Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

Before I get into it, here, have a teaser for my upcoming novella, Triskelion set right here in SE Ohio. You can find it here

I wanted to talk about relationships. Maybe it's a function of me not being in one for years. Maybe it's just a simple matter of 'you can't please everyone.' Maybe there's something actually there. I don't know.

In my first (that I know of) professional review (and how sad and yet maybe a tad hopeful am I that one of the kindest reviewers to me is now reviewing erotica for USA Today), for the steampunk mystery If Two of Them Are Dead said she liked it (gave it 3.5 -4 stars depending on where she posted the review), that she really liked the sex but she didn't buy Abraham and Victor as a couple. Another reviewer (your average Goodreads reviewer) said the same thing about Aaron and Rhys in my novel, Kept Tears

Now I have to admit it, it hurt more about Aaron and Rhys than Abraham and Victor. The latter's story is more about solving the mystery than it is about romance (and I keep hoping once DSP rolls out it's non-erotica line, I might be asked to write for it because wow, I'd much rather do that!). I could maybe see the reviewer's point. Still, I thought I had laid out their mutual attraction well.

Aaron and Rhys IS as close to a full blown romance I've ever written, no pun intended. It did hurt a little that people didn't buy them as a couple. Because here is where the doubt creeps in. Where did I fail? Did I fail? Maybe what makes a romance to me doesn't work for someone else.

I'm reading one right now and the romance isn't working for me either. I like the rest of the book so far but insta-soul mate on the first meeting? Nope, that is NOT my reality. It isn't. I can't even wrap my mind around it.

Maybe this is what they wanted and didn't get in my stories. I don't know. There's no clues to why they didn't buy them as a couple. evil_little_dog had a suggestion for me, to write it as overblown as I can then whittle it back to something I can actually live with.

That is one way to do it. Only a few of you read either of these stories (that I know of) so I can't really ask about a specific failing. So my question is, what makes a relationship work for you? What makes it fall flat?

I know that everyone will have different answers here and that it is impossible to please everyone. Still, if there's a pattern, it might be helpful. Thanks

Yearly Word Count -

Triskelion - Edited and returned
Nothing But Himself - Edited and returned
Untouched - Splinters of Silver and Soldiers of the Sun
Yule in Wales -

Comments

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks. Well honestly slow burn is what I'm going for (and maybe missing). I have to admit, the 'they hate each other but come to love each other' doesn't work that well for me because I've seen it a lot (though occasionally it does). I don't usually write that one.

They are attracted at first meeting but the relationship takes a lot more work. - This is the one that makes the most realistic sense to me and does your letter B.

The two that don't work for you, don't work much for me either.

They (almost) immediately see each other as the end-all-be-all of existence but outside factors keep them apart. THIS is the one I'm reading right now. One coffee date and they're in love, they're soul mates. My eyes about rolled out of my head. And I like the rest of it but man, that is so NOT for me. So like I said, it's possible I'm not doing anything wrong and it' just a matter of taste.

thanks. I appreciate it.