~~ sleepless in hogwarts.

[reenka]

The fun of reading romance, I think, is that it's so predictable. I'm tempted to just... predict it, to spell out exactly what has to happen and what -will- happen in any particular WIP, but I think that would be missing the point, wouldn't it. It's not that anyone's -really- in suspense about whether the feckless playboy will mend his ways and open up his heart to Twue Wuv or whatever... it's not that anyone really wonders seriously whether The Cold and Cruel Lust Object will forever spurn the affections of his Hapless Yet Sincere Foil.

It's all about reading the same story, over and over again; the sheer pleasure of knowing exactly where you're going and yet allowing yourself to pretend you don't. Life is so safe in romances, ultimately, isn't it? Lots of us sacrifice characterization and throw realistic development to the winds, because they're not as immediately satisfying. It's like... there are all these strings attached, then. There's no reassurances in reality, no sense of "this is right" and "that's just -wrong-".

It's funny, because I do get frustrated with the overt fairy-tale romance (soap-opera) structure of fics like "Left My Heart" (the only H/D I'm currently following 'cause it's announced on veelainc, ahahah). And yet... I get even more upset with the opposite, with the relentless misery and bleakness of "realism". That's what I write myself these days, isn't it? And I pretty much hate it. I really do. I don't know, do some people -enjoy- writing these heavy, dark-tinted things?

The thing I love about fairy-tales is the sense that anything is possible, that dreams come true, that the true heart will be enough to save us. But the fairy-tale romance sort of twists that and lowers it to its lowest common denominator, a bit, doesn't it? It's so predictable, so -comfortable-, its dreams are so... simple and easy, in the end. I get the overwhelming sense that the characters are trapped by themselves, even when they're happy. It's like... this is what -has- to happen, of course it does. There's always the same elements, no matter who the characters are. It's like the story controls them, somehow, manipulating them to get them to the inevitable destination. I don't even mean "happily ever after". Often enough it's just... "and then they got what they wanted, the end".

I'm as much a sucker for the formula as anyone else, of course. More so than some other people, 'cause I like my fix very much. But there's a reason I like magic realism the most, I guess. I just want real people to find their heart's desire, exactly when we least expect it. That's the real happy ending, isn't it?

You might well say that this is where meta gets the best of me and interferes with enjoyment... but it doesn't. I easily enjoy most semi-well-written soap-opera even as I cringe at the obvious bits and try not to laugh at some over-the-top bits. Problem is, it's like the potato chips of writing... without the deep liquid pleasure of chocolate, without the filling power of meat-and-potatoes fic, without the fizzy exuberance of sheer humor or parody. It sparkles without really shining, and that sort of bogs down the mind when it's virtually all you read anymore. *sigh*

Which is, of course, my fault entirely. I probably could put things in much better perspective if I was reading a dozen other more filling things, instead of hopping from frilly puff to frilly puff, and writing dark heavy morose things on the side. No wonder my brain hurts.

Why oh -why- am I talking about this? Whywhywhywhywhy... gargh. I think I'm at a point where my brain can't decide whether to "switch on" or "switch off". Like, some people talk about the price of tea and China and I say, "by the way, what about those fairy-tales". It's like a curse. A "Reena has been doomed to bullshit about fic whenever things get a bit hairy" curse. I'm sure those exist. I'm positive. I am also pretty tempted to write an H/D outlandish soap-opera, preferably with virgin!Harry, hard-to-get!Draco and fiendish-cross-dresser-on-the-sly!Ron. It'd also have long-suffering!Hermione (what else?) and everyone else would be more than slightly insane. That sounds like a plan, actually.

There's some balance, isn't there? Between being happy and merely being fed? The deepest hunger could never be satisfied with fake things, with shallow things, which makes the feeding itself somewhat of a mockery, doesn't it? I want to drink of the clearer stream, I think. I want to see the clear sky stretch out in all directions above me, and I want love to be like sunlight, as much below me as above me. And I want stories to take me there. That's not too much to ask, is it? :>

Comments

[lestrange.livejournal.com]

I am also pretty tempted to write an H/D outlandish soap-opera, preferably with virgin!Harry, hard-to-get!Draco and fiendish-cross-dresser-on-the-sly!Ron. It'd also have long-suffering!Hermione (what else?) and everyone else would be more than slightly insane.

Oh, God, yes please. Pleasepleaseplease. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

[Am neverever above begging for HD from my fav. writers. Never. You have been warned. :P]