The Power of Romantic Fiction: A Journey through Love and Dreams

1. Some of us are reduced to tears of boredom by this. • Others get this gushy warm feeling. • Some sigh wistfully and use box after box of Kleenex wiping their eyes. • The callous cynics will either fling the book, change the channel, or laugh boorishly. • Many are on a high and are for weeks lost in whimsical fancies till someone pours a bucket of water on them. • Peddlers of dreams sell these dreams and get rich in the process. 1.4 billion dollars worth every year, Harlequin sells books every 4 seconds.

3. ROMANTIC FICTION • As Time Goes By" • music and words by Herman Hupfeld • [This day and age we're living in Gives cause for apprehension With speed and new invention And things like fourth dimension. Yet we get a trifle weary With Mr. Einstein's theory. So we must get down to earth at times Relax relieve the tension • And no matter what the progress Or what may yet be proved The simple facts of life are such They cannot be removed.] • You must remember this A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh. The fundamental things apply As time goes by. • And when two lovers woo They still say, "I love you." On that you can rely No matter what the future brings As time goes by. • Moonlight and love songs Never out of date. Hearts full of passion Jealousy and hate. Woman needs man And man must have his mate That no one can deny. • It's still the same old story A fight for love and glory A case of do or die. The world will always welcome lovers As time goes by. • Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers As time goes by.

4. Some quotes: Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières "When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots are to become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the desire to mate every second of the day. It is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every part of your body. No ... don't blush. I am telling you some truths. For that is just being in love; which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over, when being in love has burned away. Doesn't sound very exciting, does it? But it is!“ BrokeBack Mountain by Annie Proulx “I wish I knew how to quit you.” The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks "I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.“

5. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” Prometheus Unbound by Percy Bysshe Shelley "Soul meets soul on lovers' lips." Stop All The Clocks by W.H. Auden "He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest.“

6. 25 Types of relationships 1. Love at First SightThis describes the typical fairytale/standard romance. Think Disney, The Princess Bride, . Usually, the conflict seems to revolve around a quest or rescue mission. They fall in love fast, but some outside force is keeping them apart rather than tension within the couple.

7. 2. “Oops!”A strong-willed or career-minded character doesn’t intend to fall in love, and happens upon it by accident… with consequences that could destroy their dreams/career…undercover cop falls for a criminal, tabloid writer falls for subject of trashy interview, etc. (How to Lose a Man in 10 Days, Zoolander, Van Wilder movies) Often, one character needs to choose between love and their career, or must find a creative way to obtain both! 3. Forbidden Love/"Romeo and Juliet"This one seems to fall into paranormal romance, human/vampire (Bella and Mr. Sparkles) Sometimes its as simple as simple as a high school jock infatuated with a "nerd" character, or an office relationship, notable age difference, even step-siblings. 4. Love/Hate The characters start off disliking each other, and we all know what that means!Examples: Rhett Butler and Scarlet , Han Solo and Princess Leia

8. 5. Childhood FriendsCharacters have known each other since childhood. I think of Anne of Green Gables and Gilbert...(though it crosses into love/hate a bit :PSometimes the relationship is sweeter and involves a childhood promise. Many anime and romance manga comics feature childhood friends relationships.6. Best Friends/ Friends FirstThe characters all ready know EVERYTHING about each other at the beginning of the story. However, something is keeping them from realizing their true feelings. Does anyone remember Dawson's Creek? 7. Rivals/ Protagonist vs. AntagonistSometimes this crosses into Love/Hate, sometimes notlikeXena and Ares from Xena: Warrior Princess, or if a protagonist character falls for the bad guy/girl.

9. 8. Love TrianglePearl Harbor , Twilight (the whole Bella/Edward/Jacob deal). The main character has to choose between two suitors.9. "Sorry, I'm Taken"Usually, this one involves a couple that seems perfect for each other, but one of the subjects already has a nasty/ boyfriend or girlfriend or spouse they can't let go of...Titanic comes to mind...10. "In Disguise"Shakespeare came up with it first (though he came up with most romance tropes, didn't he?) Think of "Twelfth Night" which inspired a variety of movies and books in which a girl character is in disguise as a boy, causing quite the confusion situation for the male love interest!

10. 11. “Different Worlds”Not necessarily forbidden, but this couple struggles with bridging the gap between their two worlds, sometimes causing friction when they don’t understand each other. The different "world" could be literal in fantasy and sci-fi, or could deal with "real world" issues such as class, race, religion, etc. I'm thinking of Pride and Prejudice, Ask the Dusk, or even funny movies like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. Bollywood’s favourite.12. “ Second time around”Two lovers who already knew each other (and lost contact or broke up) prior to the beginning of the story, meet again and the sparks fly...13. “Tragic Past”Many crime shows/shows geared towards men use this. Two characters click well, but one character cannot get over the tragic past of losing a loved one, etc. Usually one of the subjects lost a lover or spouse who died years before meeting their love interest.

11. 14. "Long Distance Relationship"One character is captured, goes away to war, college, and the chemistry between them is shown through letters or phone calls, leaving readers in anticipation of their reunion. Sometimes they are tested by temptation or other forces trying to tear them apart...This probably works well for army stories. 15. “The Unobtainable Love Interest/ 1-sided”Usually, one character immediately knows who they want and why they want them...but the other character doesn't seem interested, or has a secret reason for not expressing their interest. Popularity or self esteem issues like in Peter Parker and Mary Jane come to mind.16. “Lovers in Denial”Borders on love/hate where the characters tease each other, but in a more respectful playful way. They are often good friends at some point in the story, and get in general conflicts and playful arguments but don’t dislike each other, and often have respect for each other. Usually, one or both characters have a pride issue that keeps them from confessing their love, or they don’t want to ruin their friendship.

12. 17. “Passionate Lovers”This is used in soap operas, dramas, and genre romance...revolves mostly around intense physical attraction/lust at first and sometimes develops into something more...18. “Sweethearts Forever?”Lovers that just click, seem sugary sweet, and almost too perfect for each other, usually one or both is/are hiding something…Ashley Wilkes and Melanie from Gone With the Wind19. "Opposites Attract"Two different characters click and deal with each others differences at the same time… oftenthis is between an introvert character and extrovert character. 20. "Similarities Attract"Characters act very much alike, causing both tension and infatuation… Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenswood (passion for archaeology and similar tempers)

13. 21. "Partners in Crime"Two characters who work as a “bad guy” team…often do malicious things to those who get in their way, but are actually a loyal and devoted couple.Think Bonnie and Clyde, or various soap opera teams and super villains.22. “Dangerous Drama”Passionate, twisted, intense..yet they always come back to each other... even though the couple needs therapy and the characters have done some pretty nasty things ranging from mind games to physical abuse (yikes!)yet there's something about these relationships that keeps viewers or readers waiting for more...this in soap operas, TV dramas, and some like (gossip girl) Usually involves betrayal, vengeance, dangerous characters, and life-threatening situations...23. “Arranged Marriage/Date”Two characters are set-up and forced to be together by politics or family pressure, sometimes crossing into other love/hate, love at first sight...Bollywood all the way.

14. 24. First LoveUsually a Bollywood type...the ups and downs of first love...the subjects need to figure out how to handle a relationship while trying to discover their own identities at the same time. 25. Long-term loversThe couple has already been together for awhile, sometimes married!However, something other than another love interest (kids, adventure situation, family drama) either brings them closer together or causes tension.Mr. and Mrs. Smith

15. Wordsmithing Here is what romance novelists say of their craft: “There are a lot of snobs out there who disregard these books (romance novels), but they fulfil a need. I am happy and fulfilled in what I am doing and readers love them. And why not? They are harmless and they are fun.” - Sara Craven “The romance genre is the only genre where readers are guaranteed novels that place the heroine at the heart of the story. These are books that celebrate women's heroic virtues and values: courage, honor, determination and a belief in the healing power of love.” ― Jayne Ann Krentz “When the Romantic Novelists' Association was founded 35 years ago (in 1960) the image was of pink fluffy bimbos. Now, the view of life through rose-coloured spectacles has gone out of the window. A realistic background and certainly a more realistic relationship between a man and a woman are the important things.” ― Jean Chapman

16. In the context of all of this let us get down to work. In the 25 types of relationships choose the type that best suits your fancy. Create the protagonist in your mind before you proceed, their cultural influences, their location, historical period, their occupation. Get to know your character and how they react. Show don’t tell. We will leave profanity to hormonally challenged kids, avoid clichés like bulging manhood and protruding orbs. It is the soul within us that we shall attempt to speak of. Subtle erotica sells well in Germany and the U.S. though. Dig deep into your beautiful being. From Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence “All hopes of eternity and all gain from the past he would have given to have her there, to be wrapped warm with him in one blanket, and sleep, only sleep. It seemed the sleep with the woman in his arms was the only necessity.” The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald "He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete.“ The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy “The way her body existed only where he touched her. The rest of her was smoke.”

17. "Mai aurmeritanhai, aksar ye baatenkartehain, tumhoti to kaisahota, tum ye kahti, tumwokahti, tum is baatpehairaanhoti, tum us baatpekitnihansti, tumhoti to aisahota, tumhoti to waisahota.“ Silsila Le prix d'Amour, c'estseulement Amour, ... Il faut aimer sil'onveutêtreaimé.This famous quote, written by Honoré d' Urfé, can be translated as follows: The price of love is only love, ... one must love if one desires to be loved. HOPE YOU ARE IN THE MOOD A para wrested from your soul invested in your character, 100 words ---10 minutes. 2. A dialogue between the protagonists showing their state of mind in the context of the 25 possible scenarios. 10 lines