|
Post by fairlane on May 20, 2007 20:10:07 GMT -5
I could say that I avoid anything that even hints at romance, but although mostly true there are some exceptions and I have read a few stories that involves a romance and really enjoyed them.
It is fine to have romance in a fan fiction, after all most of them have canon girlfriends. It is not fine to take someone elses character and mangle them to fit a cliche of the romantic lead.
I don't write it at all. I have zero talent with romance - everyone in my stories gets to have meaningless one night stands. Ha.
|
|
|
Post by Nittanylizard on May 20, 2007 21:30:05 GMT -5
It seems like there are very few out there who are good at writing Outsiders romance (it's definitely not my forte, but I love the ones that are well-written), and there are probably a couple of reasons.
I agree with Mars, that some of the authors don't realize that the story they see in their head that involves them, or somebody they would like to be, is just not translating well into a story that interests anyone except those looking for a pre-written story of their own romance with that particular character. And if you made it through that sentence without injury...
Maybe part of why they are a challenge to write is because the romance turns into the entire plot, and then what? If there's a girl, and she's with one of the guys, then something interesting should happen. But if something interesting is happening, readers start to get annoyed that this girl is in the middle of things. So the character needs depth, and a background, but so many readers jump right ahead to what should really be the end of the story rather than the beginning.
So yes, I definitely think there's a place for romance in Outsiders fanfiction, but there aren't too many authors so far who seem to be able to do it well. I'm sure it has a lot to do with how young many of the writers are.
|
|
|
Post by zevie on May 20, 2007 23:33:34 GMT -5
Wow I totally agree Liz! I love romance! ;D I'm sappy that way. And I love, love, love happy endings. (Rated G.) Unfortunately, for Outsiders fics at least, I can't ever write them. I just find them hard to believe in my own head, especially with Johnny or Dallas - I can't do that re-write the story kind of thing, where Johnny and Dallas don't die (though I've seen some good ones). I completely agree about the ending happening at the beginning for a lot of romances. When reading I need more than just a cursory description of a female character to actually care about whether she gets the guy. I need some background info as to why I'm supposed to be cheering her on (or not cheering her on...whatever)! And I love the chase. When it's over it's like...meh. (There's a comparison here for older folk.) If the story continues, something interesting really has to happen, or there has to be another component that's unresolved. Happily ever after doesn't strike me as an interesting read. I think there might be a lack of obstacles in this genre. Only my opinion, though. But, that's only for the OFC POV (lol) romances, which seems to be the majority. I've seen a couple fics from one of the guy's POV about chasing a chick, but not as many as I'd like.
|
|
|
Post by Tensleep on May 21, 2007 18:56:51 GMT -5
I love reading romance novels. Seriously, I have bags of them under my bed. Along with western novels they occupy the mass of my book collection. I know, odd combination, but hey.
However, when it comes to Outsiders fan fiction I find it is lacking. Maybe it's just that I have all of them planned out in my head, I don't know, but reading someone else's romance just bothers me. And as for writing one...well, I don't think I will because I don't want someone else to be thinking the same thing about my writing, you know? I do have a story going on - an original - that is humorously sarcastic and involves a little bit of a love story, so that goes to show how much of a chicken I am .
Anyways, that's getting off topic. I think that of the romances I have read the ones with Dally, Soda and Johnny depress me. The love interest for Dally always manages to either change him or bring out how much of a heartless...rhymes with Dastard...he is. The ones with Soda are so over done and full of teen-aged fantasies. I just tire of Soda stories completely because of that, but hey. Then there's Johnny. They make him out to be either someone so broken he can't stand to live without the OC or he's a pity romance. I hate those. I adamantly avoid the ones where the female character has to choose between Dally and Johnny.
So I find most romances on ff.net are groan worthy. Rarely you will run across a good Darry romance, though. I enjoy those because they bring out a side to the character that you rarely see. Its a welcome change.
Anyways, I'll end up rambling for a lot longer unless I stop here.
See ya in the funny papers!!!
Tens
|
|
|
Post by zevie on May 22, 2007 0:17:09 GMT -5
Definitely. Two-Bit is a sexy character (aside from Emilio, even). He's funny! He's tough, he's got a shell to crack, but he's not emotionally broken. He's got family. It's not necessary to end the romance with tragedy. SO MUCH POTENTIAL! I love Middle Ground.
|
|
|
Post by silverchameleon on May 22, 2007 7:04:20 GMT -5
I tend to avoid most Outsider's romance on principle, because it's so rarely done well. But I do think it has a place. Or at least, that girls have a place. Because we are dealing with a bunch of teenage guys and we're given the impression that they do chase girls. My main problem is the way they tend to be done. I generally cringe a bit at any fanfic where we're reading the characters as the fanfic author wants them to be - with all the tweaks necessary so they can love them properly. And this tends to happen in most romance fics. And just like a lot of others are saying, I kinda want to know why I should care about the girl. Except for Cherry, none of the cannon characters are particularly developed, which means I don't enter a fic already caring about them. It's even harder if it's an OC. So, the author needs to show me why i should love or hate the character. Which tends not to happen, 'cause they already know why they love their own character (often because it's them ). The point of that rambly post was: I quite like a romance fic that's not overdone, and shows us something that seems remotely liek the way the characters might react. But that doesn't happen often.
|
|
|
Post by zevie on May 22, 2007 20:56:23 GMT -5
I wonder though, if someone wrote themselves into a story as their real selves, would that be just as unappealing to read? Sorry that's garbled... What I mean is, when I think of author insertion, I usually think of the inserted "character" being a Mary-Sue. But, if they were actually acting as a real person in the story, baring massive anachronistic thoughts or actions, couldn't they be a plausible character?
This is just a weird thought I guess, because in practice I agree, I think it's just too dangerous.
|
|