Idea hopping so fasten your seatbelts.
I read an insightful post about why we do the things we do; the motives, reasoning behind our every day actions, and to carry it further, how we translate this to our writing. I’d never thought about why my characters make the decisions that they do, at least not in my romances. For me, “getting the guy/girl” has been reason enough. In my mystery, Mahalia Blues, I’ve had to dig deeper, for in mysteries, everyone has an ulterior motive. Just a thought. If you want to read further, visit Dr. Bill’s Harley Wisdom. Oh, and Bill writes romances. Not very many men do this, or at least admit to it, which is strange when you consider some of the most hauntingly beautiful love sonnets have been written by men. Maybe it’s the stigma. It’s “acceptable” for a man to write a love story – in the case of Nicholas Sparks and The Notebook; but not a romance; the latter often associated with bodice ripping and Barbara Cartland.
You will notice that I used the words romance and love story. What’s the difference? IMOHO, a love story is one that includes a romance but doesn’t have the HEA. Gone With the Wind, Wuthering Heights – these would be love stories. A romance has a HEA. I have to admit to my own prejudices. When I picked up the first of the Seven Brides series by Leigh Greenwood, I have to say it was more because of the novelty than any interest in the book, per se. Greenwood proved to be as good at writing romances as any woman. Since then, I’ve discovered a few other male romance authors. I hope to see more spring out of the woodwork as the years go by.
As of this writing I have managed to make it through Tuesday without hurting myself. Maybe the bad streak is over. Keeping my fingers crossed because I’ve had enough accidents in the last couple of days to last a lifetime.
On a final note, I have a SM cat. Bubba. Yep, Bubba the red-necked kitty loves to be spanked. Not lightly patted on the butt, but full out spanked, with the sound echoing through the room. Ask Susie. Anyway, he’ll lift that heiny into the air, head on the floor and just rub against my feet; flipping over, he’ll wriggle on the floor then pop back up for more. What next, leather and hand-cuffs?
14 comments:
Is the corollary to your dictum,"I can't think, therefore I am not"?
I definitely fit into that stage right now. Less that a week to move all the rest of my stuff and I can't figure out how to get everything done. I still need one or two strong males--preferably with a modicum of carpentry skill--to set up some things for me. Some items of furniture seem to be lamentably insecure. How can I put anything on them?
I still haven't contacted the computer guy mainly because I don't know exactly where he lives. He pointed to a corner and said, "I live over there." Well, most corners have four houses when seen from a distance. Do I now go and ask everyone, "Do you have a son named Malcolm who's a computer geek, oops, excuse me, an IT, you know an Internet Technologist?
Kudos to you for also doing some of your own furniture moving. I haven't actually tackled much furniture but I think dragging huge bags of books outside and upstairs should count.
Hugs and relief for the sore back.
LOL on the cat that likes to be spanked! Oh dear - that made my eyes pop when I read it!
Hi Bailey!
I love reading Bill's blog! I'm glad to see other's do too! :)
I also am partial to HEA :) If I even think it might not have a happy ending... I won't read it. And when I've been tricked...? woe be it to that author should I ever run into them! *grin*
Cole
Was it something I said? Where is everyone? LOL
Crossing my fingers you don't injure yourself any time soon. And Bubba? Bet he likes it when you tell hin he;s been a bad, bad boy. *g*
Still laughing over your cat.
I think I'm in the minority when I say I'm just as happy with a love story vs. romance. Many times it's the ones that don't end HEA that stick with me. But then I like to read almost anything :)
Hope that means you are feeling better now :)
Why didn't I comment earlier when I read this this morning? Probably because I'm almost as insane as you? Or your cat?
I have the same internal def of romance vs love stories. And I haven't really tried any male romance writers yet. I must make that a goal this year.
Ok--cracking up. XXX
Wuthering Heights is my all time favorite book. I've had too many copies to count, always lend them out and never get them back. OK, I promise. I'm writing...now!
hiya....I'm like you, if it doesn't have a HEA, it's a love story not a romance.
I was laughing at the visual that appeared before my eyes of Bubba.
How are you doing?
I'm not commenting on the cat. At all. Ok. Just once.
Do you suppose he'd want his cuffs fur lined?
Okay, loved Meretta's comment! Does he have an affinity for Latex? *g*
Hi Bailey,
Thank you for your very kind words regarding my blog (Cole's as well).
I try to have internal consistency in not only what my characters do -- but how they think and what they feel as well. (And remember, I said "I try...")
Thanks also for mentioning that I write romance novels. On October 29, 2006 I posted a Post you may find interesting -- its title is: "As a Man Who Writes Romance Novels…" (And as you may have guessed, I reference Jack Nicholson's well-known line...
Ciao for now,
Bill
Your SM kittie should meet my fetish kittie :) She loves synthetic material, flips the bathmat over to roll on the rubber side, loves sleeping on shiny plastic bags, and if she finds something with velcro on it she's in heaven. ;))
Take care of that back!
Bill - I've bookmarked those post to read later, work today.
Saskia - only if Bubba were to wear velcro.
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