Hi, guys!
So, it’s no secret that I’m not a fan of insta-love in books, whether I’m writing or reading.
I much prefer the sweet, drawn out tension of a slow burn. That will they/won’t they, that back and forth, is just way more appealing to me.
But I’m not sure I’ve ever explained why except to a few individuals.
Now, bear in mind, this is just my opinion. You’re free to write or read whatever you want. In fact, I actively encourage it. The literary world needs to serve all readers and writers.
But that’s a rant I’ve done before.
On to the topic at hand.
To me, insta-love just isn’t immersive or realistic.
I know that sounds rich coming from a sci-fi/fantasy writer. Magic and dragons and werewolves aren’t real.
But that’s the element of the fantastical that I prefer.
I want the characters, their personalities, and their interactions to be believable and immersive.
Instantly falling in love just isn’t believable for me.
Instant attraction, yeah. That makes way more sense. That happens to people all over the globe, day in and day out.
But if two characters just fall in love within a day or a week, I start trying to figure out if they have some sort of attachment problems, psychologically speaking.
And that isn’t usually what insta-love writers want their readers focusing on.
Plus, I always find myself picking out red flags, little things the characters should notice about each other (but don’t), and find it all a little worrisome.
Because there are usually a few.
Or a lot.
So I just tend to stay away from insta-love books, in general.
There are exceptions, of course.
If it’s written into the fabric of the world and based in a magical element…that makes more sense to me. Or in books where the aim is to show the dangers of losing yourself in a relationship, insta-love makes sense then, too.
But it just doesn’t work for me, outside of those few exceptions.
I’ll take the slow progress, the building chemistry, the back and forth and will they/won’t they of a slow burn over insta-love any day.
Again, this is all personal opinion. I strongly advise you to read or write whatever you want.
Where do you stand on the matter?
Come back next week to find out why I write romance into even my darkest books.
Now, as far as my progress on my books is concerned.
I finished the first round of edits on Second to None last week, battled countless technological demons, wrote about 6,000 words in The Regonia Chronicles, decided to move the divider between book one and two within the series, and got A Heart of Salt & Silver up for preorder in paperback and ebook. The hardback will be available soon.
Check it out here: mybook.to/AHeartOfSaltAndSilver
I need to jump into another round of edits on either Allmother Rising or Where Darkness Leads, soon.
I’d say that I’ll have eventually have fewer projects going at once, but that would be a lie. And I’m okay with that.
Keep reading. Keep writing.
Later.