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fandomhigh2016-07-21 05:19 am
glacial_queen) wrote in fandomhigh2016-07-21 05:19 am
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Writing the Great American (Romance) Novel, Thursday, Per 2
Karla a great deal of chocolate with her in class today, ranging from morsels of bitter dark to bars of sweet milks all the way to squares of spicy chocolates mixed with chillies. Various piles of chocolates were arranged neatly on small plates on a sideboard, next to a vat of coffee and a large kettle of boiling water with a variety of teas.
"Congratulation on having thumbs and only two legs today," Karla said, giving them a grin from behind her desk. "I know I'm thrilled about this development." Not for her. Her daughter. Toddlers should not be allowed to be flying ponies, it was a goddamn rule.
"Last week, we were meant to start discussing setting, which is tied directly to the novel's basic subgenre. While the basic plot of every romance novel revolves around the burgeoning relationship between the main characters, certain elements of the novel tie it to a more specific romantic subgenre. Setting is perhaps one of the easiest ways to narrow a novel down to its subgenre. Popular subgenres based on setting include: Contemporary, Historicals, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, and Gothic."
Contemporary romance novels are novels that are set after World War II and are written in and about the present. Many different themes beyond romance can be explored, but, at its heart, it's a story about two people who fall in love in the ordinary world that goes on around us every day. Well, maybe not us," she said, looking out the window at the island, "but normal people living anywhere in the world. Historical romances are any romance novel set before 1950, and is broken down into further subgenres. Viking, Regency, Victorian, and the Old West are the most popular of the historical settings, as the romance between the main characters has to occur while navigating the social rules and mores of the past. Science fiction romances are romances that takes place in the future or in outer space, with a heavy reliance on technology or aliens. Their counterparts, fantasy romances, are novels with various fantastical elements: perhaps one lover is an elf or a witch or an angel." Karla's lips twitched a bit at that. "Regardless of whether it takes place on Earth or another fantasy realm, magic is a strong theme that runs through the novel, for both good and evil. The line often gets blurred whether its a fantasy or science fiction novel with strong romantic elements, or a romance novel with strong fantasy or science fiction elements. Basically, it boils down to whether the plot serves to move the romance along or if the romance serves to move the plot."
Were you taking notes, class? You should probably be taking notes. On the other hand, she wasn't going to quiz you on this. "Another subgenre of fantasy romance novels is the paranormal romance, which take place in the modern day world, often in a city, but where magic co-exists. This is where you find your novels about werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and ghosts. Time-travel romances also blur the subgenre lines, taking elements of fantasy or science fiction romances and mixing them with historical ones, as the hero or heroine travels through time before meeting their beloved. Lastly, gothic romance, creates a story where, once again, the main relationship is the primary focus, but uses many elements of the original gothic horror genre. Haunted castles, isolated moors, murdered wives, and children locked in attics--the frisson of terror in the novels adds spice to the romance."
Karla didn't realize this last subgenre might resonate with a student; if she had, she would have left Gothic romance off completely.
"These are hardly the only subgenres of romance novels, but these are the ones where the setting plays a vital component, becoming something akin to a character in its own right and defining the novel within it. Today, I want you to pick out a setting subgenre from the list I've just given you. That will be the genre your novel falls into. Now, I know many of you aren't from Earth, so I've included some references for you to page through while deciding which setting to use. Feel free to branch out from what you're used to, explore a subgenre you don't often read, get a little creative. And, while you're brainstorming, help yourself to some chocolate."
"Congratulation on having thumbs and only two legs today," Karla said, giving them a grin from behind her desk. "I know I'm thrilled about this development." Not for her. Her daughter. Toddlers should not be allowed to be flying ponies, it was a goddamn rule.
"Last week, we were meant to start discussing setting, which is tied directly to the novel's basic subgenre. While the basic plot of every romance novel revolves around the burgeoning relationship between the main characters, certain elements of the novel tie it to a more specific romantic subgenre. Setting is perhaps one of the easiest ways to narrow a novel down to its subgenre. Popular subgenres based on setting include: Contemporary, Historicals, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, and Gothic."
Contemporary romance novels are novels that are set after World War II and are written in and about the present. Many different themes beyond romance can be explored, but, at its heart, it's a story about two people who fall in love in the ordinary world that goes on around us every day. Well, maybe not us," she said, looking out the window at the island, "but normal people living anywhere in the world. Historical romances are any romance novel set before 1950, and is broken down into further subgenres. Viking, Regency, Victorian, and the Old West are the most popular of the historical settings, as the romance between the main characters has to occur while navigating the social rules and mores of the past. Science fiction romances are romances that takes place in the future or in outer space, with a heavy reliance on technology or aliens. Their counterparts, fantasy romances, are novels with various fantastical elements: perhaps one lover is an elf or a witch or an angel." Karla's lips twitched a bit at that. "Regardless of whether it takes place on Earth or another fantasy realm, magic is a strong theme that runs through the novel, for both good and evil. The line often gets blurred whether its a fantasy or science fiction novel with strong romantic elements, or a romance novel with strong fantasy or science fiction elements. Basically, it boils down to whether the plot serves to move the romance along or if the romance serves to move the plot."
Were you taking notes, class? You should probably be taking notes. On the other hand, she wasn't going to quiz you on this. "Another subgenre of fantasy romance novels is the paranormal romance, which take place in the modern day world, often in a city, but where magic co-exists. This is where you find your novels about werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and ghosts. Time-travel romances also blur the subgenre lines, taking elements of fantasy or science fiction romances and mixing them with historical ones, as the hero or heroine travels through time before meeting their beloved. Lastly, gothic romance, creates a story where, once again, the main relationship is the primary focus, but uses many elements of the original gothic horror genre. Haunted castles, isolated moors, murdered wives, and children locked in attics--the frisson of terror in the novels adds spice to the romance."
Karla didn't realize this last subgenre might resonate with a student; if she had, she would have left Gothic romance off completely.
"These are hardly the only subgenres of romance novels, but these are the ones where the setting plays a vital component, becoming something akin to a character in its own right and defining the novel within it. Today, I want you to pick out a setting subgenre from the list I've just given you. That will be the genre your novel falls into. Now, I know many of you aren't from Earth, so I've included some references for you to page through while deciding which setting to use. Feel free to branch out from what you're used to, explore a subgenre you don't often read, get a little creative. And, while you're brainstorming, help yourself to some chocolate."
Re: Settings and Subgenres