Let's just start off by clarifying that I am not a romance hater. Not at all. I don't dislike it in real life, and I don't dislike it in books. I do have some personal standards on what type of romance I read, and a lot of the typical romance genre happens to fall under what I don't care to read, but that said... I enjoy seeing/reading about a good, honorable romance between two people.
However, looking past your typical romance, I'm constantly disappointed by the lack of love in other forms at the bookstore. Love can take so many different shapes and sizes-- it can be between a parent and a child, or between siblings (yes, it's very true!), it can be between neighbors, or it can even be between strangers. Love is a powerful thing.
With all these different types of love, and all the various forms of expressing it, I'm always surprised how little it's been used in books, especially more modern fiction. So what are some basic ways that the element of love can be shown?
But what if we wanted to go a little deeper--to start the imagination wheels turning? What about the kinds of people who could love each other? I like to think in my head sometimes of random pairings. Not romantic pairings, just "they love and care about each other" pairings. It's a lot of fun and you can get a lot of good inspiration. Because let's face it. Books revolve around relationships...you can't have a story without one. So here's some random ideas. I'll start...you finish! ;)
And you could go on! ;) I think a lot of times people don't want to name something as "love" if it's not romantic, but let's change that. Let's write love in all it's different forms!
Question of the Day:
What is one of your favorite examples of non-romantic love in a book? Little Women always is my favorite example. Between the love of Marmee and her girls, and the love of the sisters, and then the love between family friends... Ah, there's just so many good examples in that book.
Have a lovely day!
<3
Victoria
However, looking past your typical romance, I'm constantly disappointed by the lack of love in other forms at the bookstore. Love can take so many different shapes and sizes-- it can be between a parent and a child, or between siblings (yes, it's very true!), it can be between neighbors, or it can even be between strangers. Love is a powerful thing.
With all these different types of love, and all the various forms of expressing it, I'm always surprised how little it's been used in books, especially more modern fiction. So what are some basic ways that the element of love can be shown?
- Parent and Child
- Grandparent and Grandchild
- Siblings
- Relatives/Extended family
- Neighbors
- Mentors or Teachers and their Students
- Person and Pet
- Coworkers
- Friends
- Strangers (How, you ask? Well, love can be expressed even towards someone you don't know!)
- People who share your Faith
- Person with those who are in need
- Those in social services with people within the system
But what if we wanted to go a little deeper--to start the imagination wheels turning? What about the kinds of people who could love each other? I like to think in my head sometimes of random pairings. Not romantic pairings, just "they love and care about each other" pairings. It's a lot of fun and you can get a lot of good inspiration. Because let's face it. Books revolve around relationships...you can't have a story without one. So here's some random ideas. I'll start...you finish! ;)
- Two old ladies who are BFFs
- A girl and her younger sister
- A boy and the pastor at his church
- Young woman and abandoned baby
- Two detectives or police
- Shop owners right next to each other on the street
- Dog and abused child
- Homeless person and the neighborhood officer
- Teacher and the school outcast
- Father and his special needs child
- Bookstore owner and crazy bookbug reader that is always buying books
- Cafe Barista and the old man who just needs a friend
- ....
And you could go on! ;) I think a lot of times people don't want to name something as "love" if it's not romantic, but let's change that. Let's write love in all it's different forms!
Question of the Day:
What is one of your favorite examples of non-romantic love in a book? Little Women always is my favorite example. Between the love of Marmee and her girls, and the love of the sisters, and then the love between family friends... Ah, there's just so many good examples in that book.
Have a lovely day!
<3
Victoria
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