Given that, I think we should talk a little bit about romance in our prose. For those of us who seem to write romance more than anything else this may seem odd; for those who run from romance, take heed:  this is for all of us.

Even the best stories have a bit of romance in them. It doesn’t have to be kissing scenes every page, but connection to a love interest fuels many a character to do things they wouldn’t normally do — with both positive and negative consequences.

So go find your favorite romance scenes — either in a book, a movie, a tv show.

Here’s one of mine, humor me, it’s almost 10 minutes, but there’s love and devotion throwing up all over this screen, especially the last scene with Alice & Uncas. Can you pick all the love out?:

Find three scenes. Scenes that flow with love, or deep romance, and maybe even a first kiss.

Find them and dissect them.

What words does the author use to convey the feelings? What mechanics do they use to do so? Are the sentences long? short? How much dialogue is there? If you’re dissecting film, what angles, close-ups, establishing shots, what do you see that gets you there? What other feelings besides attraction and love are there? Is there fear? awkwardness?

Write down everything you think of as you watch or read.

Now, take a moment and think how would you write those scenes differently? (not better or worse, just differently…you’re a different writer, of course they’d be different). Now pick one and rewrite it. Go on, go for it. Just one scene, it shouldn’t take you long. Make it as serious, humorous, or silly as you like. This is all about playing with our talent, craft, art, and learning while having fun.

***

Thanks again to those who attended the workshop last night. It was jam-packed but short one.

Next workshop is February 11, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the North Bend Library Meeting Room.

Hope to see you there.

***

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“I had a romance novel inside me, but I paid three sailors to beat it out of me with steel pipes.”
― Patton Oswalt

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron