fact, sometimes I get tired of it, to tell you the truth.<BR/><BR/>It really only bothers me when the characters seem to have no real reason to bicker/hate each other. It's like the author just wanted to hold "the moment" back until plot point #7 happens. I mean, if done well (Pride and Prejudice) it's pretty awesome. But, if I feel like it's just thrown in there for the sake of throwing it in, I roll my eyes.Renee Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08170818341212519937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-41727862030313040002009-03-31T10:39:00.000-07:002009-03-31T10:39:00.000-07:00Hehe, I'm glad to see some people enjoying when th...Hehe, I'm glad to see some people enjoying when they get together sooner. Whew. I'm not pathetic! <BR/><BR/>Tara, tension is key. And you're right. If they get together, there must be a new kind of tension to replace it. People trying to break them apart. A new, larger problem. Sounds like you sure put your chars through the wringer, excellent:)<BR/><BR/>I do this in my ms Void. Once they get together, the drama is replaced with her friends hating her for it...and other magical issues, heh.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-83097053211744350232009-03-31T10:33:00.000-07:002009-03-31T10:33:00.000-07:00But you don't want to make the mistake of letting ...But you don't want to make the mistake of letting your couple off the hook too early! <BR/><BR/>If romantic tension is one of the driving forms of conflict in your story, you *have* to maintain that conflict, just as if a form of conflict in the story is whether a hero will a race, you can't have him win the race half-way through unless you have a bigger problem replace it.<BR/><BR/>In my fantasy epic, I have to keep the romantic tension between my hero and my heroine over the course of several books. I use up all the usual silly misunderstandings and miscommunications early on. "He doesn't really love me," "She doesn't really love me" and all that.<BR/><BR/>Eventually they get married and even conceive a child together -- but I STILL have to maintain some tension.<BR/><BR/>I've tried to do so by giving them something they genuinely disagree about. When all the misunderstandings are cleared up, they are still on opposite sides.... one is a Democrat and one is a Republican, so to speak. And each believes the other side will destroy the world. "I love you and I know you love me, but you are SO WRONG I have to stop you."Tara Mayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095632631554776002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-29706434957657736242009-03-31T10:04:00.000-07:002009-03-31T10:04:00.000-07:00I love books like this, but I'm with sraasch. If t...I love books like this, but I'm with sraasch. If they don't eventually get over themselves long enough to connect in some meaningful way, I start to get ticked off at them.<BR/><BR/>I've got one of these in my first book, and it was so tough to walk the line between getting them together too fast or too slow. So anyone who can do it well has my intense admiration.Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-12305266099474376272009-03-31T09:57:00.000-07:002009-03-31T09:57:00.000-07:00I love the reluctant love too, but find my impatie...I love the reluctant love too, but find my impatience ruins it if the relationship takes too long to come through. I'd rather the characters get past their issues and spend half the book together being all lovey-dovey and perfect than have them be stubborn and spend all but the last few pages in a contest of will. Which, by the way, is part of the reason I liked Ninjas so much -- Tosh and Amy didn't fight it. They just let it happen. And it was awesome.Sara Raaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01196505323463444186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-23354289458133690582009-03-31T09:44:00.000-07:002009-03-31T09:44:00.000-07:00Great post!I love that kind of tension too. Someti...Great post!<BR/><BR/>I love that kind of tension too. Sometimes it goes beyond a single book if there is a series.fairyhedgehoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14141089706966852951noreply@blogger.com