  Romance/Love
This week: Edited by: darkin
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Welcome to the Romance/Love Newsletter. My name is darkin and I'll be your editor this week. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride |
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Okay I'm bowing, I'm bowing!!!
Sometimes you just have to bow to the absurd. ~Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Up the Long Ladder," Jean-Luc Picard(played by Patrick Stewart), Stardate 42823.2
No truer words have ever been spoken. The absurd happens every day. It usually comes in the form of people that we meet. That strange neighbor next door, the oddly dressed rude woman in line at the grocery story, and even that overly friendly mailman who just has to know what's in the package he delivered.
Now I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with writing romance. I'm glad you asked. Each of these people could be a character in one of your romance stories. Often, and sometimes especially, romance stories need a little comedy to keep the story light, if not a bit funny, for the reader. And a little comedic relief can go a long way to bringing your hero and heroine together - or help keep them apart a bit longer.
I've run across a lot of people in my life that would make great comedic relief characters. Sadly I am, at times, a magnetic for people like this. I don't know why, but if anyone has a cure please let me know
A case in point. When I was younger I got called up for jury duty. I showed up on time, ready to serve if they needed me. I found a seat in the crowded room, got out my latest story I was in process of writing and got to work.
Now, when I write by hand it's pretty obvious I'm doing something. I have lousy up-close vision, so I tend to sit with my head on my left arm, close to the paper. I had picked a seat in the middle of a row, because it's less likely someone would sit next to me if they had to stomp past already seated people. Even though the seats on either side of me were empty, I felt pretty safe from being bothered.
I wasn't there 10 minutes when I felt someone sit next to me and a voice next to me says, "So, what are you doing?"
I looked up to find a thin woman, maybe in her early fifties sitting next to me. She had strawberry blond hair teased into a curly pile on top of her head and a lot of makeup on, especially dark eye shadow, blush and very bright red lipstick. But what really got me was her outfit.
She wore a pale yellow jacket, an off-white blouse with a lot of ruffles and a bright yellow skirt with what looked like small gray elephants. I kid you not. I had never seen an outfit for an adult with elephants on it.
I tried to be nice and said I was doing some work, which was true, but that didn't seem to sway her much. For the next two hours that woman followed me everywhere I went in the room, even the bathroom!! I asked her to go away, begged her to let me work to no avail. The whole time she was talking to me about her life and friends, even when we were in the bathroom!!
Just when I was about to ask the bailiff if I could borrow his stun gun for a few moments, her group of potential jurors was released from service.
With that announcement I started dancing a mental jig. I would have done a real one, but there just wasn't enough room for that. I was thrilled that I would now be able to actually get some writing done. Until she said these words to me.
"Don't worry, Honey, I'll stay to keep you company. I don't have to be back to work today."
I almost screamed. Heck, I might have screamed. But I'm sure I had a horrified look on my face as I shook my head hard. Lucky for me one of the court officers was nearby and must have heard her, because a few minutes later the bailiff announced that anyone who was released HAD to leave the room. She went to argue with the bailiff and ended up being escorted from the room.
Finally, the sweet sound of silence.
I found another seat, far away from other people, and spent the remainder of my jury duty in blissful quiet writing a short story about a psychotic stalker who latches onto a poor, unsuspecting woman while at jury duty.
But that's not the best part. When I got back to work I let a co-worker read the story I had written about the woman. I was sure my story was terrifying. Quite the opposite. She laughed the whole time she was reading it. Before I knew it half of the staff had read my story and thought it was funny. Sadly, for years after that I was labeled a "Weirdo Magnet".
Co-workers can be so cruel, much like five-year-olds!
But this woman did serve a purpose. For many years, she showed up time and time again as a comedic relief character in many of my writings, and not just the romantic ones.
Does your romance need a landlady? Make her odd. A guy who owns the local coffee shop. Make him odd. Just about any secondary character can be a bit off, just a little odd. They add such wonderful color, and some humor, to a romance - endearing your reader to your story.
So I say to all the odd, strange, and down-right peculiar people out there, talk to me at your own risk. You never know when I might use you for a character in a story or novel.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!
darkin
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Here are some items I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!
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#1499889 by Not Available. |
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#1482868 by Not Available. |
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#1535696 by Not Available. |
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#574746 by Not Available. |
| |  | Just The One (E)
Quirky, comedy poem about how a relationship develops.
#1599960 by Jam   |
And because I couldn't resist a zombie love story
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Thank you for allowing me into your e-mail boxes for this week's issue. I had a wonderful time writing this issue and would love to hear what you think about it.
darkin
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Romance/Love: November 25, 2009 Issue [#3405]
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