This has been my month to feature Love. An interesting, exciting, and sometimes stressful emotion. Remember that bitter song by Tina Turner? It always made mad sad, especially after I learned about Tina’s abusive relationship with her husband. No wonder she could sing this so convincingly.
I much prefer the Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s Endless Love. Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m a romantic concealed in a cynical exterior.
I often wonder why I don’t write romantic stories? Most of my books give a nod to Eros, but it’s a very light one, and it usually has to do with the early struggles to find identity. When I go back through the stories I’ve written I now discover that most of my love scenes are humorous and awkward. I’d never be a bestselling romance author, that’s for sure. Here’s a “love” scene from Princess of Las Pulgas. Carlie (my upper class, displaced heroine) and Juan are in her car. She’s just made a derogatory comment about the neighborhood she’s dropping him off in. (Now that’s an awkward bit of phrasing, isn’t it?)
The Princess of Las Pulgas
Juan turns his head so his eyes meet mine. “It’s no use.”
“I’m tired. I’ve got tons of homework to do and two scenes of dialog to memorize. If you think I’m some kind of bigot, you’re wrong, but I don’t have the energy to argue about it tonight.”
“Well, you are a very pretty bigot.”
“Merde.”
“See?”
“What are you talking about?”
“French.”
“So because I study French, I’m a bigot?”
He doesn’t answer.
“That’s so… dumb. It’s important to know another language, appreciate a different culture. Can’t you understand that?”
“Sure I do, but why do you study French? Because you live in the middle of a densely populated French-speaking state?” He leans over and kisses me, stifling my witty response. “Adios.”
A Gift of Hearts
Are you ready for a tiny quiz about LOVE?
- Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love whose Daddy was Cronus.
- If you speak Greek, you call the god of love Cupid.
Answers to last week’s quiz:
Queen Elizabeth I used John Dee, a noted astrologer of the 1500’s to determine her coronation day, which was January 15, 1559.
TRUE: In the day’s of Shakespeare, people relied heavily on astrologers for setting important dates and even for medical diagnosis. This was the hay-day for astrologists who were respected for their “knowledge.”
The Western zodiac signs were described for the first time by the Alexandrian astronomer and astrologer Ptolemy in the second century AD.
KIND OF TRUE: Ptolemy was responsible for a lot of contributions to knowledge about the stars, the geography of the earth and mathematics. His Ptolemaic system (earth posited as the center of the universe) was taught until Copernicus said, “Nay, ’tis the sun that is the center.” But there were stars connected to animals and described as far back as 3,000-500 BC in Mesopotamia.
Quote of the Week: “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu
What a great scene! Speaking of awkward love scenes, that would definitely describe anything
I could create on paper and probably have already lived through.
I think because I’ve had a few uncomfortably awkward moments with “boys” I have a firm grip on what that’s like. I’m sure so many of us do. Maybe that’s why the perfect kiss, the perfect moon, the perfect whatever is so intriguing.
I love a good romance! I don’t read many of them, though, because too many of them aren’t written well. Ah, well. I still have Tim, so I have my real-life romance right here in my house.
As for Aphrodite, I seem to remember something really funky about her “birth” from sea foam, but I don’t remember a dad being in there. And Cupid? He’s Greek, but not the god of love. I won’t give it away, though.
Stick with the real thing, Lynda! Good thinking.
You’re remembering correctly about Aphrodite’s foamy start in life. The myth about her birth is really kind of horrible. Those Greek were a raunchy bunch.
Ha! Yes, they were! For being gods and all that, their behavior was so much worse than the humans they sneered at. And I just looked up Aphrodite’s story . . . ICK. No other word applies, hahaha.
I haven’t written a love scene (at least not as an adult)- so i imagine mine would be pretty funny. I liked the scene you shared. Seems realistic- especially for the age group. Such an awesome book! I really loved it. 🙂
I like romantic scene that make me laugh. You give it a try. Thanks for reading Princess. I still like her and wish I had another story to give her.
Thinking back over my life, most of my “love scenes” were humorous and awkward!
Your quiz, both false.
Authentic! Absolutely great.
I like the quote you included! I think it takes some special skill to write a romance that isn’t cheesy. I like to read them, but there’s no way I’d try to write one.
We share the same thought.
I haven’t had much opportunity to write romance, so I have no idea where I stand. In one of my novels I had chemistry between two characters, but didn’t intend for them to see it through, because the focus was on a friend dying, and I thought it would be tacky to have the romance. However, beta readers all demanded something happen with the relationship, so I changed it up. I guess we’ll see how I did eventually.
People seem to crave romance. Guess that’s natural, especially in a world where there’s so little of it these days. Hope your changes work.
I never in a million years thought I’d write romance, but the two characters in my supernatural suspense series were determined to be together, so who was I to argue?
They still spend a great amount of time being sarcastic and bickering, which keeps me from wanting to vomit.
LOL too much sugar will turn your stomach!
I love that novel of yours, Lee. And young love sometimes has humor and embarrassment. They’re learning.
Thank you, Beverly. I keep thinking about Carlie and Juan. I’d love explore them a bit more, but I think I’ll leave them on the cusp of their lives.
I’ll never make a good romance writer, I like to torture my characters too much for that. And kill them… I’m not good at happy endings. But I love a good love song 🙂
That’s a very well written excerpt, Lee.
Intriguing…..
Thank you, Sandra.
We may have underlying psychological issues, Annalisa. That worries me sometimes, then I brush it off and find other ways to make those characters hurt.
I find, in my own writing, that I don’t really focus on romance all that much…or at least it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. When it comes to reading, I don’t mind romance for the most part – but I want it to feel realistic. 🙂
-Lauren
That’s why I don’t include it much. Any romance I’d write would read like an encyclopedia of romance cliches.
I like love and stuff, but it’s a tough to write about.
Cronos was baby daddy to Zeus!
And Eros.
Wow! I’m tired. I totally didn’t realize those were true false questions until I re-read them.
So False and False are my guesses.
Ah, Lee, love makes the world go round and all that jazz. It’s a force of nature so I find it impossible to not have some sort of romantic element in my stories, but I wouldn’t describe myself as a romance writer…that’s full on and mostly too fantastical for me. (Haven’t met any billionaires lately, LOL). But I guess the point of romance stories is to put ourselves in a fantasy world bor 50,000 words or so.
You’re so right. Without love I’m sure the world would stop and we’d all be hurled off into space. I think I’ll read a good romance and see how much I can lose myself in it.
I recently realized that I do better at writing love stories. If romance makes an appearance, it’s purely coincidental. I am getting better at mixing romance and humor, though.
That’s great, Toi. Finding a nice mix of those two elements and being able to add a dash of romance is wonderful.
I avoid writing romance specifically because I can’t pull it off. But it’s a lucrative genre.
I had a good friend who put herself through college writing bodice rippers under a pseudonym. Not bad! She later became a successful literary writer under her own name.
Lovey dovey can be a challenge to write indeed. Getting really steamy I tend to avoid lol First is true, second umm false?
I haven’t heard lovey dovey in a coon’s age. 🙂
I’m a hopeless romantic. Still don’t write it worth a darn, but I keep trying. Can’t help myself. I love people in love! In fact, I’m working on such a story now, oh dear, am I in trouble!!!
Nice to meet another hopeless romantic with a cynical side, though! 🙂
No wonder we get along!
Read your Princess excerpt. You’re great with dialogue. I’m not a romance writer either. though I do like romance mixed with mystery, witty romance, never erotic. But I can’t write in that genre. At this late point in my life I can only do memoir/autobiography, which is my focus now of blog posts.
I started a blogspot again. But the old friends I knew back then are mostly gone, to FB (which I don’t much like) or to WP which I do like very much, but I only know the bare basics. My site is nowhere near as sparkling as yours. Thus, I can’t tell you anything about WP but I’m sure I could learn lots from you 🙂 I’m impressed!
WordPress is dynamic in a way that Blogger isn’t, but it is a challenge. The thing I resent is having to take classes to master all of its ins and outs. I want to write and talk about books. I do not want to be a pseudo programmer, thank you very much.
Classes on WP, good ones, can definitely help. A few years ago I signed up for a pricey one WA (Wealthy Affiliate) which was excellent. But I only got the basics, and since I really didn’t have anything to sell except my one memoir …. well at least I learned enough to come back to WP now for fun, to connect with old blogging and other friends and family too; it’s serving my purpose. Definitely, Lee, keep writing and talking about books. At this you are so good. Unfortunately in today’s book selling world you need a good site, part of the marketing strategy.
Great to have you back, Ann. I’m glad you took that class. I’ll come by your place and see how you manage it.
As to marketing, it’s a huge chunk of this business. I didn’t know how much when I started. I do now. 🙂
Read Jen the comment you left about her Dead Orchard essay, which really pleased her. See her waving. Then, I wrote a reply to you on my site, the one about your brain injured son, that I hope you’ll pop over to read. How you and I can both relate! Also, to let you know that our communications led me to Amazon where for Kindle I just purchased your Double Negative that I’m excited to read. I love the young adult genre; did when I was one, and still love it as an old adult. 🙂
Since the above reply (should anyone else read it) as you know I’m now on WP. I just can’t leave it alone 🙂
WP does allow for much better communication, doesn’t it, Ann? I think Blogger is more often the “Thanks for sharing” kind of exchange that I don’t think is worthwhile.
I’m so glad that Jen liked my comment, and I’ll come by to see yours about my son.
Hope you learn to love Hutch. He’s such a bad boy with such a big heart.
I had to relisten to Tina Turner. Been a while! She has that gravelly voice I love.
I saw her perform years ago, probably during those terrible abusive years. She was amazing and so beautiful.
Hi Lee – couldn’t do romance either … and I’ll go with false and true … but am unsure – cheers Hilary
However, our Pond Pudding is outstanding!
Ah ha … I see ‘my’ pond pudding is now ‘our’ pond pudding?! Well I agree with you on that score … so pleased the two of you made it – a fun project! I guess the video is outstanding (i.e.) waiting to be made – not brilliant – however that might come about too if … perhaps if we meet up one day – by that time … I’ll be tottering up the ladder?! Cheers Hilary
Yes. See how easily I confiscate property? I have a great picture to share one of these days. You’ll appreciate Pond Pudding it. And if one of us holds the ladder, we can call it team work. 🙂
Well at least it’s confiscated in a warm place … Oh great … the pic is ‘eagerly’ anticipated at some stage.
Yes we will also need a gaffer to hold the phone or video … taking selfies when holding or half way up ladders with a pond of a pudding in the make could be a challenge!
Something to look forward to … and team work would be good … cheers Hilary
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
It’s your old friend Alligator Dundee, back in action now that I have moved to my new residence and taken a little extra time off to rest.
I remember watching actress Angela Bassett (currently in Black Panther) in the role of Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic What’s Love Got To Do With It.
If most of the love scenes you have written are humorous and awkward, then I believe they are also realistic. Love is indeed a stressful emotion and people under stress often think, communicate and behave in awkward and humorous ways. At their best, I think, love stories are a mix of humor, pathos and chemistry. Love Story, the book and the film, is a good example.
It’s great to see you again, dear friend C-Lee. Have a wonderful week!
Hey! Welcome back to the fray! I’m still chuckling over your move to Alligator Alley–my name, of course. You are very brave, indeed.
As to love scenes, you are exactly right. It’s only in those well-rehearsed Hollywood movies that it’s perfect and truly romantic. I’m sticking with my awkward and often humorous take on the matter.
We’ll go with true and false as wild hairy guesses.
Love is tough to write. At least it is for me.
I’m always defeated by anything after the kiss.