Poetry

FOr this week i decided to delve into some poetry to help get me into the mood to write some of my romance scenes.

Sonnet 18- Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?

By William Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

This poem expresses Louisa's feelings for the Countess. She seems her as the most attractive being she's ever seen, almost ethereal in her beauty, which serves a main purpose to the plot. Without giving too much away, I will say that the Countess's beauty is primarily meant to seduce travelers to her domain. But Louisa doe not just see the Countess for her beauty on the inside but for the sweet, melancholy creature she is on the inside. She is undeniably irresistible to her, and this poem expresses that love.

 

Rough Draft of a Romance Scene

here is the rough draft of a short romance scene in my story. It is supposed to combine elements of horror and romance but this scene leans more on the romance aspect of the story. Let me know what you think!

The traveler found herself in a ornate room, surrounded by every luxury she could imagine. Plush carpet, a carved marble fire place, golden statues and figurines adoring every corner, shelves mounted with hundreds of fine leather bound books that looked like they hadn’t been touched in years, yes still looks as pristine as the day they were made, and to top it all off a massive crystal chandelier hung form the ceiling over their heads, fractioning the light from the fire place and sending different hued lights dancing walls. It was no less than breathtaking, however it still held the charm and comfort that one could only get from sitting in a home they had lived in since childhood. The walls were stained blood red and decorated in swirling golden patterns that reminded her of shells washed upon a beach. She faintly remembered beaches from when she was young, before her life so drastically was thrown into shadow. She would walk upon the beach with her father, tugging on his hand, laughing as the salty water splashed upon her face. It made her feel at peace.

Everything about this castle made her feel at peace, the colors, the furnishings, even the air seemed permeated with a sweet aroma that she could not pinpoint. Everything in this place seemed as if it were designed with her comfort in mind. But the castle’s proprietor was the most charming of all. She was almost ethereal, with soft, pale hair and eyes and elegant features. Her fair skin almost glowed in the firelight that cast shadows across her face. She was absolutely the most beautiful thing the traveler had ever laid eyes upon, however she noticed in the corners of her eyes and the slight downturn of her lips a deep melancholy that pulled on the very core of her soul. She wanted to relieve that melancholy, for in her mind, something so beautiful should not be so distressed. 

The countess turned to her and her expression melted into a warm smile. “Is the tea to your liking?” she asked.

“Oh! Oh yes!” the traveler blustered

“And the accommodations here?” she inquired.

“Oh lovely! The most gracious welcome I have ever experienced,” the traveler said, a polite smile gracing her lips.

“Good,” said the countess, resting her chin in her hand. “I’m glad.”

“What is this place?” she asked.

“Castle Surridge,” The countess informed.

“I have never heard of this castle before, and I have lived in this area my entire life, surely I-“

“I assure you we have always been here.”

“We?”

The countesses fingers twitched in her lap. Her soft smile faltered for a moment before easily sliding back into place, “This castle and myself,” she said, her voice as smooth as butter.

“Ah,” the traveler said. “And Master Surridge?”

“He is dead,” she said with very little change in her tone, but her expression became far away and wistful. “He died of pneumonia many years ago.”

“Oh, I am sorry. I sound not have pried.”

“No it’s quite alright, it is a common thing to ask. You must think it strange, a woman managing a household by herself.”

“No, I find it very admirable! But,” the traveler looked around the massive room. “This castle is so big, how do you care for it without any maids?”

“It is easy for a woman such as myself with no other responsibilities and a lot of time on her hands,” she chuckled. “The castle requires little cleaning, and I never grow wearing of tending to my charge.”

“I see.” Doubts crept into the travelers mind. This place was far too big, and the countess far too fair to handle a task like that by herself…  She shook the thoughts away. “And um…Madame Surridge-“

“Vyvian,” the countess corrected.

“Oh no Madame, I could not address you by your first name. that would be-“

“Improper?” she said, shaking her head. “Not at all. A woman such as myself with very few visitors prefers to enjoy her guests company, and I find it very difficult when proprieties meddle with conversation.”

Romance vs. Smut

A lot of people have read romance novels, however because the lines between them are so blurred it's hard to distinguish the difference between romance novels and erotica.

Romance novels by definition place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. These books include intimate details, like how he held her, the look in her eyes as she gazed at him, the fit of longing that drives them.These nooks are meant to give the reader that warm-and-fuzzy feeling. The plot lines are often cliched and fluffy, but are enough to give the reader their lovey fix. There are endless romance stories out there but one example is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This story has very little sexual things going on but is extremely romantic. Why? Because we feel the tenderness and passion between the two lovers and want them to be together. I can't say for sure where this desire comes from, but the emotional attachment and desire for the love between two characters and the warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you see them actually hooking up is essentially what attracts me to romance in the first place.

Erotica is a genre of literature that includes sexually explicit details as a primary feature. Unlike pornography, erotica does not aim exclusively at sexual arousal. Though the distinction is blurring in modern works, erotica traditionally contains more sexual details than romance novels.
These books consist of pure raunchiness and sexual explicity. You can tell by the first few lines of these books that the main purpose is to arouse the reader. The sex depicted in these books often include orgies, threesomes, bondage, basically any kind of sex play you can imagine.
There is very little tenderness in these stories and rarely do you stumble upon a couple who love each other. it is essentially porn, quick, sexy, and to the point.
I read a few chapeters from the book Master's Ecstasy (hilarious title right) by Justus Roux and on nearly every page there is at least one sex scene. The ENTIRE BOOK is sex scenes. There's nothing wrong with that, nothing at all, it is just what the audience is looking for. Not engaging plot or flawless dialog, just something quick and sexy. These stories are simple a cornacopia of sexual fantasies all poured into a loosely based story.

The Romantic Hero

The Romantic hero is a literary archetype referring to a character that rejects established norms and conventions, has been rejected by society, and has the self as the center of his or her own existence.^[1] The Romantic hero is often the protagonist in the literary work and there is a primary focus on the character's thoughts rather than his or her actions.
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Top 7 Romance Classics

Here is a list of the top 7 Romance classics. This list was very useful for me and provided me with a lot of good source material for my writing.

Top Romance Classics

My Romantic Setting

Reference pictures for the romantic scenes in my story.

The castle by daylight

Palace Living Room

The travelers bedroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entrance to the Prison

Before I Start....

Well it is time to get stared on actually writing my romance/horror short story, but in order to start I really wanted to pin down some key notes about the format of my story so I can be sure that I do it right. 

I have decided that despite the medieval setting of my story the romance in it will fall under the realm of modern romance. Not only will the subject matter be more modern than typical medieval romantic stories (the romance will be homosexual), but the format will not follow the same template as traditional romantic tales.

It will not follow in what I like to call the “Romantic Fairytale” Format, such as the story of Laila Manju, which is a short romance story, usually told through word-of-mouth, does not include any dialog, and serves to teach a lesson.

My story will be much longer with dialog and descriptions similar to the style of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, only involving much more blood and violence. It will be written in a style similar to Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake Series, minus the sarcastic humor and first person perspective, but imitating the way her characters interact and her eroticism.  

With the dialog I will try to imitate Austen’s style, since traditionally all people from hundreds of years ago talk with a Shakespearean flare. Her people all talk very properly, never using contractions and being extremely polite, and I noticed they use words like “dearest” and “My Lady”. I will be using medieval phrases such as these [LINK] to give the dialog a more medieval flavor.

Alright! Time to get writing! 

Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey. New York: Bantam Books, 1818. Print. 

Hamilton, Laurell K. Burnt Offerings: An Anita Blake Vampire Novel. New York: Jove Books, 1998. Print.  

Drama in Romance

I read the book in high school called Rebecca. It was an interesting, exciting book that combined drama with romance. The thing that made this story so engaging was that the intense drama that ensues because of the romance.

Plot Synopsis:
The story of Rebecca is told by an unnamed narrator, who becomes acquainted with a wealthy Englishman, Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter. After a fortnight of courtship, she agrees to marry him, and after the marriage accompanies him to his mansion, the beautiful West Country estate Manderley. Only upon their arrival at Manderley does the new bride realize how difficult it will be to lay to rest the memory of her husband's first wife, Rebecca. Rebecca is understood to have drowned in a sailing accident off the coast next to the mansion a year before, but her memory has a strong hold on the estate and all of its inhabitants and visitors, especially the  housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who was profoundly devoted to Rebecca. She tries to undermine the second Mrs de Winter, suggesting to her that she will never attain the urbanity and charm that Rebecca possessed. Whenever the new Mrs. de Winter attempts to make changes at Manderley, Mrs. Danvers describes how Rebecca ran Manderley when she was alive. Each time Mrs. Danvers does this, she implies that the new Mrs. de Winter lacks the experience and knowledge necessary for running an important estate such as Manderley. The second Mrs. de Winter is cowed by Mrs. Danvers' imposing manner and complies with the housekeeper's suggestions. Lacking self-confidence and overwhelmed by her new life, the protagonist commits one faux pas after another, until she is convinced that Maxim regrets his impetuous decision to marry her and is still deeply in love with the seemingly perfect Rebecca. The climax occurs at Manderley's annual costume ball. Mrs. Danvers manipulates the protagonist into wearing a replica of the dress shown in a portrait of one of the former inhabitants of the estate—the same costume worn by Rebecca to much acclaim the previous year, shortly before her death. In the early morning hours after the ball, the storm that had been building over the estate leads to a shipwreck. A diver investigating the condition of the wrecked ship's hull discovers the remains of Rebecca's boat. It is just prior to this shipwreck that Mrs. Danvers reveals her contempt for and dislike of the second Mrs. de Winter. Taking the second Mrs. de Winter on a tour of Rebecca's bedroom, her wardrobe and luxurious possessions, which Mrs. Danvers has kept intact as a shrine to Rebecca, she encourages the second Mrs. de Winter to commit suicide by jumping out of an upstairs window, but is thwarted at the last moment by the disturbance created by the shipwreck. The revelations from the shipwreck lead Maxim to confess the truth to the second Mrs. de Winter; how his marriage to Rebecca was nothing but a sham; how from the very first days of their marriage, the husband and wife loathed each other. Rebecca, Maxim reveals, was a cruel and selfish woman who manipulated everyone around her into believing her to be the perfect wife and a paragon of virtue. She repeatedly taunted Maxim with sordid tales of her numerous love affairs and suggested that she was pregnant with another man's child, which she would raise under the pretence that it was Maxim's and he would be powerless to stop her. Maxim, truly hating her, shot Rebecca and disposed of her body on her boat, which he then sank at sea. The narrator is relieved to hear that Maxim had never loved Rebecca, but really loves his new wife. Rebecca's boat is raised and it is discovered that holes had been deliberately drilled in the bottom and the sea-cocks were opened, which would have caused it to sink. There is an inquest and despite it not being clear who drilled the holes, a verdict of suicide is brought. However, Rebecca's first cousin (and also lover) Jack Favell appears on the scene claiming to have proof that Rebecca could not have intended suicide. Favell attempts to blackmail Maxim because he believes that Maxim killed Rebecca and then sank the boat.Rebecca, it is revealed, had an appointment with a Doctor Baker shortly before her death, presumably to confirm her pregnancy. When the doctor is found he reveals Rebecca had been suffering from cancer and would have died within a few months; furthermore, due to the malformation of her uterus, she could never have been pregnant. The implication is that knowing she was going to die, Rebecca lied to Maxim that she had been impregnated by another man because she wanted Maxim to kill her. Maxim feels a great sense of foreboding and insists on driving through the night to return to Manderley. However, before he comes in sight of the house, it is clear from a glow on the horizon and wind-borne ashes that it is ablaze. It is evident at the beginning of the novel that Maxim and the second Mrs. de Winter now live in some foreign exile.

Common characteristics displayed in Rebecca that are displayed in many romance novels:

1) The ex-lover becomes the villain. A common thread in romance novels.
The introduction of this character creates a love triangle between Maxim, Mrs. de Winter and the ex-lover, posing a threat to their romance and their future. This is not a thread I will explore in my story but has been done over and over again in romance novels and movies.

2) The big twist! The big twist is evident in many romances. In Rebecca, instead of it being an evil twin or long lost brother, it was the revelation that Rebecca was was actually a horrible person and her husband didn't love Rebecca, he loved his current wife. The big twist should induce extreme shock from the reader.

The thing that makes this story a classic romance is the excellent writing, plot twists and tension that is added to the romantic framework. The drama that ensues because of the romance in this story moves the plot long and makes the romance more engaging.

Thing's I'm Going to Avoid

Some characteristics of romance novels that I find cliched and irritating are:

The Evil Other Woman--the former mistress of the hero; an acquaintance of the hero who secretly lusts after him

The Evil Ex-Wife--relatives who exist for nothing else but to cause trouble and move the plot along; are literally over the top evil to a ridiculous extent

The Country Mouse Theme-- The heroine lives in the city, but she visits the country and meets the rough-hewn hero. He, of course, thinks all city women are vain and weak and scared of horses, but she proves herself by working on his ranch/farm/feed lot. Eventually, she learns to like the country (or small town), and he learns that she is nothing like his ex-wife, who deserted him for the big city the moment she got dust on her black pumps.

The Naive Virginal Heroine--These heroines are often virgins not because of a moral choice but because they were burned by a bad relationship. Just as bad are the "near virgins" -- heroines who had sexual experiences but never enjoyed it until the hero came along.

The Duke of Slut--hero who has, ahem, been around the block a few times. He is usually paired with the naive virginal heroine. Because in true cliche form, although he has known nothing but harlots, only the naive virginal heroine can tame him. Suddenly, the rakish hero can no longer enjoy the pleasures of philandering, so he settles down with that one special woman.

The Will Stipulation--the hero and heroine of a romance novel are thrown together because of a stipulation in the will of a well-meaning relative, usually in an attempt at matchmaking behind the grave. They are often forced to marry, or forced to work together, or forced to manage a business together.

Amnesia Plots--These are particularly popular in series romance, although they appear in other sub-genres as well, from historical romances to romantic suspense. 

The Silly Big Misunderstanding-- this really goes without saying

source

The fact that so many of these cliches sound so familiar is shocking to say the least. I've seen them done countless times in movies, books, graphic novels and t.v. shows. Some of these cliches are just god awful and I will DEFINITELY be avoiding them over the course of my writing.

Definition of Romance

I guess i should have started out my reasearch with this but better late then never right?

Romance

a. A long medieval narrative in prose or verse that tells of the adventures and heroic exploits of chivalric heroes: an Arthurian romance.

b. A long fictitious tale of heroes and extraordinary or mysterious events, usually set in a distant time or place.

c. An artistic work, such as a novel, story, or film, that deals with sexual love, especially in an idealized form.

 

 For my story I will be combining elements of all three of these definitions. The story will take place in medieval times, tell of mysterious events and will deal with idealized, sexual love. Although there isn't a graphic love scene in my story, it is implied and is a major point to the story. I think my main goal is to make sure that the romance is key to the plot, and isn't just pointless fan service. It's always more satisfying when the romance is integral to the plot and not just slapped on as an afterthought.

Laila Majnu

All classic love stories involve an amount of tragedy and sacrifice that strengthens the reader’s compassion and belief in the romance being told. The Hindu ledged of Laila Majnu highlights themes of devotion and sacrifice for the sake of love. These prominent themes are so beloved by poeple, that they keep legends like this alive to this day.

The tale of Laila Majnu is about a boy named Qays and a girl named Laila who fall in love when they are young. Because Qays is poor, Laila’s family forbids her from seeing him and marries her off to a rich man. Laila, unable to bear the separation for Qays, falls ill and dies. When Qays hears of this he is driven mad with grief and dies near Laila’s grave. He is then known as "Majnu", or "Majnun Laila", which means "Driven mad by Laila".

Full Story of Laila Majnu

Despite the amount of suffering that both characters have to endure, Laila and Majnu’s desire for each other never falters. They fall so madly in love with each other that they would rather die than be apart. This is one of the things that draw people into romance and keeps them interested: the promise of unbendable devotion.

Delving into Darker Romance

I have received recommendations from my teacher to read Northanger Abbey and other Jane Austin Novels in my research into the romance genre, but since the romance in my story has a darker tone I decided to research some darker romantic novelists such as Laurell K. Hamilton. I have taken out her book called Burnt Offerings and have learned many things form it. The romance in her stories are very sexual but also very intimate and purposeful.

There is one relationship in this book that intrigued me, and it is the one between the main character, Anita, her love interest, Jean-Claude, and his former lover Asher. It is made clear in this book that Asher and Jean-Claude still love each other, but horrible circumstances cause tension that keeps them from loving each other fully. They both also love Anita, which adds even more tension, and leaves the reader with the sense that no matter whom each of them decides to love, it will all end on a very bittersweet note. That is the sense i want to capture in my writing: the deep love and sensuality drenched with a bittersweet sense of inevitable tragedy.

Romance and Romanticism Characteristics

This article helped a me great deal to learn about the characteristics of romance novels and romanticism. It also gave me some useful information on Wuthering Heights, a book a intend to read over the course of my research into this genre.

Link to article.