Fic Talk > General Discussion

Question of the day part 8

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Purpura Lipstick:
 ^that's what I tried with MTT: All or Nothing.  The original story was how they met and got together and the second story was after they had children but it just wasn't what I wanted and so I got rid of it.   

I've thought about writing a series like you described where it's the same characters but they are in a bunch of different situations but I never went through with it except with 00Carter, that's sort of what that is. Different episodes with the same set of characters.

Rose:
Sequels don't always start where the last one ends. Many start years later. The difference between a series and a sequel is a series is typically considered to be three or more. Sometimes only four or more since three would technically be a trilogy but it's a grey area. It has nothing to do with the time gap or even the plot.

The examples you used of BSC or Nancy Drew was that there were countless books in both series. Or to take from the example Lore used, 00Carter. As it has I believe 10 full "episodes" where it tells different stories with the same characters with various time gaps. Those are series. It's not the same as say two stories about the same couple.

Romance is very character driven. I don't think there are unique situations anymore, which is what makes the genre so difficult. You need to have characters that are memorable to really make an impact. Or include it as a subplot on something bigger to keep it different and moving. Using emotions to do so, personally is what touches on the "soap opera" danger zone that so many romances fall into.

julilly:
Why are soap operas a "danger zone"? People love soap operas. Books like Twilight and 50 Shades, shows like 90210, Melrose Place, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, etc are incredibly successful and are all considered soap operas. Romantic comedies are the most popular movies with women and female-skewed radio stations will almost always be very celebrity gossip driven - the "real life" soap operas of our day.

People love soap operas! It's a popular genre, hardly a "danger zone" for anyone who hopes to be successful to be in it - in my opinion, anyway.

Rose:
Just my perspective. I guess for me soap operas tend to be unrealistic, overly dramatic, etc...and seem to be unable to carry a story without all that. But that's my own personal taste on them. There's great epic romances without being too over the top. And those of course for me, are the ones that stand out. Because they don't need all that to tell a great love story.

But to each their own and if people want to write that...more power to them.

Honestly...I'm not even gonna touch Twilight/50 Shades since I think those would be more insults to the genre than anything. Just because they're successful, doesn't mean they're good. 50 Shades especially.

julilly:
I didn't say they were good or bad, I said they were successful. No matter what the medium is those two words will never be synonymous because it's subjective.

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