First of all, I was forced to watch the Academy Awards. Had to, no choice. For one thing, the movies released in 2010 were outstanding, the best I’ve seen in years. Second, I love the glamor and I will not apologize for that. I’m so not glamorous, but that’s what the Academy Awards show is all about - fabulous dresses! Plus Kirk Douglas was a hoot! So cool that an elderly man who’s suffered a stroke has still got it goin’ on! Oh yeah!
So a bit of a replay…there’s been much discussion recently on one of the loops I frequent about the necessity of an indisputable HEA in order for a story to be considered a romance. If a story ends in either a tragedy or is left sort of open-ended, many, if not most, romance readers consider it a ‘love story’ or literary fiction. Nicholas Sparks, who writes very popular mass market romantic stories, claims he does not write romance. Does he or doesn’t he? Um…I think he writes romance, but what do I know?
I personally don’t think romance MUST end with a 100% HEA. I don’t demand an HEA. I do demand a satisfying ending no matter the genre. A story might end with a Happy For Now, a cliffhanger, a semi-tragedy and still be a romance as opposed to a love story, at least as far as I’m concerned. On the other hand, a love story does not necessarily end in tragedy. Not every love story is Love Story. And don’t say - love means never having to say you’re sorry, because for damn sure it does - the biggest cop-out ever uttered in a motion picture/novella…grumble…grumble…
The definition of a romance novel according to RWA: “Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending.”
So tell me, does the phrase optimistic ending demand a definite, perhaps finite is a better word, HEA? Is there wiggle room? What do you think?
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I’d say optimistic ending leaves it open. As for Nicholas Sparks I feel he writes romance and his definitely don’t always have a HEA.
Kirk Douglas was hiliarious last night.
The #1 reason why I read romance is for the HEA. There is no wiggle room for me. Even an “optimistic” ending is not enough.
I never watch the Oscars live….makes me way too nervous. I just look at photos of the gorgeous dresses the next day! That’s the fun part!
I love the term optimistic ending. I write novellas and sometimes I think it’s just downright stupid to end a brief story about two people (or more!) who just met and had wild sex ,with a happily ever after ending. Isn’t it enough to hint that they are important to each other and plan to pursue the relationship after the reader closes the book? I guess what I’m saying is I don’t like the HEA at any cost. When the HEA feels forced or unlikely it ruins the story. A HEA that works is lovely.
XXOO Kat
Funny you mention Sparks. It was after reading one of his great romances, only to be left ready to hurl it when I didn’t get a HEA, that I discovered there was a difference between love stories and romances. Now I’m scared to read a ‘love story’ because I don’t want to be emotionally broken at the end. Have you read Erich Segal’s, Love Story? Shit! I think I cried the whole second half of that sucker. But it stayed in my memory as one of the best, most gut-wrenching love stories. If I knew what I was getting into, would I have read it? Probably not.
A romance doesn’t need to be tied up in a neat bow at the end with wedding vows in a church. But, I want closure and to know that the lovers will be together and happy. HFN is fine as long as it’s open-ended, allowing my imagination to fill in the rest.
Stacey xo
Amber - I too think Nicholas Sparks writes romance and tacks on a reason to cry at the end. Because the couple is always together at the end and they’ve had a good life, it’s just that something happens to one of them.
Kat - I agree, not every single romance needs an HEA - for me, a satisfying ending will do.
Penelope - yes, I know! I’ve got your number! You demand your HEA! So do most romance readers. I guess, coming from my background, I like the occasional question mark. As long as the ending is solid and satisfying, a question mark doesn’t bother me, it intrigues me and I keep the story going long after.
Oh Stacey - you are such a softie! Yes, Love Story, tearjerker - annoyingly so! That book was definitely not a romance. Yes, I don’t need a church-wedding either, just a good ending - an uplifting ending.
Until the discussion happened on the loop we’re both on I had no idea there was a difference between “love story” and “romance”. Since all of my books so far have an HEA, by any definiteion, I write romance. But when it comes to reading, I just want a damn good story and if there’s some hawt lovin’ somewhere I’m usually very satisfied. But I’m no help with deciding the difference between the two.
I don’t mind a happily for now or an optimistic, satisfying ending, but when the hero or heroine drops dead at the end, or they’re torn apart, how is that satisfying? Didn’t Sparks write Nights in Rodanthe and The Bridges of Madison County? If so, I agree with him. Not romances.
Sigh…according to historical record, a “romance” is fictional work. Nowadays it means something totally different.
I think that the term “romance” can be used for many varying types of work, but any person who writes fiction (according to historical terminology) is writing…right! Romance.
There is a movie, oh I wish I could remember the name. Ugh. Well, wife is abused by husband, husband goes off to war, man comes back years later posing as her husband. He treats her better than her real husband so she falls in love, he dies in the end. It was a romance. What is the name of the movie? It is going to drive me crazy.
Ciara, I thinks you’re talking about Somersby.
Nina, I knew there was a difference, I’m just not sure the difference impacts me much in my reading tastes. It probably impacts me in the way I write. Yet I did leave Captured open-ended and readers seem to accept that.
Shawn - see I thought The Bridges of Madison County was total romance! It was a romantic interlude. And in a way, it ended well - for me - because the kids were reading about their mother’s secret, and it was so beautiful.
Fran - I think romance has meant many different things at different times. For instance, when it comes to the Middle Ages and the French romances, they usually ended in tragedy, yet they were definitely considered romances by readers in that time period and are still referred to as romances.
Ciara - I don’t know that movie, but remember Coming Home with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight? It had a similar theme - tragedy, yet a happy ending for the two main protagonists.
I’m thinking the difference between love story and romance is intensity. Love story can be sweet, maybe long time coming, or gradual bloom. Romance is like a shooting star through the night sky, goes streaking off until it hits something, and then boom! Now, that’s romance!
Huh. After reading all the comments…I think it can be both. Other than that, I don’t know.