Hey, I just read in the author's notes to one of your Robby fics that you're repulsed by writing media typical romantic stuff. I was wondering if you could elaborate on that? I'm really curious about what not media typical romantic stuff would look like.
Also, are you comfortable with receiving romantic requests? Could you outline what's okay and what's not? And what level of physical affection you're comfortable writing? I feel like there's a bit of a lack of nonsexual physical affection in fanfics and was wondering if I could come to you for that :3
(Sorry for asking so many questions >.<)
I would normally type out a proper msg to this comment cause I really like getting into my ace spec type opinions, but unfortunately, my exhaustion and motivation happened to cross at this exact moment so my response may come off a bit dry, so my apologies for that.
Anyway, here is the response:
"I just read in the author's notes to one of your Robby fics that you're repulsed by writing media typical romantic stuff. I was wondering if you could elaborate on that? I'm really curious about what not media typical romantic stuff would look like."
Media typical Romance (from my experience):
Have massive and intense declarations of love that don’t seem earned. Usually, the foundation for that love is based on looks or based on some vague interest of the love interest.
When showing characters acting upon love act very lovesick and they hold romantic love to a such high degree.
Example; if the protags love interest happens to say something bad abt our protag for some reason they act so intensely: isolating, not talking to friends and family anymore, may go into drinking binge, sometimes they get get mean and angry at ppl that have nothing to do with teh love interest. Often times that two were not even that close to begin with. They werent even friends, and yet it hurts the protag SO deeply.
They like the idea not the person. (And most media doesn’t acknowledge and treat it as the same thing. There can be an intestine story told there of liking the idea and not the person, but that doesn’t tend to typically happen.)
Another example: A person is willing to do a lot for their love interest when a bond was never established between them to justify that behavior. They would excuse behavior, blindly trust, maybe take on requests from their love even when it may go against their morales.
Again, when they are not even close to know each other that well.
I feel like I didn’t answer how a work that is not “media typical romance” would look like to me. Just… not hella love sick. Just love based on something.
Maybe because the vibes match. Maybe they have things in common. The person did a kind gesture and they are smitten and it goes from there.
My main issue is that the foundation for these relationships are shakey to me.
"Are you comfortable with receiving romantic requests?"
Yeah! I am not opposed to getting romance requests. They have to be fully mentioned within the request, otherwise there is a high chance of me just writing a gen fic or platonic fic. (Evident by most the works on my master list.)
Note: Depending on the prompt I may just pattern recognition romance media that i have seen and copy paste those romance narratives on to the prompt.
But if i have more time and really cared enough for the prompt (either cause of theme, msg, etc), then i will apply my romance sensibilities to that work.
"Could you outline what's okay and what's not [in regards to receiving romantic requests]? And what level of physical affection you're comfortable writing? I feel like there's a bit of a lack of nonsexual physical affection in fanfics and was wondering if I could come to you for that :3"
If you care for what I would write for request purposes:
I don’t have a HARD limit. I’ll just be cringing throughout my writing process is all… (Take: Help | Frank Langdon, and Love l Michael Robinavitch for example)
If you care for what icks me out when writing for curiosity purposes:
If I have to write anything that is lovesick with no foundation of actual love and care beyond just lust, I am uninterested in writing it. (Will do it for requests, but still....)
Don’t get me wrong, I am okay with writing lust and such in my own time, but I refuse to write lust and love interchangeably. (Unless, obviously, that is the whole point of the plot.)
For Physical Affection:
I don’t like the deep emphasis of physical touch being solely romantic, and when it is shown in a romantic settings, there is some sexual aspect of it.
Why can’t people just hold hands?
Why also MUST they hold hands?
What if they just like each other’s presence and don’t do all that kissing and hand-holding? There is more than one way to showcase love, but it is not shown.
I am not against physical touch. I am against the framing of it.
When it comes to physical touch in a platonic dynamic, I am pro that all the fucking time.
I have a Falling Skies/Pitt (imma be real honest, I just crossed Jack Abbot to that fic and that is all.) Where the OC and Jack are so close, and there’s no romantic undertone between them.
The OC needs comfort? They are actively being pulled by Jack into his lap so he can give them a hug, comfort and anchor them.
The OC is having a nightmare? They will sleep in the same fucking cot.
OC or Jack is having a bad day? They seek each other in a room and just lean their head on the other's shoulder, not saying a word, and the other just GETS IT. They don’t need to share words; the other will just know and act appropriately.
I am sure there is plenty I have on this topic cause I care a lot for it, but for the life of me rn my brain is foggy, and I might have missed things I wanna discuss further.
If you have more questions on this. Feel free to ask some more!
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edit:
side note:
My original version of PDA a.k.a. Affection (when/if do post it) has how I prefer to write romance. and maybe that one starter section of Date Night where Y/N and Dennis saw each other for the 1st time before their date.
Also, "Before We Go (2014)" is my favorite romance movie so... take that as you will. (I haven't seen it in a while, but i know i held/hold it in high regard.)