I don't think it is a secret that I write and read romances. There's something about them that I just can't seem to give up, and I've really only tried (to give them up) halfheartedly anyway. Despite having a great love for these stories, I will be the first to admit that they are completely unrealistic, almost always cheesy, and just a little bit vomit-inducing.
I was talking to a friend and he asked, "Why can't a realistic love story be written?"
My immediate answer: It can't. It just can't. Not in a romance novel. Because there is always going to be an element of cheese. Because do guys really say those things that makes your heart melt and kicks up a flock of butterflies in your stomach?
Kisses this awesome have to be scripted and acted out. I'm beginning to think that they don't really happen in real life.
Besides, if realistic love stories were written, you'd have to include all the mundane things. The annoying habits that you have to put up with...
I don't know. The closest thing I've read to a "real" love story is in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. And even though the love story seems to ring true (if just a little puffed up) the rest of the story isn't, what with the witches and time travel and magic stones. Movies that portray "real" love stories end up like Blue Valentine, which is just depressing.
When I wrote my book, I tried to make it a realistic love story. It just got boring. So I threw in some things that I hope happen to absolutely nobody in real life.
I guess there's a reason we call it fiction; and a reason why the genre is so popular. We have to get our fixes of this overly-passionate, unrealistic love somewhere, because we aren't going to get it in our real lives.
i thought these is my words was a great realistic love story. Of course i suppose you could argue captain jack isn't a very realistic guy... but he's not too far fetched
ReplyDeleteso I've actually had a kiss kinda quasi similar to that new girl clip. and in the moment I couldn't even enjoy it cause my brain was in shock haha. And then after the dramatics and romance it crashed and burned. So my opinion is, realistic love stories can have elements of that fun, cheesiness, but if real life had as much as they throw in the novels and movies...we'd be on sensory overload and it'd crumble into a ashy mess cause theres not enough air and everyday life to sustain the madness. Then again, what do know :)
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