Romance
Posted 11th March 2010 at 07:09 PM by Arthur_Connelly
It's everywhere in fiction, whether tacked on or in integral part of the plot. More and more though, or maybe it's just in the things I'm reading, it feels more tacked on than anything. Which is, of course, leading to my questioning my own writing.
Since an arranged marriage is key to the plot as it gets the characters in the same place and the same time, it's to be expected that somewhere romance pops up. Not that arranged marriages were always filled with it. But even though the romance doesn't feel tacked on to me, I still have to wonder. Can I do without it?
Every time I ask that question I end up cutting something. That's part of the reason why my world changed to humans only after I question the need for fantasy species. Man can rise to the same heights as any elf when he has a reason to. Or be vile enough to give demons nightmares.
It's a question no one else can answer though. Give advice perhaps, but not answer. And I have to wonder if the fact that I'm even asking the question is answer enough. Meh. I'm probably thinking about it too much. Just Write.
Since an arranged marriage is key to the plot as it gets the characters in the same place and the same time, it's to be expected that somewhere romance pops up. Not that arranged marriages were always filled with it. But even though the romance doesn't feel tacked on to me, I still have to wonder. Can I do without it?
Every time I ask that question I end up cutting something. That's part of the reason why my world changed to humans only after I question the need for fantasy species. Man can rise to the same heights as any elf when he has a reason to. Or be vile enough to give demons nightmares.
It's a question no one else can answer though. Give advice perhaps, but not answer. And I have to wonder if the fact that I'm even asking the question is answer enough. Meh. I'm probably thinking about it too much. Just Write.
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Comments
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I too have been traumatised recently by the question of what is necessary. Of course very little is truly necessary to a story -- you could pare it down to its synopsis and it would still work, though it would be less satisfying. Maybe that's the goal: to make it a satisfying read. And maybe that's why you originally wanted the non-human characters, because their inclusion might be something the reader would enjoy (not that I'm suggesting you rethink that decision). Of course those elements are only satisfying if they fit naturally with the rest, but if your romance doesn't feel tacked on, then it probably does.
But yeah, Just Write.Posted 11th March 2010 at 07:53 PM by HareBrain
