Thursday, July 17, 2008

My Muse, My Thoughts: Romance - It's More Than A Genre

Happy Thursday:


I'm die-hard romance junkie!! However, a few months ago, I discovered that romance isn't all about the genre.

Here's a re-post of an article I wrote that appeared on Blogging In Black (April 16, 2008). When you get a moment, check it out, then let me know what your romance is.


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If a Gallup Poll were conducted and people were asked to define the term romance, an overwhelming percentage would say it’s the collection of love stories, the genre.

Although the term has several meanings, there’s one other definition I’d like to put on the table—the spirit of adventure.

Aaah…the spirit of adventure! Writers, are there times in your career you’ve ignored the still, soft voice of your inner spirits? You know the one, the voice that begs and challenges you to escape the comfort zone you’re in and strive for higher ground. No one, and particularly writers, should ever permit the walls of complacency to close in around them.

Maybe there’s been a point in your career, where they’ve contemplated penning a different genre. Yet, when circumstances align in perfect sync in order to chart a new direction, you fail to seize the opportunity. Why?

What about the other aspects of your career? What writer hasn’t faced the decision to change agents or publishing houses? Instead of modification, you hide behind the shield of same-old, same-old. Why?

Maybe, just maybe you’re afraid to embrace your romance, the spirit of adventure.

Let’s face it people, change is the most difficult concept for human beings to accept. It’s even more difficult for writers. Whether the reluctance to engage in our romance is due to procrastination, lack of effort, or fear of the unknown, those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities just might pass us by. Then we’re left to ponder the proverbial, ‘what if’.

I’m not a ‘what if’ individual. Never have been. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve delved into some romances in my lifetime that have straight up bombed! Rather than dwell on my lack of success, I focused on the lessons learned, the experience gained. There are some things in life only our romance can teach us. Remember, it’s more than a genre.

What romance lies dormant inside of you?

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