Here they're demanding that the author do the rewrite: [link]
Ooh! Can I demand that directors redo movies I didn't like?
My whole life, I've never loved anything else.
Oz ,'Him'
Natter 63: Life after PuppyCam
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
tommyrot - May 29, 2009 6:20:02 pm PDT #21988 of 30000
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
DavidS - May 29, 2009 6:53:07 pm PDT #21989 of 30000
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
There is a reason for expectations, especially in genre fiction.
I could be wrong but it's my impression that romance is especially restrictive in this sense. Science fiction, mystery, horror or thrillers have more latitude in plot outcome than Romance. I think you can hit all the beats in those other genres and have a variety of outcomes, but Romance has to end happily so the narrative suspense is somewhat muted.
But...I've never really read a Romance (unless Precious Bane counts) so I'm just going on general impressions and speculation.
erikaj - May 29, 2009 6:59:55 pm PDT #21990 of 30000
Always Anti-fascist!
From the outside, it does seem like a lot of rules. Some people object if they bump uglies too early, for instance.
Amy - May 29, 2009 6:59:57 pm PDT #21991 of 30000
Because books.
Science fiction, mystery, horror or thrillers have more latitude in plot outcome than Romance. I think you can hit all the beats in those other genres and have a variety of outcomes
But expectations don't cover *only* the outcome. Other genres do allow for more than one kind of ending, but each genre demands certain elements ... or a book doesn't fall within the genre anymore.
billytea - May 29, 2009 7:06:10 pm PDT #21992 of 30000
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.
From the outside, it does seem like a lot of rules. Some people object if they bump uglies too early, for instance.
Some people get upset if they call it "bumping uglies" too.
Trudy Booth - May 29, 2009 7:09:56 pm PDT #21993 of 30000
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
I think "bumping uglies" is my very favorite euphemism for sex.
erikaj - May 29, 2009 7:10:07 pm PDT #21994 of 30000
Always Anti-fascist!
I actually did read a parody romance written to flaunt the "rules" once, although, you're right, they still didn't call it *that*, no.
DavidS - May 29, 2009 7:14:34 pm PDT #21995 of 30000
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
But expectations don't cover *only* the outcome. Other genres do allow for more than one kind of ending, but each genre demands certain elements ... or a book doesn't fall within the genre anymore.
That's true. But the genre elements are less plot defining except in perhaps Mysteries which - like Romance - needs a money shot satisfying ending. Science Fiction can go just about anywhere storywise, it just needs elements addressing how advances in technology can affect the story. Similarly a Western is defined by it's setting and era and to a lesser extent it's themes, but within that can tell any story it wants.
erikaj - May 29, 2009 7:18:13 pm PDT #21996 of 30000
Always Anti-fascist!
But mystery has about fifty billion categories, which is cool, until you start think about how Chandler would feel about being shelved next to the mystery solving Siameses. Then, it's a little sad.
msbelle - May 29, 2009 7:19:38 pm PDT #21997 of 30000
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb
opps - real life too real. sorry.