In the meantime, I’ve
studied the genre and learned that a love story is not the same as a romance. Romance
follows specific expectations readers demand and publishers insist upon. But a
love story doesn’t have to fit into a genre’s mold. It can be a literary gem. What
this means is that in a love story, we don’t have to follow the rules of the
romance genre, yet we can still have characters fall in love. We can use that
love as a strength or weakness (addiction) explored through characterization.
For literary love stories, two novels by Louise Erdrich come to mind—LOVE MEDICINE and TALES OF A BURNING LOVE. Keep in mind, the focus in literary fiction
is not solely on the development of love, but more on the human condition to
which that love is a part.
For genre romance, look
at Avon Books, Zebra Contemporary Books, and Harlequin.
So how do you decide if
the romantic theme you are nourishing fits the romance genre or if it’s a
literary love story?
In genre romance, the happily ever after is the promise
readers want to see. It offers an escape from reality, which isn’t always so
happy. Reality is real life. Life is messy. Romance stories can have some mess
in them, but only as long as it halts at the end, when the lovebirds recognize
and admit their feelings for each other and come to some type of commitment in
honor of that love. (I consider genre romance a promise of love and hope, not just
an escape.)
In literary love
stories, sometimes a couple falls in love, then one of them dies. Sometimes it
is after a death that the depth of
the love is finally realized. But someone doesn’t have to die to make a
literary romance work. The couple might fall in love and face the basic
struggles most couples face. For literary, there will still be a satisfying ending, albeit it may not be
what readers are expecting (or wanting). There’s a strong sense of union
between the couple, but you can never be sure from page to page that everything
will work out for them (the way you wanted). But it’s still a love story and
therefore, you can tap into your romantic soul.
Just remember that in
literary work, plot is secondary to character, and relationships are viewed
from the perspective of how they define the human condition. (But there can
still be some spicy romance in that relationship.)
What I never considered
until I read a stockpile of “rules” for genre romance is that the characters
should not be over the age thirty. Seriously? Reading that, the bratty little
rebel in me immediately started creating a character who was thirty-one. I
guess I’d have to go for the literary arena.
Then I read the rule
that the hero or heroine cannot have any disabilities, and he should be good-looking,
strong, virile, and well to do (preferably rich). The heroine, of course, is
gorgeous, strong-minded, and independent.
To sum it up, if your
hero or heroine has a handicap of any sort, whether physical, mental, or
financial, you better stick with literary writing. A good thing about that
market is we’re allowed to acknowledge and understand that people in their
forties can fall head over heels, and so can that handsome gent in the
wheelchair and the dirt poor couple down the street. If these are the characters
you enjoy creating, you may be writing a love story, but it is not a romance—it
is a literary love story, and it will tell is much about the human condition as
a whole is it will the process of falling in love.
If you’re looking to get
noticed by one of the big publishers looking specifically for the happily ever
after, you do need to pay attention to the expected conventions. And keep this
in mind—it is not because the publisher is close-minded about real love between
real people, but it is because readers of romance expect a tidy happy ending,
an escape of sorts, and they will not tolerate you coming up short in that area.
Something to keep in
mind for a literary love story is that literary works explore multi-layered
themes, and the conflicts are more of the human condition, not just a murder to
solve or an obstacle standing in the way of love. Some say there’s also an
expectation of stronger voice and that more attention is put into the language (descriptive,
use of metaphor, etc.). While that may be true for the latter, I don’t agree
that literary fiction always has a stronger voice. True in some cases, yet I know
some genre lovers with very authentic voices.
For myself, I’ve concluded
that one of my stories is literary, while the other is a traditional happily
ever after. So much for consistency.
What type of romance
are you writing, and why do you consider it such?
Happy Writing!
Once upon a time, I thought that the only path for a writer was with the BIG NY publishers. I spent a lot of unhappy years trying to conform to their dictates. These days, there are so many options for authors, not the least of which is going the self-publishing route. That doesn't mean you don't pay for editing for formatting or a decent cover, but you do have the right to write the hero and heroine you believe in. Believe in your characters, they usually don't steer you wrong.
ReplyDeleteThat said, self-publishing one or two pieces will not bring you fame, fortune or an audience. To be an indie author means you'd better be putting out fresh content on a pretty regular basis. If a reader likes your work, they want to read it all. So, write what you want, and sit on it for a while until you have a small body of work. That's what I'd advise a new writer to do these days
Thanks so much, Tonya. I agree. There are a lot of choices out there, so it seems all writers should be able to find where they fit it--even me! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Deb. Yes, publishers are in the business of selling books, and as such they have expectations. Best to know and meet them, or go it alone. Problem with going it alone is, even there one needs a large audience or the book gets little if any attention. I guess it all depends what the author's expectations are.
ReplyDeleteYep. Silvia, you are so right. No wonder there's a great novel called Great Expectations. :-)
ReplyDeleteSilvia,
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Kathy
Thanks, Kathy! I appreciate the visit.
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