Writing romance, does it embarrass YOU?

Yes. The anticipation of it is much more fun than the actual event if you do it right, but the event will be pretty darn spectacular. That's what Rish has taught me.

 

Reading...nothing embarrasses me. I will read anything.

But writing is a different story, although if it stops at kissing it doesn't embarrass me. I agree with IrishEyedJedi, adding in the five senses is a great way to make the scene realistic. I like to read about smells, tates, sounds, fabrics, and textures. And I think you can do all that without sounding clinical.

 

Writing Romance... now there's a nifty topic! Embarrassing... Nahhhh not really. I enjoy writing them every now and then. Specially new love. Those who juz realize that they're in love. THOSE are the most fun I think!

Kissing is great...juz gotta remember the characters must breathe eventually!

 

I'm the same way. Cna't write worth beans, yet ::ducks sandal thrown by Rish:: but I can read up on the subject.

 

*uses other sandle to get Poe in the back of the head*

You have to believe in what you're writing when it comes to romance. I think a lot of the time when we write, we write the idea of what we want in our own lives. That's why it's such much fun. Because we can escape into a world wear the hero sweeps us off our feet and loves us the way we've always wanted.

 

I don't blush writing it - I can't write blush-worthy mush. Reading, however ... Jade_Max's first-class mush in "From Scratch" made me glad I have a beard.

 

My two credits worth are being tossed in...(my hiatus is almost over...hurrah!)

While it is not necessary to have experienced many things, romance is something that we are all the result of, whether it be passionate and frantic or the quiet love of a married couple. We are all the product of something that is considered NC-17, and to be embarrassed is natural, but overcomeable. I used to be embarrassed by the idea of sex, and even more so by same sex coupling. I got over the embarrassment of that by placing it in context with reality. People meet, kiss and mate on a daily basis. That is why we have six billion beings on this planet.

As for being embarrassed by writing mush, no, not at all! I am a full time college student who has little or no time for romance. I love the idea of bringing so much joy to others by providing a momentary escape from reality with a romantic post, PM, NC-17 or otherwise. I don't think it is fair to label people who like to write NC-17, PM or slash as sick. While my friends and I joke about being sick, we all know we aren't when we take pleasure in reading an adult post filled with people giving and receiving pleasure. I am the author of many such posts. It is human nature to crave that particular act at one time or another in our lives. With out sex there would be no people being born, and IMHO, you have to take that into consideration when looking at fics as well.

 

AHEM!! *snatches Ish's sandel and whaps Widow*

Didn't I just SAY no NC+/sex/slash/PM posts/same gender pairings discussion on this thread?!? Which by the same gender sex does NOT bring more people into the world, think about it, it wasn't Adam and Steve was it?!?! Thank you!


Jasmine

 

That is if you believe in the concept of Adam and Eve.

Also, did it ever occur that some of the people on the board may be homosexual and not take kindly to the last comment?

 

Now, we are getting off-topic, can we please get back on topic?

Jasmine

Post edited! WHile opinions are one thing flaming is another and this is not part of the topic. Leona

 

Thank you. But why couldn't you edit Widow's? She was talking about the same thing. No matter.

Jasmine

 

Or happen to think that there's absolutly nothing wrong with SSRs?

They are allowed here in fan fic, granted it can be tricky as the physical aspect must only be eluded to but I have a few OC's who would be inclined to agree.

 

Yes, Breezy, but it's also supposed to be that the owner of the thread is supposed to be able to direct where the conversation goes. HanSoloIsSoCute is young and naive, which makes her susceptible to not knowing how the world works. I do, so I'm not going to flame, but I am going to throw my $0.02 in.

Liberal people have a way to bait conservatives who are passionate about a topic, while still seeming not to bait. This is a very potent tactic because it makes the conservative person want to respond, while at the same time making that response seem overly critical. We have truly reached George Orwell proportions in this world when one person can bait in their own way, and not get punished, while at the same time, another person can bait and get into trouble.

If you want to say, Han voiced her opinion in the wrong way, well, what is an opinion? How can an opinion be right or wrong? If you want to say, she shouldn't have used harsh language, well, harsh is in the eyes of the beholder, isn't it?

Han gets banned because she said something that offended. But the previous person said something that offended Han, so if we're saying, as a society, that Han should have let it go, just let the comment roll off her back, then why can't we say the same for people who might get offended about Han's comment?

"All are equal, but some are more equal than others." Animal Farm (paraphrase) Has it really come down to this?

 

Yeah! Em, what he said.



EDIT: But I'm staying outta this for now.

 

HanSolo was my e-sister and a VERY dear friend of mine. I don't understand how adult people got so offended by a 15 year old girl trying to direct HER thread into the direction she wanted it to go in.

 

I saw some (Stuff) about 'liberals baiting conservatives' and that got my hackles raised.

Ahh here it is:

Liberal people have a way to bait conservatives who are passionate about a topic, while still seeming not to bait. This is a very potent tactic because it makes the conservative person want to respond, while at the same time making that response seem overly critical. We have truly reached George Orwell proportions in this world when one person can bait in their own way, and not get punished, while at the same time, another person can bait and get into trouble.

It goes BOTH ways.

Look, I understand the thread owner wanted to stay away from stronger aspects of romance, but that does not give them the right to bash people who believe differently. I saw a comment saying that they were offended at the attack on people who were gay. And I AGREE with them. I don't care if the person doing the attack was the thread creator or not, I TOO found the comment utterly offensive.

Edit: you don't have to allow discussion of SSR in this thread, but by the same tolken, that doesn't give you the right to belittle or downright attack them.

 

Em, let's drop it before we all get banned? Ok?

 

What I want to know is why she was banned. She asked people to not talk about certain things repeatedly and stated a couple times that she didn't mean to offend anyone, so why couldn't she get at least a warning?

 

Just because a moderator has stepped in and edited someone does not automatically mean they were banned.

 

No she was banned. Okay, I'm over my little temper tantrum. Now I'm just sad. She did go a little too far for some people, but I hope the ban is just temporary and we can all learn a lesson and just agree to disagree.

 

I can understand your sadness, however in the future it would be more appropriate to PM the moderator you have a concern with instead of posting it to the thread


So let's get this back on topic -- Does anyone have any tips or ideas for how to start off romance scenes especially if your muse is being uncooperative?

 

My muse is always uncooperative
.
I usually light a couple of candles, and look outside. Is the weather beautiful and the sky clear? Are the stars out? Nature always puts me in the mood for love.

 

First thing is to choose the characters and decide whose POV it is going to be. Decide on how it is going to end - with love or loss or something bittersweet. Then go for background, the surroundings - where is the couple, at dinner, on a wind-swept hill, in a closet? What are they wearing and why are they wearing those clothes? How are they feeling? Are they hot, cold, scared, lonely, upset, tired? Then comes the conflict - is there one? Is it real or does one of them perceive a problem and the other one does not? Are they alone or surrounded by friends or enemies?

I usually try to get the reader involved immediately by having one person speaking or thinking about the encounter to come, what they are worried about, what they are looking forward to. And then get them to interact with either the other person or the environment in some way. I had one story start with the OCs hair getting caught in a vine and she's both embarrassed to be less than perfect at getting caught and anxious about what the man is going to think about her clumsiness (he found it endearing).

 

Thanks for getting us back on topic.

Just for clarification, we don't discuss user's punishments in a thread.

Sorry, carry on.

I started this post, and had to forgot what I was going to say...

I find it harder to do introspection when the characters are starting to get hot and heavy, when I can do it just fine in a regular setting.