WiP [Work in Progress]

Thoughts and ramblings of a Filipino author

  • About
  • Bookshelf
    • Self-published
  • Blog
  • Archive
  • Contact

Romance Lit 101

November 13, 2012 • Leave a Comment

or What you need to understand about Tagalog Romance

hmm… come to think of it, this doesn’t just apply to Tagalog Romance. it applies to the genre.

let me qualify, too, these are not gospel truths. these are just my thoughts, inferred from being exposed to the realm of this particular type of pop literature.

ImageBELIEF: Romance novels are a girl thing.

FACT: While it’s true that majority of the readers are women, it’s not to say that men do not read them or will never read them or will not have any appreciation for them if and when they do read them.

BELIEF: Tagalog romance are for economic class lower B, C, D and E thing just as English romance are for Class A and upper and middle B.

FACT: Romance novels whether English or Tagalog traverses all classes. It does not follow that since Tagalog Romance novels are priced such that readers belonging to the C, D and E economic bracket can afford them, these readers are automatically labeled baduy.

Oh, and FYI, economic bracket does not equate being baduy or sosyal. So if you’re pang-masa, it only means you’re mainstream. Nothing wrong with it, nothing to be embarrassed about.

BELIEF: Romance novels are predictable.

FACT: This is true and there is a very good reason why. Romance, by its nature, follows a given formula. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, they separate due to a conflict, and they get back together and live happily ever after. Romantic plots, too, are very limited. There are but seven (7) main plots that the multitude of writers work with. Definitely, there will be similarities. The challenge for every writer is to create unique scenes that will bring his/her characters from one level to the next. This is what makes the stories interesting. Or boring.

BELIEF: Love stories and romance are one and the same.

FACT: Every romance story is a love story but not all love stories are romance stories. Love stories have a wider scope which includes having a non-happy ending. Romance stories always have a happy ending. For more explanation on why such is true for romance stories, see fact about predictability.

Any more thoughts?

Share

Facebook Google+ Twitter Pinterest Email

Leave a Reply to horaeshou Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. horaeshou says

    November 23, 2012 at 15:20

    ateh, i’m curious..
    if it’s okay to share, ano yung main 7 plots?

    Reply
    • edithjoaquin says

      November 23, 2012 at 16:00

      according to Apple Masallo’s How To Write a Tagalog Romance Novel [(c) Bookware Publishing Corp. 2011]:

      1. Marriage for convenience
      2. One-night stand
      3. Stranded with a stranger
      4. Reunited romance
      5. Mistaken identity / pretense
      6. Guardian-ward romance
      7. Best enemies

      Reply
      • horaeshou says

        November 30, 2012 at 22:39

        now that you’ve listed it down teh parang yan nga lang yung central plots sa mga nababasa ko..
        twist-twist lang here and there at sa delivery ang difference..

        Reply
        • edithjoaquin says

          November 30, 2012 at 22:45

          devah? the uniqueness comes with a writer’s experience na inilalagay niya sa mga eksena ng characters niya. yun ang exciting. 😀

          Reply
          • horaeshou says

            December 8, 2012 at 15:10

            and how the writer spins words para hindi siya boring.. 😉

Back to Blog

Recent Posts

  • Bloom Where You Are Planted
  • #romanceclass news
  • [BLOG TOUR] Play It By Ear by Tara Frejas
  • [BLOG TOUR] No Two Ways by Chi Yu Rodriguez
  • If only

Recent Comments

  • G. Gonzales on [COVER REVEAL] The Secrets That We Keep by #HeistClub New Blood
  • Jennifer Hallock on [COVER REVEAL] The Secrets That We Keep by #HeistClub New Blood
  • Review || Start Here anthology from #romanceclass – That Bookshelf Bitch on [BLOG TOUR] Start Here by #romanceclass Various Authors
  • My Sacrifice (MSV After Dark) on Coming soon for My Special Valentine After Dark
  • G. Gonzales on My New Life

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

RSS Unknown Feed

Instagram

Instagram did not return a 200.

Copyright 2021 WiP [Work in Progress]