Thursday, June 30, 2005

What is Romance?

I came home on Tuesday to find my new issue of RWR in the mailbox. Among the craft articles, the President's Letter, and interviews, I found a survey tucked in the middle, easily detachable to make mailing easier. I have to confess here that I usually don't vote or mail in the surveys that I've been sent by RWA in the past. I always mean to but life tends to get in the way, and next thing you know the deadline has passed, and it ends up going into the shredder. But this survey caught my eye.

The survey concerned how RWA planned on defining romance. There were two choices, a romance is between a man and a woman or a romance is between two humans.

I'm going to say straight out, that I personally define romance as the love between two people irregardless of gender or color. However, I'm aware that I may be in the minority when it comes to that opinion.

When the board met in New York in March, I was able to attend the open session where they were discussing how RWA plans on defining itself in the future. Several regional directors mentioned that gay and lesbian writers expressed interest in joining RWA but were discouraged because the argument went that the organization really couldn't help them. Of course, they could go off and found the Gay and Lesbian Romance Writers of America, but they won't have the clout of a huge organization like RWA who have more than 9,000 members.

I'm not the only one who is interested in the issue. I've read differing opinions on several different blogs, but the one thing they all have in common, is that people are now motivated to vote.

I realize that the marketplace currently considers romances to be between a man and a woman, but there is a small but growing market for gay and lesbian romances. Does it really matter? Love is love isn't it?

I know who I will be voting on this issue. I'm interested to know how other people feel about the issue, whether or not they plan on voting.

Let me know.

In the meantime, Write On!

Dancing with the Stars Update: So Kelly Monaco made the finals of Dancing with the Stars instead of Joey McIntyre. So offense to Kelly, but what the hell? It just goes to show you that her fan base is obviously much more vocal that Joey's NKOTB fans, plus her skimpy costumes probably helped as well.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually, Elizabeth, I think she should have made it into the finals over Joey. I think Kelly has improved so much and has become quite the dancer. Kelly and Joey and their partners have been my top two teams through the whole show but last night I thought Joey and Ashley were the weakest team.

Karyn Lyndon said...

I'm still confused why we have to define romance at all. It sounds like a ploy to force someone's personal (religious) beliefs on a professional organization.

The publishers and ultimately the readers decide what romance is and isn't. Why hem ourselves in or keep writers out?

Megan Frampton said...

I've heard a lot of the arguments about the romance definition also. I wrote a third definition and circled that. I've heard some other people are doing that, too. (Never mind the G/L thing; what about vampires and people? Aliens and people? "Two persons" sounds like both have to be human).

Elizabeth Kerri Mahon said...

You bring up a good point Megan. At the moment, the only two choices are between humans, no mention of werewolves, angels etc.

Anonymous said...

Romance naturally comes out from someone, whether you are straight, gay or lesbian. It is a matter of manifesting inner beauty complemented by the touch of sensitivity. A life dedicated to love is a life filled with romance. It is in true love that one realizes the value of romance. For me, love is an important aspect that binds people together resulting in harmonious relationships but romance is one thing that makes it more worth it. Romance may serve as a good foundation of a relationship and creates a bridge that binds couples into an engagement of love and affection.