Majanka Verstraete's Blog, page 7

Literary Trope: Forbidden Love… And Why We All Crave It

Forbidden love.

The kind of love that has inspired Shakespeare’s most famous story, Romeo and Juliet, about the doomed love affair between a couple who could never be together because of the fued between their families. The kind of love that caused the fall of Troy, in Homer’s Iliad, for Helen, the queen of Sparta, had been abducted by Paris, the prince of Troy, and this had led to the legendary war. And the kind of love that ruined the mythical kingdom of Camelot, when Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur, fell in love with his best friend, Lancelot.

Forbidden love has inspired poets and authors all throughout history. The star-crossed lovers, divided either by social status, marriage to someone else, fueding families, you name it – there’s always one or more reasons why they should never ever be together.

Yet, they’re drawn to each other like moths to a flame.

The reason why the trope is so popular and still being devoured by thousands of readers, is that it’s a timeless trope, and something we all – or the majority of us – can relate to. The majority of people have, at some moment in time, felt something for people they shouldn’t have feelings for. People who are already in other committed relationships. People who have made a vow that stops them from falling in love or being with someone (think about nuns and priests). People who are just plain bad for you and although technically, you could be together, you know you really shouldn’t.

One of the strengths of this trope no doubt lies in its relatability. We can all relate to it, and because we’ve all craved for that forbidden love, that we have to deny ourselves in reality, we find solace for this unspoken desire in books and movies. We cannot have it in real life because it would have too many consequences, but we can have it in fiction.

In fiction, the heroine can leave her husband for that one-time fling she had with a co-worker. It may hurt her, but she’s a fictional character – it does not compare to real hurt, or to the real consequences we would face in real life were we to do so. In fiction, kingdoms can be wrecked for the sake of love, while in reality politics, money and power more often come into play than romance.

Think about love triangles. They were extremely popular a few years ago, and they’re still quite popular nowadays. But even looking at historical fiction – take my aforementioned example of Camelot, where Guinevere is torn between her love for Arthur and Lancelot – the love triangle seems to have been in vogue for thousands of years. Love triangles are partially based on forbidden love: because if you’re already dating one person, then you shouldn’t pine after another person. It’s forbidden, but that’s exactly why it’s so enticing.

There are several popular sub-tropes in the world of romance novel that all fall under the trope of “forbidden romance”. Think about the following sub-tropes:

 

Step-brother / step-sister romanceAge gap romance, where one character is substantially older than the otherTeachers /coaches and their studentsOffice romance, most often between a character who is in a higher position than another characterAdultery trope, where one or both of the characters are already in a committed relationshipVillain / hero, where one character is the villain and the other is the hero

 

It’s wrong, or it walks the thin line between good and bad, and that’s why it’s so appealing to read about. And to write about. Creating two characters who cannot be together and should not be together, and somehow make them fall for each other? That’s challenging to write about in a convincing way, but at the same time, it’s also one of the most interesting subjects to add in novels.

What is your favorite book or short story featuring forbidden love?

 

Sims 4 Story: Josie, The Vampire Slayer – Episode 1.4 Drinks, Dancing and Desire

I’ve started working on a new Sims 4 Story, one involving vampires, romance, and lots of teenage angst and drama.

Here is the blurb:

Welcome to Vampsville, where vampires rule the night, and one girl from a long line of vampire hunters needs to defeat them.

Meet Josie Van Helsing. Sixteen-year-old vampire hunter with a complicated love life – and “complicated” is an understatement.

Episode 1.4 Drinks, Dancing and Desire is live today.

The story will be updated every Thursday, so you can expect Episode 1.5 Mr. Cross next week.

Sims 4 Must-Have Mods for Storytellers: Wicked Whims

If you like storystelling using the medium of the Sims 4, like I do (check out my blogs here and here for ongoing stories), then you might need some mods to help you enhance your storytelling.

One of my recommended must-have mods for storytellers is Wicked Whims. Please note that this mod is 18+ and should not be used for children below that age.

While Wicked Whims has a variety of uses that are strictly for adults – in short, let’s say that Wicked Whims makes WooHoo a lot more realistic – some of the interactions it creates between Sims can also help with your storytelling.

Sims no longer need to have a high relationship in order to share in the Wicked Whims interactions. You don’t need to go through endless flirting behaviour in order to have your Sims kiss, make out, or more.The mod adds a lot of new interactions to your game, and when using them, you can put your Sims in rather compromising positions, but you can also use it to capture more realistic kissing scenes or make-out scenes for your Sims that are just not available without this mod. If you want your Sims to snuggle on the couch, or one Sim to jump in another Sim’s arms, etc. then you can either use poses, or use this mod.Even if you’re not just in it for the storytelling, this mod also adds a lot of additional information concerning relationships. It adds attractiveness, which can make your Sims spot attractive sims in the area – something which I’ve always found lacking in the regular Sims gameplay, because there’s no way to determine what your Sim finds attractive, and thus they could end up flirting with the ugliest Sim in the game and be just as engaged as they would be if they were flirting with the hottest Sim around. This fixes that. Every Sim has their own attractiveness preferences, which you can adapt and change.This mod also adds some more nudity options that can also be useful, allowing your Sims to take off one clothing item at a time, and allowing you to change Sim underwear for any base outfit.The mod also adds Sims personality archetypes, like Hero, Lover, Everyman, and so on, which add an additional layer of storytelling and interactions to your Sims game.

 

With all these features, the mod can certainly enhance your gameplay and your Sims 4 storytelling, but keep in mind (once again) that it is for adults only.

Movie Review: Mother / Android

Mother / Android is basically a zombie apocalypse but with androids. Georgia (played by Chloe Grace Moretz) has just found out she’s pregnant when the androids decide to strike back against humanity.

Skip forward a few months, and Georgia and her boyfriend Sam (played by Algee Smith) are camping out in the woods, trying to stay away from roads to avoid androids. Georgia is almost full-term, and the couple are heading toward a military compound to find refuge before they continue their trek to Boston. Sam has heard boats are leaving from Boston to Korea, taking families with them.

What follows seems to ne a guide on how not to survive an apocalypse. Sam makes one dumb fault after another, putting not only himself but also Georgia and their unborn child in danger. Some examples: even though the military camp has a doctor who can help with the birth of their child, he insits they should go to Boston…although the baby is already late and can literary be born at any time. And don’t get me started on the motorcycle.

While Sam keeps on trying to win the award for stupidest ideas ever, Georgia is basically superwoman on steroids. She shoulders on, no matter what, showing a lot of courage and tenacity.

Unfortunately, one good actress and redeeming character, does not a good movie make. The plot is straightforward and rather predictable, and none of the characters, besides Georgia, are ever really fleshed out. Even Sam, her love interest and boyfriend, barely shows any hints of a real personality.

The action scenes are boring too, the dialogue is chunky, and the pacing is incredibly slow.

All in all, this is not a movie I would recommend, although I initially found the plot idea and trailer intriguing. Alas, it turned out to be a bit of a disappointment.

 

Real Haunted Houses: Drish House

Drish House was built in 1837 by Dr. John R. Drish. It was built in the centre of a 450-acre plantation. Dr. Drish, who was a widower himself at the time he built the mansion, married a wealthy widow, Sarah Owen McKinney.

The house features Ionic columuns in the front and rear, and two-story pilasters dividing each bay on all four sides. It is a mixture of Greek and Italian styles, and a three-story brick tower in the center of the house.

Just a few decades later, in 1867, Dr. Drish fell down the stairway (alledgedly he was drunk and quite unsteady, which caused him to fall down the stairs). His wife, Sarah, became quite obsessed with planning her husband’s funeral. According to the legend, Sarah saved the candles from the funeral in order to use them at her own funeral someday.

Sarah Drish died in 1884. Alledgedly, Sarah’s family frantically searched for the special candles, but could not find them. This caused Sarah to be angry at her family, and this is why she started haunting the Drish House. The most common sign of the haunting is people witnessing fire on the third story of the house, although there’s never been evidence of any fire. According to the story, the flames are supposed to be coming from the candles that were to be used at Sarah’s funeral. There are some other ghost stories as well, involving Katherine, the daughter of Drish, who supposedly lost her mind after being forced to marry a man she didn’t love.

Ghosts or not, after Sarah’s death, the house changed hands several times, and was eventually owned by the Tuscaloosa Board of Education. They opened the Jemison School in the house in 1906 and it was used as a school until 1925. In 1940, it was purchased by the Southside Baptist Church, which added a sanctuary on the one side and a detached Sunday school building on the other. The church became defunct in 1995 and stood empty for quite some time, until it was deeded to the Tuscaloose County Preservation Society in July of 2007. They had the church additions demolished in 2009.

The house was renovated and re-opened in 2016 as an event venue.

Real Haunted Houses

Previously in this series:

Real Haunted Houses: Franklin CastleReal Haunted Houses: Villesca Axe Murder HouseReal Haunted Houses: The Sallie HouseReal Haunted Houses: LaLaurie HouseReal Haunted Houses: The Bell Witch FarmReal Haunted Houses: Ann Starrett MansionReal Haunted Houses: Sturdivant HallReal Haunted Houses: Whaley HouseReal Haunted Houses: House of Seven GablesReal Haunted Houses: Woodruff Fontaine HouseReal Haunted Houses: Cedar Grove MansionReal Haunted Houses: Sauer CastleReal Haunted Houses: The Pink PalaceReal Haunted Houses: House of DeathReal Haunted Houses: Joshua Ward HouseReal Haunted Houses: The Lemp MansionReal Haunted Houses: Los Feliz Murder MansionReal Haunted Houses: Winchester Mystery HouseReal Haunted Houses: Bliss MansionReal Haunted Houses: Croke-Patterson MansionReal Haunted Houses: Thornewood CastleEnjoyed this article? Read Fractured!

When Piper discovers an old antique mirror on the attic of her new home, she has no idea what terror she unlocked.

Eerie shadows lurking in the night and estranged voices crying out for help are only the beginning. As Piper’s world comes crumbling down, she realizes everything that she believed was imaginary, might have been real all along.

Something is very wrong with that mirror. And if she doesn’t find out what, the mirror might end up killing her.

With some help of old and new friends, Piper tries to get to the bottom of the mystery. One thing is for certain: the mirror preys on the guilty. But what exactly is she guilty of?

Release Date: September 16, 2013

Format: eBook and Paperback

Price: $3.99 for eBook and $13.99 for Paperback

InkSpell Publishing | Amazon (PB) | Amazon (Kindle) | Kobo | B&N | ARe

Sims 4 Story: Josie, The Vampire Slayer – Episode 1.3: Making New Friends

I’ve started working on a new Sims 4 Story, one involving vampires, romance, and lots of teenage angst and drama.

Here is the blurb:

Welcome to Vampsville, where vampires rule the night, and one girl from a long line of vampire hunters needs to defeat them.

Meet Josie Van Helsing. Sixteen-year-old vampire hunter with a complicated love life – and “complicated” is an understatement.

Episode 1.3 Making New Friends is live today.

The story will be updated every Thursday, so you can expect Episode 1.4 Drinks, Dancing and Desire next week.

 

 

Sims 4 Story: The Mystery of Blackwood Manor – Chapter 1.1 Blackwood Manor

Next to my Sims 4 Story Josie, The Vampire Slayer, I’m also working on a larger Sims 4 story set in the Victorian era featuring vampires, love triangles and forbidden romance: The Mystery of Blackwood Manor.

Here is the blurb:

Sarah May Rochester, a progressive, inquisitive and intelligent seventeen-year-old, is forced to live with her aunt and uncle, Lady Violet Blackwood and Lord Thomas Blackwood, after her parents have passed away.

While dealing with the tragedy of her parents’ death, Sarah May discovers that the Blackwood Manor, her new home, has more than one secret left to uncover.

On top of that, her enigmatic and charming neighbour, Seth Bathory is probably not entirely human…

And he’s not the only supernatural being roaming artound in town.

Featuring complicated love triangles and quadrangles, infatuation bordering on obsession, and vampires with an insatiable thirst for power, The Mystery of Blackwood Manor is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Chapter 1.1 Blackwood Manor is live today.

The story updates once a month. Stay tuned for Chapter 1.2 The Blackwoods next month.

 

Sims 4: Must-Have Mods for Storytellers: Storytelling Toolkit

If you like storystelling using the medium of the Sims 4, like I do (check out my blogs here and here for ongoing stories), then you might need some mods to help you enhance your storytelling.

One of my recommended must-have mods for storytellers is the Storytelling Toolkit.

Like the name of the mod suggests, this is a must-have mod for storytellers because it allows you to influence the Sims’ moods based on your requirements. Imagine that in your story, you need two of your Sims characters to start arguing on a rainy day.

But the weather is nice, and your characters are perfectly happy.

That’s where this mod comes in.

Weather Control allows you to change the season and the weather right away, going from a hot summer’s day to a dreary autumn evening.Emotions Control allows you to change your characters’ emotions, making them happy, sad, angry, and so on. You can then also remove the moodlets after you have snapped the perfect pictures for your storytelling.

There’s a pretty good review of the mod here if you would like to have a more detailed understanding of how it works.

 

Monday Musings #51

Monday Musings is a post in which I talk about my writing goals for the upcoming week, and the progress I made on my goals for the past week.

My list of monthly goals for January 2022 is here, in case you want to check out my insane list of goals for this month.

Here’s a rundown of my goals for last week, with my progress. Unfortunately, I did not reach all my goals, although I thought I had made good progress…

Format and re-release Murder in Mind, the first book in my Psych-Tech Series .Send out my monthly newsletter.Publish the first episode of my Sims 4 story: The Mystery of Blackwood Manor (0/1).Schedule all articles in the category Haunted Dolls / Haunted Paintings for on my blog this year (3/12).Schedule all articles in the category Literary Tropes for on my blog this year (0/12).Blog at least two times this week.Re-publish Valentina’s Spooky Adventures on Amazon.

 

But I did reach an additional goal:

Schedule all episode updates for February for my Sims 4 story Josie, The Vampire Slayer (4/4).

 

My goals for this week are:

Format and re-release Murder in Mind, the first book in my Psych-Tech Series .Send out my monthly newsletter.Publish the first episode of my Sims 4 story: The Mystery of Blackwood Manor (0/1).Continue to schedule all articles in the category Haunted Dolls / Haunted Paintings for on my blog this year (3/12).Continue to schedule all articles in the category Literary Tropes for on my blog this year (0/12).Re-publish Valentina’s Spooky Adventures on Amazon.Schedule all posts for January on my blog (that I can schedule).Schedule all posts for February on my blog (that I can schedule).Schedule all episode updates for March for my Sims 4 story Josie, The Vampire Slayer (0/4).Schedule all episode updates for April for my Sims 4 story Josie, The Vampire Slayer (0/4).Schedule all reviews for on I Heart Reading for February.

 

What are your goals for this week?

Movie Review: Don’t Look Up

Don’t Look Up is a science-fiction comedy / drama that features a lot of big names: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Jennifer Lawrence, and Meryl Streep are just a few names that are on the impressive list of stars featured in this movie.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Dr. Mindy, a low-level astronomer from Michigan. Dr. Mindy’s assistant, Kate Dibiasky, discovers a comet one night, and initially the team is excited about their find. That is, until Dr. Mindy starts running the numbers and discovers that the comet is heading straight for planet earth. Impact will hit in just over six months.

Dr. Mindy is desperate to inform the rest of the world, so that someone somewhere can do something about it. One of the initial audiences for the news of Dr. Mindy and his colleagues concerning Comet Dibiasky is the President of the United States (played by Meryl Streep), who happens to be female in this movie version. Unfortunately, she does not do much better than her real-life counterparts, and she happens to be the worst president imaginable, caring only about elections and money, rather than the fact the entire world is going to meet their end soon. Jonah Hill plays the chief of staff, and coincidentally, the son of the president, but he’s not exactly a catch either. Caring only about material wealth, he’s very shallow and superficial.

That is the tragedy presented here in Don’t Look Up. Not the fact that a comet is heading straight for our planet, because we can avoid this tragic fate: the U.S. military has several options to take out the comet or at least drastically reduces its size, and other countries with space programs could also launch a similar mission. Yet, the tragedy isn’t the comet heading here to kill us.

The tragedy is that no one cares.

Dr. Mindy and Dibiasky talk on a morning show about the comet heading for earth, yet the ratings soar when a teen pop star discuss her break-up and consequent getting-back-together. The internet has a laugh about Dibiasky’s meltdown on TV where she yells what we should all be doing: we’re going to die if no one does anything.

But no one cares.

And that is the real tragedy of today’s society. Don’t Look Up drips acid in the wound to show to us loud and clear that we’re in a capitalist society, where material gain of a few triumph over the good of many, and where a lot of people are willing to believe in those not worthy to believe in. Where words are hollow and grand speeches are given while behind the curtains, opposite decisions are made. And where the good of the planet, again and again, is pushed to the back for material gain.

It’s a strong commentary and the movie does it rather well. It feels one leaving exhausted, worried and ill-at-ease, because the scenario is just too plausible not to be chilling.