Saturday, March 22, 2008

What is Romantic?

Tell me your thoughts about a romantic setting?
It's funny how we all have a different opinion, even about what constitutes a romantic setting. Last night there was a beautiful full moon with clear sky and stars. Lovely. I called my family out to see it and the response was varied. One howled like a wolf!! And so did his fiance (they are the perfect match aren't they? LOL) My husband wished he was on the beach fishing. The children were just in awe and looking for the cow that jumped over it. I thought it was romantic.
My family lives in a gorgeous sub-tropical paradise on the coast of Australia and although we love where we live, appreciate it's natural beauty and get out in it as much as possible, to us it's still just home. Many come for honeymoons, weddings and romantic get-aways while everyday life goes on around us. However, I never take it for granted and even though I have traveled quite a lot, there's no place like my home.
Valerie Parv wrote about romantic settings in her book The Art of Romance Writing. She says "many writers are surprised to find the setting is not the most important element" when writing a romance. She says many of her powerful settings are just everyday places. While setting is important, it is the relationship between the hero and the heroine that keeps us glued to the page.
What's you idea of a romantic setting and have you used your special place in a manuscript yet?
Regards Annie

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Annie. It's so true.
I find it the setting of the surroundings ae alike what the characters themselves are described. Many reader equal many different opinions.
I have read so many books where they have either described the setting or the characters clothes or appearance and though, yuk or something to that effect.
I then have had to stop mid read and use my imagination to what i would like. It's a little annouying, but when it's a good read you'll put up with it.
Same goes for these names from the sexy genre. Man are'nt some of them a mouthful.
have fun
kez

Unknown said...

hi annie, me again. too rushed and thoughtless to check the spelling.
SORRY! I'm sure you could make out what i meant though.
happy writing
kez

Amanda said...

Hmmm - good point... I guess when I am writing my settings I do utilise those that I have had an experience with (good or bad) and then also draw on what I would imagine would work beautifully in that moment... being such a beginner - have to think about what it is I actually do re settings...!!!

I usually use sensory language with my settings, and involve that as my descriptors rather than the actual place...

Great thought provoking comment though... good one!

Amanda

Annie Doyle said...

Kerri, I know what you mean when setting or description creates distraction from the real story. And yes, some names can be very annoying.
Amanda, I love imagination - I use it often to recreate settings I have visited or at least manipulate details that prove useful for the purpose of creating the story.
Thanks for the comments
Regards Annie

Chelle Sandell said...

I think it's the tension and using the five senses when describing the sexual play between the characters. We have little ones in our house and my hubby and I have to be creative sometimes...setting isn't always important.

Anonymous said...

Any setting can be romantic if the right atmosphere is there. It's the little touches and soft sighs, the fleeting looks that make things romantic.
Theresa