Monday, January 10, 2011

Bad Romance



What draws us to books? The story? Yes. Story trumps all. We can get over bad writing...for bad romance.

I just finished a book that was tough to get through because the writing drove me nuts, but the story? Oh, that story held me and wouldn't let me go. I'm a sucker for the girl who falls for the guy she shouldn't be with. Big time. There's something in that love, that ache, that obsession.

In Dark Forest, there are a few relationships that constitute as Bad Romance. My heroine is strong. She's the one who has to do the saving in my story. But the boy who is sworn to protect her...such a strong draw there. She doesn't need him, or so she tells herself, but he is so nice to have around. They fall for each other, but there are far more important things than romance. Who has time for longing glances or stolen kisses when there is a forest to heal and all sorts of scary creatures out to kill you?

And don't get me started on who her father falls in love with, further jeopardizing everything.

Bad Romance = Conflict

Conflict drives the stories. It makes us turn those pages. We need that bad romance.

As Lady Gaga sings:
I want your drama, the touch of your hand
I want your leather studded kiss in the sand
I want your love
Love, love, love I want your love

Unless you are ten years old. This review was posted on Amazon for a book:
"It has a lot of romance, but it doesn't mess up the book at all."

So, as long as that Bad Romance doesn't get in the way of the rest of the story for those who just want the action, I guess.

I have to end with this because it's one of my favorites...



What about you - do you want bad romance? Do you write it?
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10 comments:

  1. MeredithJanuary 10, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    I always fall for a bad romance book--it definitely can help drive a plot! There's something disturbingly compelling about bad boys (only in books though, not in real life!) And now I'm obsessed with that acapella version :)

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  2. Karen Jones GowenJanuary 10, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    That Amazon review is so cute! How awesome that a 10 yr old is posting a review.

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  3. Alex J. CavanaughJanuary 10, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    The romance didn't get in the way - that's funny!
    Although I'm hoping I didn't damage the sequel to my book by adding a female character...

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  4. Colene MurphyJanuary 10, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    I recently started loving the love stories. Used to be more about the action and adventure. But, you truly can't go wrong with a good love story. (what book did you just finish reading?)

    Your novel sounds so interesting!!

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  5. PaigeewaJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    I love romance when it isn't the only thing the story has going for it. Like, I love the romances that Sarah Dessen writes (I chose her because I'm snowed in which is boring and I have cabin fever, so I'm rereading Sarah Dessen books and not other serious books) where the boy and the girl start off as flirty friends and then start dating and yeah, I love a bad boy with a heart of gold. It can't be helped.

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  6. The Words CrafterJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    Bad boys, whatchya goin' a-do? We love them, especially when we get a glimpse of a soul yearning for something better or hiding away terrible pain....

    Love that review and I totally agree with it :P

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  7. Abby MinardJanuary 10, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    First of all, I'm obsessed with Lady Gaga (um, I mean Little Monster is obsessed...) so I love you just a little bit more for posting that video.

    Ahem, anyway..I love to have a little bit of romance in the stories I read. But I never really thought about what I liked better, but I gues they all have to have a little bit of bad in them. The baggage they carry is what makes the romances interesting- and at the end, (usually) the heroine takes in all of him- the good and the bad.

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  8. Jennifer HillierJanuary 10, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    Bring on the Bad Romance (and I so love those college boys singing Lady Gaga -- did you watch Sing Off? I was rooting for them!).

    I love romance, but love it more when it's a side dish to the main storyline. I love it even better when the romance goes massively wrong and this seeps into the main storyline throwing everything into a tizzy.

    I also love it when characters make terrible decisions regarding said romance ::cough:: CREEP! ::cough::

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  9. Angelina RainJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:23 AM

    I love those “bad” forbidden romances. That’s mainly what I write, it adds so much more to the drama and conflict of the story. For me, if the romance in the book is easy and the characters don’t have to work for it, then it’s not worth it. The way I see it, if a couple gets together easily, what’s to say they will stay together after a few hardships? So after the author writes “the end”, I like to know that the couple will make it, and if they had to fight for each other and their “bad” romance then they are more likely to make it.

    By the way, loved the video. LMAS

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  10. LTMJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    yep--I'm with you! (As you know from my last two posts...) But now I'm wondering what book you just read? :D <3

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