Cliché: Yo-Yo Relationships

By Linda Lovely

I write Romantic Suspense-Romantic Thrillers. The genre marries spine-tingling suspense with romance—the degree of heat ranging from tepid to wildfire. However, one romance cliché seems to thrive in every segment of the genre, and it makes me grind my teeth.

What’s the cliché? Each time it appears the hero and heroine might find eternal love an internal conflict arises to tear them apart. This relationship yo-yo is credited with building tension and prompting readers to eagerly flip pages to see if the (IMHO often quarrelsome) lovers will eventually hurdle over their emotional roadblocks and/or stupidity. Of course, since a happy ending is mandatory, the novel ends with the hero and heroine—who have fought like gamecocks throughout the book—pledging undying love. Given their prior habits, I always wonder what would happen if there were more chapters. Would another imaginary insult pop up and lead to divorce?

Based on conversations with other authors, I suspect writers knowingly incorporate this yo-yo cliché in their novels because they believe agents and editors consider it essential for the romantic story arc to succeed. I’m not buying. Romance readers are more savvy/intelligent than that.

I do understand that internal conflicts up the emotional stakes and build tension. Yet I find it difficult to swallow that a heroine and hero will squander time squabbling if they’re fighting for their lives. Once the hero and heroine join forces and begin working as a team against the exterior threat, I think all their energies would be directed toward eliminating the threat not nitpicking their relationship.

October 1 release date. Pre-order now.

RYes, the couple might have private reservations about their long-term relationship because (fill in the blank). In my newest romantic thriller, DEAD HUNT, those “blanks” include a past romantic interlude that ended badly, feuding families, professional conflicts, planted evidence, and, yes, a few impetuous mistakes.

However, I tried hard to avoid conjuring stupid misunderstandings to pry the heroine and hero apart at a crucial moment simply because it was “time” for another breakup. For instance, when the heroine in DEAD HUNT is presented with “evidence” of her lover’s deceit, she does not accept it on face value. She investigates.

 

I think author J.D. Robb has aptly demonstrated that a couple (Eve and Roarke) can have a hot romance, fight bad guys, and treat the reader to lots of tension without wasting time on meaningless quarrels that make a reader want to scream “You idiot!” at the hero or heroine or both.

Okay, romance readers, do you agree?

TWISTED TALES BY Sarah Raplee

I love stories with cliches that have been given an uncommon twist. For example, as a little girl my favorite Cinderella movie was one entitled Cinderfella.

Remember the way the movie SHREK twisted cliches? The hero is an ogre, the Fairy Godmother is a villain, the evil dragon is only misunderstood. And in the end, the hero is not transformed into a handsome prince. Rather, the Princess becomes an ogre permanently. Loved this!

The twisting of plot and character cliches shows up in my writing on a regular basis. In the short story, Curse of the Neahkahnie Treasure (in the LOVE & MAGICK Anthology from Windtree Press), I used the girl-disguiied-as-a-boy trope. The twist? My hero figures out the boy his dog rescues from drowning is a young woman right after he gets her aboard his sailboat. As soon as she regains consciousness, she learns he knows the truth. The cliche is a hook, not a plot line.

My Paranormal Romantic Suspense novel, BLINDSIGHT, will be out this fall, also from Windtree Press. The heroine is blind. Near the beginning of the book, she needs the hero's help to escape from the bad guys' fortified wilderness compound. The first twist in this story is that in order for the hero to help her escape, the blind heroine must first rescue him from a  drug lord's torture chamber. And she does.

How do you feel about story cliches?

Thank you for reading my post. I'd love to have you visit me at www.sarahraplee.com

Wake me up when the vampires get back...

I miss vampires.

Yeah. BDSM billlionaires and bad-boy bikers – and what are these guys but vampires without the bloodsucking? – they just don't do it for me.

Bring back the alpha vampire, and all the cliches that come with him. Undead angst! Destined mates! Fighting the inner monster! I'm getting all nostalgic here. Ready for some vampire silliness?

First of all, let's talk about vampire sex.

1) Your vampire should be extremely well-hung. Apparently this is an important criterion for choosing who should join the ranks of the undead. I'm not sure who checks these things – is there an inspection, or what? – but they're doing a great job.
2) Blood sucking is orgasmic. Instantly. Yes, apparently fainting from extreme and rapid blood loss feels gooood, baby.
3) The healing power of saliva. All bite wounds will close on contact. Probably it kills pain, too. This is amazing. Where do I get some?

Now for aesthetics. You have to get the look right.

Preferably, he should dress like a refugee from the Village People. Y'all know what I'm talking about. Black leather jackets and bare chests all the way. If he can wear some desperately manly jewelery, so much the better. And no facial hair. Ever.

See where the biker thing comes from? Mr. Vampire will definitely live on the shady side of life. Never just works a regular job. No middle management vamps need apply.

Probably he owns a nightclub, or at least spends a lot of his time in one. Still, it's not really clear why he should need to do anything to make a living. He's had centuries to make his fortune; he's the definition of filthy rich (billionaires, anyone?).

Oh, and he'll have a long-standing blood feud that must be satisfied. With werewolves. Or dark fae. Or another, More Evil Vampire. Anyone will do, really. Gives him something to be angry and brooding about while he's raging against his Inner Monster and falling for the heroine, who will of course be Too Delicious To Resist, no matter whether said vampire hero feeds on a dozen beautiful women a night, or has lived like a monk for a thousand years. He will totally lose his cool over her.


See, this is all a lot more fun than control freaks with whips, or tattooed petrol-head rock stars, or whatever they're buying in contemporary these days. I miss vampires. Wake me up when they get back.

How about you - do you miss vampires? Still reading paranormal, or have you switched to contemporary? Or do you still read both?

Erica
www.ericahayes.net

Cliches,Good or Bad?

By Diana McCollum
http://dianamccollum.weebly.com/


What I find fascinating about clichés is one can get across a feeling, picture or a state of being with few words which need no further explanation. True, some are used to the extreme and especially as readers we get sick to death (is that a cliché?) of hearing the clichés used over and over and over again.

I am thrilled when reading a book and I come across a new take on an old cliché; because old clichés are not all accurate when used in modern day language.

For instance:

“I’m tired of sounding like a broken record”- Really? Most teenagers don’t even know what a record is they’re too wrapped up in I-Tunes & CDs. A broken record is when they beat someone else at track etc.

“More troubles than Carter’s have pills”-How many of us still shop at a Carter’s Pharmacy? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Carter’s Pharmacy.

“It’s the cat’s pajamas”-My children had no clue what this meant.

“It’s the bee’s knees”-I don’t even know what this one means.

“It’s not worth a plugged nickel”- I give, what is a plugged nickel??

“Johnny come lately”—Huh??

And then there are others that are timeless:

“Kiss and tell”

“loved and lost”

“Poison pen”

“love is blind”

“all’s fair in love and war”

 “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”

I beseech you when you are writing if you are tempted to use a cliché, try and make it more current or different so the reader is surprised and doesn't roll his eyes at yet another cliché. Here is an example from Nora Roberts book, “Homeport”.

Instead of saying “She was cold to the bone”—“The damp, snapping wind iced the bones through to the marrow.” Much clearer picture, more of an impact and chilled me just reading it.

What are some of the clichés you dislike? What are some you do like?

Cliched to Death and Sick of it?

Clichéd to Death and Sick of It?

By: Marcia King-Gamble 

Every writer struggles to keep their work fresh and avoid those much overused platitudes which have readers grimacing and rolling their eyes. You know exactly what I mean; those smarmy, trite phrases that in the real world would have you snarling, “Gag me with a spoon, please,” and running in the opposite direction. 

Yes, I know this blog is supposed to be about your favorite romantic clichés, but honestly, I have been over clichéd so have no favorites. I am taking an entirely different approach to this blog topic. 

Readers expect and deserve more than pit-pattering hearts and pulsating body parts. Romance writing is not about heaving bosoms and throbbing cores. Readers want to meet real people and be introduced to fresh new approaches to story telling.  And this my friend is why an author has a “voice." There is no excuse for lazy writing.

Top of mind are some much overused phrases that have me gnashing my teeth and swearing.

She fell into a sea of blue

She stared at him like a deer caught in headlights

He was the stuff dreams were made of

Her mouth went dry and her knees turned to jelly when he walked into the room

I think you get my point.

As a romance writer, it can be challenging to come up with fresh, unique ways of telling a story and still keep things steamy and romantic.  But it’s the writer’s job to find the right words to engage the reader and leave them panting for more. There are ways to do this without sounding soupy or over the top.  Why would anyone want to settle for the tried and true and sound like every other writer? You have your own unique voice and way of  delivering. 

  

When I sit down to write, I have my arsenal lined up of: drink, snack, research materials. I always have the print version of a dictionary and thesaurus within arm’s reach. There’s something about flipping through pages and finding just the right words or expressions that is liberating. I never get that rush surfing the web.  

If I want to be hip and current, there’s the Urban Dictionary. I’m amazed by the creative euphemisms for everyday words. With just some wordsmithing I can create jaw dropping scenes that would otherwise  be snorers. The Urban Dictionary is my “go to” place for snappy, current day dialogue. I’ve even created a character or two based on some catchy, down-home phrase.  

 Years ago, I received what is still today a cherished gift. The Flip Dictionary by Barbara Ann Kipfer Ph.D.  It is now one of my most prized possession and something every writer should have in their toolbox. If you are struggling to find the right words, you can find it all here.

Below you will find an excerpt from my latest novella, Tempting Andie (the third in The Revelers Series.)  The story is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Be sure to let me know if I’ve done a decent job without the cliches.

Excerpt from Tempting Andie:

The lobby doors slid open and Evan and Miguel dressed in brightly colored board shorts walked in. Andie’s retort got caught in her throat. The sheer maleness of Evan rendered her speechless.  She should have stayed with him last night. Today his unshaved whiskers made him look mysterious and sexier than ever.  Just once she wanted those biceps wrapped around her and those fingers strumming her chords. Evan’s broad chest in that Tee-shirt was designed for a woman to lay her head on.  Andie’s hormones were already revving out of control.

 And that ladies and gentlemen is it for this month!

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned 26 books and 4 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.
Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com  or “friend” her on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/MarciaKingGamble
Marcia’s latest release,  a novella, “Tempting Andie,” the third in The Revelers Series is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  http://amzn.com/B00MDZLAQI
She writes a monthly column for  http://digitalromanceinc.com