Comments on: Finding the right romantic conflict… http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/01/10/finding-the-right-romantic-conflict/ Where Happily Ever After is Always on the Menu! Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: The Pam http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/01/10/finding-the-right-romantic-conflict/comment-page-1/#comment-23788 The Pam Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:41:20 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/01/10/finding-the-right-romantic-conflict/#comment-23788 If I get a vote, I'm sick and tired of characters with angst-y issues. You're right - some people grow up to be well-adjusted adults. Doesn't mean they don't have problems with their romantic lives, though. From your brief descriptions, I'd say their issues revolve around the fact that they've never done this before. She's XX years old and never been in a serious relationship - she's not sure if she knows how, she's not sure if she's willing to compromise her job for him, blah blah. Motherhood and wife-ness are just not in her plans, and so on. Honestly, I think having the alcoholic mother, the molested daughter, the father who left when she was 10 and all of those things to be distracting and trite. I want to scream at the book "Get over it already! Put on your big girl panties and DEAL with it already." I'd rather see your romantic conflicts come from within the two characters, their own fears and insecurities caused by their very NORMALNESS, rather than contrived thorugh these other means. And that, I think, is the challenge. Normal families may be boring, but not everyone is dysfunctional, either. And they have stories to tell too! If I get a vote, I’m sick and tired of characters with angst-y issues. You’re right – some people grow up to be well-adjusted adults. Doesn’t mean they don’t have problems with their romantic lives, though.

From your brief descriptions, I’d say their issues revolve around the fact that they’ve never done this before. She’s XX years old and never been in a serious relationship – she’s not sure if she knows how, she’s not sure if she’s willing to compromise her job for him, blah blah. Motherhood and wife-ness are just not in her plans, and so on.

Honestly, I think having the alcoholic mother, the molested daughter, the father who left when she was 10 and all of those things to be distracting and trite. I want to scream at the book “Get over it already! Put on your big girl panties and DEAL with it already.”

I’d rather see your romantic conflicts come from within the two characters, their own fears and insecurities caused by their very NORMALNESS, rather than contrived thorugh these other means.

And that, I think, is the challenge. Normal families may be boring, but not everyone is dysfunctional, either. And they have stories to tell too!

]]> By: Kate Pearce http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/01/10/finding-the-right-romantic-conflict/comment-page-1/#comment-23774 Kate Pearce Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:43:20 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/01/10/finding-the-right-romantic-conflict/#comment-23774 Well I've discovered that it can go the other way and that my characters are all angst and I don't actually need a big plot and villain to sustain the story-that was a revelation to me. Not helping am I? :) Well I’ve discovered that it can go the other way and that my characters are all angst and I don’t actually need a big plot and villain to sustain the story-that was a revelation to me.
Not helping am I? :)

]]> By: Kim http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/01/10/finding-the-right-romantic-conflict/comment-page-1/#comment-23768 Kim Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:21:10 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/01/10/finding-the-right-romantic-conflict/#comment-23768 IMHO, no. They don't need to have angst. It can be as simple as they're fighting the villian, struggling to live their own lives and romance just doesn't fit. That's enough of a issue. Sometimes, I think writer's go overboard with the personal problems. If it works for you and Cie, then send it in! IMHO, no. They don’t need to have angst. It can be as simple as they’re fighting the villian, struggling to live their own lives and romance just doesn’t fit. That’s enough of a issue. Sometimes, I think writer’s go overboard with the personal problems. If it works for you and Cie, then send it in!

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