Yes, those teenage traces have a habit of popping up in interesting ways. :-)
As for writing challenges, eep. Regarding background reading, I think it's important to read yer Austens and Jane Eyres, because a lot of the tropes are still with us (and they're good books). The same is true of the good Heyers. Laurell K Hamilton is really porn, so I don't consider them in the romance line.
I suggest you get thyself over to Smart Bitches, Trashy Books (http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com), and check out their reviews, especially the ones rated in the As. I don't agree with all of them (and I haven't read a lot, since I'm not exactly the demographic for het romance), but they're certainly good for a starting off point. Jennifer Crusie and Nora Roberts are the two authors everyone swears by at present. Oh, and I read Jo Beverley's Mallorean books recently, and I enjoyed them too (but they're Regencies as well).
Also, since we were on the topic, I don't know if you've read much Bujold, but A Civil Campaign has all the Austen and Heyer elements, but it's an excellent (character-centred) SF story. It's a good example of showing how the old tropes can translate to almost anything. Also, the POV is mainly from a male character, and I loved how Lois made him so convincing with his romantic fumbles (and catches).
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 10:58 am (UTC)As for writing challenges, eep. Regarding background reading, I think it's important to read yer Austens and Jane Eyres, because a lot of the tropes are still with us (and they're good books). The same is true of the good Heyers. Laurell K Hamilton is really porn, so I don't consider them in the romance line.
I suggest you get thyself over to Smart Bitches, Trashy Books (http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com), and check out their reviews, especially the ones rated in the As. I don't agree with all of them (and I haven't read a lot, since I'm not exactly the demographic for het romance), but they're certainly good for a starting off point. Jennifer Crusie and Nora Roberts are the two authors everyone swears by at present. Oh, and I read Jo Beverley's Mallorean books recently, and I enjoyed them too (but they're Regencies as well).
Also, since we were on the topic, I don't know if you've read much Bujold, but A Civil Campaign has all the Austen and Heyer elements, but it's an excellent (character-centred) SF story. It's a good example of showing how the old tropes can translate to almost anything. Also, the POV is mainly from a male character, and I loved how Lois made him so convincing with his romantic fumbles (and catches).