An Unexpected Revelation

Every writer goes through it.  The Doldrums.  The Self-Doubt.  The moment when whatever you’re writing just seems…questionable.

Last night in an effort to further bond with my soulmate and catch up with pop culture (thanks to my inability to get to the movie theaters when things are out), I watched “THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY”.  I know it’s been out for a while.  If you knew my life… Anyway!!  This movie is like LOTR on steroids and as I’m watching it all unfold, it hits me.

If LOTR style fantasy is your thing, well then, there can’t be too many orcs, trolls, goblins, sword fights, magic spells and let’s face it, exceptionally good-looking elves.  There is no quota to overfill, no line where you say “enough” and no fatigue factor.  If it’s well done, it’s a feast that you are thrilled to attend.  And if you like fantasy and a writer were to skip out any of the above altogether, well, it wouldn’t be fantasy, would it?

The same apparently goes for romance.  I’ve been hacking away at a manuscript and thinking, oh, god…I apparently write books with a great deal of kissing.  I’d pushed away from the keyboard and questioned the value of putting one more word down.  After all.  It’s “just” a romance.  Not life changing.

Or is it that never-ending feast?

Bring it! a voice inside of me said.  There can’t be too many kisses, too many passionate moments, lost opportunities, heart-breaking obstacles, fantastic pitch-black moments before the glorious dawn of an HEA.  Why? BECAUSE IT’S A ROMANCE!  And if you leave any of that out, it wouldn’t be a romance, would it?  So there you have it.  No more second guessing.  I’m closing my eyes and I’m jumping.  Not into the next great American work of fiction but into MY next work of fiction…

And yes, my Dear Readers.  There will be a great deal of kissing.