Plenty of full-length novels feature two
romances, typically a major and minor one. Two major romances can be
written if the characters are developed sufficiently, which IMO means
more pages til the happily-ever-afters.
Occasionally, a mid-length novel (65,000
words) can do the job but probably if it’s a romantic comedy, in which the pace
is queen. For those who would like to see how I handled this challenge, try out
my romantic comedy Double Happiness.
I’ve been accused of writing a very mannish book (for this one), but since I am one and this
blog is about the male POV, I'll stand pat.
Sometimes, a TV try at this can go too far. I’m
still watching Married At First Sight but
I'm not enjoying it that much because it has, for me, become borderline clinical.
The best reality TV show for romance is The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. Try to remember that relative degrees of staging
is what we writers do and then take a good look at this show and analyze the
educational and/or entertainment value of the product and what insights it may offer a professional writer.
This season of The Bachelorette, ABC lost a
golden opportunity to showcase two budding romances. Probably they couldn’t
afford to have two women (and approx. twice the primetime air) work together at
eliminations and who to pick for dates. Did anybody say catfights, drama, men
getting emotional, on and on? Actually, Britt and Kaitlyn had gotten along
really well.
Britt, who is part Cherokee, Swedish and
Hungarian (I’m hungry) is a 15 on a scale of 10 and as one contestant
put it, she’s a billion.
Kaitlyn is beautiful in her own right and has
a great sense of humor. Couple that with a little bad-girl she keeps trying to
tame (unsuccessfully) and you have drama over her arc or progression to
monogamy during the story.
Anyway, at the end of the first episode, the
men barely chose Kaitlyn over Britt and Britt left the show, but not entirely. Perhaps
some of them thought Britt too beautiful to be trusted?
A Nashville singer/song writer politely asked
Kaitlyn to be let go because his heart was set on pursuing Britt. BTW, Britt
doesn’t just have stunning looks, she’s empathetic and nurturing.
Have no fear, Britt fans, you will see her at
least one more time on this week’s show as the Nashville suitor knocks on her hotel
door.
Here’s a Brian Seacrest interview of the Bachelorettes:
BTW, one of my dear friends who in her fifties
said of beauty, men need choose more than just beauty because we all lose our
charms over time. My dear friend, look in a mirror, you are still beautiful and
your personality is a “billion.”
Extar credit. Below is for diehard fans of the show:
An ABC promo for the remainder of the season (pick the first video if more than one shows up):
Extar credit. Below is for diehard fans of the show:
An ABC promo for the remainder of the season (pick the first video if more than one shows up):
