Happy Monday to YOU! Missing that hour yet? I am! I didn't believe my alarm when it went off this morning - since it was still so dark outside and all. I worked in the yard this weekend. I picked up something and it had little pricklies in in...one of those plants where the pricklies are unseen until you touch them. Now my left hand is ouchy, and I can't see the shards of prickly to pull them out because they are microscopic. I won't talk about the splotches on my arm from trimming back the Sago Palms, or the huge welt on the back of my leg from whatever has bitten me. I also won't talk about the baby snakes that made me scream like a little boy either...
What I do want to talk about is love. In your stories. I let someone read something I had written for my WIP and it brought up a good topic for discussion. I had written an "a-ha" moment and my friend said something that implied that maybe it was too soon to use the word "love", or "in love with". She's totally right here, which is why she's my beta reader / crit buddy -- she's truly the voice of reason. Would my MC be able to say that they loved this person so soon? The one point we agree on is how "love" is tossed around very genorously in most YA novels. Not that I have a problem with that...
So this brings me to the question of the day. Do you think a character can say that she/he "loves" another character before they've really are together? Get your mind out of the gutters...I just mean together as in they've finally gotten together. Seriously - when is it ok to use "love"? Your thoughts?
Good question!! ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm totally missing that hour!!
I think you just have to be authentic about whether the character would say it or not. In the Gossip Girl books (yeah I used to read them, hush) Serena was the kind of girl who falls 'in love' hard and fast so it was totally reasonable for her to say it after a week or something ridiculous. Whether it was real love is another issue entirely, it was in character.
ReplyDelete- Sophia.
I think this all comes down to your MC. If your MC uses the word LOVE a hundred times within the novel I hope that she doesn't know what love really is and it's conveyed, not to mention I bet it's going to be a good chunk of the story explaining why she's so 'in love' with everyone.
ReplyDeleteIf your character is feeling the moment but you feel it's too soon pull the reigns back and ask your MC why they feel the way they do. Chances are they'll answer the question before you can.
Wow, I sound nuts.
Personally I think it depends on the type of relationship you are aiming for. If it is a Edward and Bella kind of relationship then no, it wouldn't be too early because they have an intense relationship and of course they are soul mates but in realistic terms, you should know after a few dates whether or not that person is worth loving or not.
ReplyDeleteThough, it is possible to love someone after spending a little time with them. It has been known to happen. Not to me, but I am sure it has happened to someone.
Hmm, well, I really don't like when love is tossed around too easily. My MC's romance in my trilogy...they don't say I Love You until near the end of the third book. (and they've been together for about a year.) I'm not saying every novel has to build this way...but I want my readers to see their love blossom, feel it with them and then tell them to get over their issues and say those damn three words already!!
ReplyDeleteI'm missing that hour. Desperately.
I write YA, so I try to think like a teenager. The word love is used more generously then, I think. But I try to make it appropriate to my character.
ReplyDeleteI write YA as well and ya, kids throw that word around a bit to easy. BUT, I still like it when the love aspect is dragged out a little, wait for the kiss, that WOW moment. I like the building up to that moment.
ReplyDeleteWhen I met my husband, I knew I loved him right away. In fact, within a month we were engaged. I know! Right? That was fifteen years ago, and we're still going strong. BUT. I was twenty-nine when we met. If we're talking about YA romances, I don't think kid-characters should exchange the "L" word until they've spent several months together, getting to know one another, and exploring an intimate relationship.
ReplyDelete