Five Reasons I Love Romance
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and what better way to acknowledge the most romantic day of the year than by discussing the theme of love in fiction? Romance has been a prevalent topic in fiction for centuries, so much so that even stories in other genres usually contain at least one romantic subplot. But what is it about romance that makes it so popular? I can’t speak for every romance enthusiast out there, but I can discuss why I personally consider it one of my favorite genres of fiction.
So to continue on the theme of Valentine’s Day, here’s a brief review of five reasons why I love romance. Enjoy!
1) I live vicariously through fictional characters… especially my own.
The balcony scene from the anime series Romeo x Juliet (2007)
One of my favorite things about reading and writing fiction in general is that it gives me a chance to experience life through the eyes of another person. And sometimes all I really want is to see the many different sides of love. That’s where romance comes in. My favorite pieces to write have always been love stories because they give me the freedom to imagine how people with different personalities might face the challenges of romance and to experience the passion and dangers of love without facing any of the risks myself. And isn’t that one of the greatest thrills of being a writer?
2) Love stories inspire me to be a better person.
When I read or write stories about people who are happy when with each other or who would do anything for each other, it inspires me to pursue those positive traits in my own life. Even seeing love in real life makes me as happy as when I read about it in fiction, if not more. In my experience, love is something that helps us grow and become better people. This is reflected in the last romantic story I wrote, which was about two teenagers whose love brought out the best in each other. With all the wonderful qualities love can inspire in people, it’s no wonder I love to experience it myself!
3) Romance exposes the true nature of people (even if somewhat idealized).
It’s human nature to love and want to be loved. That’s one of the things that makes romance so relatable. That’s also one of the reasons I use it to learn more about human behavior in general. Being something of a social ingénue, I often take advantage of fiction as a mirror that reflects some of the qualities of real people. Of these, none are more raw or real than human emotion, and of all the forces in the world that can drive it, one of the most powerful by far is love. So if any genre of fiction can offer an insight into true human nature, it’s romance. Which is why…
4) Stories about love give me a positive outlook on the world.
More often than not, romance shows us the good side of people, a side I wish we could see more in real life. There are far too many tragic stories in the world as it is. So when I read or write about characters loving each other, it fills me with hope that the same could be true for real people. As I’ve noted in the previous items, fiction at least partially reflects reality in many ways. So if fictional characters can bring out the best in each other, why not believe that we can too?
5) Love never gets old!
If nothing else, I read and write love stories because I never get tired of them. Ever. I read romantic novels. I watch “lovey-dovey” movies. I write stories about people who fall and live and even die for each other. And still it never becomes cliché. Something about romance always calls me back to it, and likely always will. I can’t help it; I just love love!
So how about you? What are your favorite things about romance?
Word of the Week: Amorous
Word: amorous
Pronunciation: A-mər-əs
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Valentine’s Day is this Saturday, so here’s a more romantic word for this week’s vocabulary post. For those of us who enjoy writing romance, sometimes we need just the right word to convey the passion between our characters. And let’s just say that for spicier interactions, “amorous” is on my favorites list.
An “amorous” action is one relating to love or sexual desire. The word can be traced back through the Old French adjective amoros (“in love”) to the medieval Latin adjective amorosus. These in turn stem from the Latin noun amor, which means “love”.
The last time I used the word “amorous” in a story was to describe a kiss between a couple of teenage characters who were desperately in love. I needed an adjective that would accurately define their level of passion without being too explicit, as most of my readers were relatively young and innocent. For that particular purpose, I believe this word worked perfectly well to convey my characters’ love and desire for each other. If you too enjoy romance with plenty of passion, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble writing some “amorous” scenes into your stories! Good luck!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
Powerless
You used to be so powerful.
You could do whatever you wanted.
You could get away with anything.
Because I let you.
You had such control over me.
Anything you said, I believed.
If you said it wasn’t worth it,
I agreed without thinking.
If you said I should give up,
I would stop on the spot.
If you said I would fail,
I wouldn’t even try.
But I realize now
That you were in my way,
That I could be so much more
Without you to stop me.
Now I’ve finally had enough.
I’m sick of holding back.
I’m tired of being afraid.
So go away, Fear.
Take your empty threats
And vanish into thin air.
You don’t control me anymore.
I’m in charge now.
I’m taking back my life.
You are powerless,
And I, at long last, am free.
What If? Writing Prompts: Romance III
Welcome to February! To start off the month of love, here’s a new set of “What If?” Writing Prompts for you to enjoy, all set to the theme of romance. See what sorts of love stories you can write based on these ideas, and feel free to add more of your own! Have fun!
What if… you were stuck in a never-ending Valentine’s Day until you found that special someone?
What if… you loved someone you could never be with?
What if… you found out your best friend has had a crush on you for years?
What if… you were in love with someone… who was in love with someone else?
What if… the only way you could win over the person you love was through a talent you lack (singing, writing poetry, etc.)?
Enjoy creating your own romantic tales!
If you have any “What If?” writing prompt suggestions (for any theme), please feel free to share them in the comments below. Ideas I like may be featured in future “What If?” posts, with full credit and a link to your blog (if you have one)! Also, if you’ve written a piece based on an idea you’ve found here, be sure to link back to the respective “What If?” post. I would love to see what you’ve done with the prompt! Thank you!
Word of the Week: Zealous
Word: zealous
Pronunciation: ZE-ləs
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
“Zealous” is another one of those words that I would see or hear often but always forget what it meant. I’m sure it’s come up a few times in my vocabulary test prep material, though to really memorize it, I suppose I’d have to make a habit of incorporating it in my own writing. It wouldn’t be too hard either; I have written quite a few characters who were passionate about a particular cause.
A “zealous” person is someone who demonstrates great enthusiasm for a chosen goal. Derived from the noun “zeal”, the word traces back through the Latin noun zelus to the Ancient Greek noun zêlos, both of which mean “zeal” or “jealousy”. The latter noun comes from the verb zēlóō, meaning “to emulate” or “to be jealous”.
With such similar spellings, I’m sure I must have confused the word “zealous” with the word “jealous” at least once before. Interestingly enough, despite having different meanings, they have the same etymological origin, so that may serve as a reminder for writers seeking words to describe passion in their characters. If you tend to write characters who show great emotion for a given objective, then “zealous” is a good word to keep on your shortlist. Write with passion, and your readers will see how “zealous” you are about your craft!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
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