WRITING ROMANCE WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX - by Aimée Thurlo


Left brain/right brain. That sums it up rather nicely. My better half can choreograph a fight scene, or action scene better than anyone else, particularly me. However, elegant language describing the feelings between a man and a woman...not his thing.

One of our biggest arguments goes along the lines of "No guy would ever say something like that." Or take the time I showed him a friend’s book cover - it had a shirtless hunk wearing a cowboy hat and sitting astride a motorcycle. Hubby’s comment - "Are you kidding me? He’d have to ride at two miles per hour or the hat would fly to the next county. And when he stopped he’d be scraping the bugs off his chest."

You’re getting the idea. Sometimes I just want to shoot him.

However, when it comes to butching up dialog, my partner’s got no peer. My guys tend to talk way too much. His men get the point across in two sentences or less.

I think what makes it work is that I see with my heart, and he sees with his mind. The combination really fires up the pages of our romances.

We’re nothing alike. I yell - he’s beyond quiet when he’s ticked off. I hate to cook - he’s a gourmet chef. I hate storms - he goes out to the porch to watch the lightning and downpour. You get the idea. But it’s a match made in heaven - providing we credit God with a strong sense of humor.

July 31st we’ll be celebrating our 43rd wedding anniversary.

Comments

  1. 43RD! You guys are amazing:) Happy Anniversary-truly inspiring.

    My husband is the same way lol, always pointing out the obvious discrepancies and taking away ALL romance lol, but his logical way of thinking about things has really helped my stories be more realistic when I run an idea past him.

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  2. We drive each other nuts sometimes, Jen, but the combination works. I've been looking for that list that tells you what you each anniversary gets as a present, but I haven't found 43rd anniversary anywhere. Phooey. Since he's on jury duty, I can honestly say I peeked at my present and it's a gorgeous necklace! I got him the kind of watch he likes (titanium) but we always get the "official present" and something just fun. I'm looking for the fun one... If anyone has suggestions or ideas, I'm open!!!

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  3. Aimee - Congratulations on 43 years of marriage! What a blessing to have a life partner who is also your work partner - and therefore understands the time and dedication in takes to write. And how great that he can give you that insight into the male brain. (Who understands what's in there, anyway? They can be so delightful to be with, and sometimes you'd like to put a continent between you.) Keep working your wonderful magic, between the covers of the book and . . .well, you know - the other covers. I think you should get him a cowboy hat and see if you can make it fly off.

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  4. Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary. It's so true that men and women are from other planets when it comes to how we think. I never laughed so hard as when a couple in the Phoenix RWA chapter did a skit about a simple thing like driving somewhere when she's making comments about their relationship and he's thinking about some odd noise the car engine was making. But if not for that push and pull, give and take our romance novels would have no pazazz and zero conflict. (sorry, no good gift ideas)

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  5. Roz, Muriel gave me the perfect gift idea!!! I'm getting him a cowboy hat!! :-)

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  6. HM...HM...Ladies, are you forgetting we write for Heartwarming?? lol Muriel-shame on you! Just kidding xoxo!

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  7. Jen, like Roz said - without conflict there's no story!!! Besides half the fun of guys is that they're not the same as women. :-)))

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  8. Love this, Aimee. And happy (early) anniversary!

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  9. Thanks, Syndi. We're going to have an AMAZING anniversary!!!

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  10. What a great post. Happy Anniversary, Aimée!

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  11. That's exactly what my husband who writes science fiction tells me, "no guy would ever think like that or say anything so 'girly'." But you're right, for action, scientific facts and manly dialog, guys are a great resource. By the way, I absolutely love your stories. Just received "Annie's Neighborhood" and can't wait to dive in. Thank you. And happy anniversary. My and my husband celebrated our 31st last week. July is a great month to have gotten married.

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