Recently, a fellow author and friend described my writing as "light and fluffy," because my characters aren't trying to save the world from evil or an alien invasion. I write contemporary m/m erotic romance, so there really isn't a Big Bad for them to be struggling against, but that wasn't his main point. That description is not entirely accurate. I'll agree that in general, there isn't a lot of angst or darkness in my work, and especially in shorter pieces, nothing horribly bad happens to either of the main characters. Generally, in short stories, the conflicts are internal, and in longer pieces, there is an additional external conflict. My novel-length work has more room to explore deeper problems and more complicated storylines, but again, nothing is particularly dark--the fate of the world or the planet is not in jeopardy. That's not to say it isn't dramatic.
I don't see a problem with this. In fact, I think it's a good thing. As a reader, I like to escape into a world that's very different from real life if at all possible. Just take a look at some of the recent events reported in the news, with murder-suicide incidents becoming increasingly common and horrific stories of parents harming their own children. In fact, Texas and the Carolinas appear to be the most dangerous states. I feel downright safe in Oakland, California.
Add to that the state of the economy and that more people I know are out of work than in it, and it's almost too much to deal with on a daily basis. Some days I'm afraid to take a look at the news.
Given that real-life provides more than enough angst and evil, I enjoy writing (and reading) stories with happy endings. Why not believe that two people who belong together figure how to find each other and end up together? I'm not saying my stories don't have conflict and drama. They do. You cannot have an interesting story without conflict, but it's not necessary to have violence and evil to make a compelling storyline.
So, I'm happy to be able to provide hot, sexy stories with likable characters and happy endings. Don't we all deserve happy endings now and then?
How do you feel about "light and fluffy" writing? Do you find darker stories more enjoyable? Does there need to be impending doom to drive a story? How often do you turn to books for a temporary escape from real-life pressures and problems?
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EM Lynley
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6 comments:
You don't need to defend yourself. Every good work needs a good conflict--but the lead characters do not need to save the world from some "big bad" in order to accomplish that.
I prefer darker stories, but I am also a pulp sci-fi and horror writer by nature. The HEA seems to be important to many people right now, for the reasons you mentioned. I personally like contrast, however; if there is going to be an HEA, I want my characters to work for it. Perhaps just because I've been through so much in my life, I don't like to see characters getting off easy. I like realism--because it makes the "good stuff" so much more enjoyable by contrast.
I also on occassion enjoy a good, "fluffy" story with a clear HEA. ;-)
I love both the darker, edgier stuff AND books that are just fun to read with the HEA. You give your characters conflict; not every book NEEDS a Big Bad (Buffy fan much?). It doesn't make your work fluff, so tell those people to stuff the fluff.
Lisa--I definitely make the characters work for it. But I'm glad to hear that plenty of readers are looking for something less dark and dramatic. I think a mix is always a good thing, even for a writer...
Dana--ok, you caught my Buffy reference...guilty. Thank you for saying it's not fluff. Not entirely fluff, at least. I like to see characters with more realistic problems than saving their entire race from annihilation, and I'm glad others do as well.
In my opinion, everything has its place. I like to read dark, angsty stuff, but I can't read too many of those in a row. When I need a break, I pick up something funny, or something sweet and "fluffy." If I get the awwww feeling at the end, even better. :)
I'm the same way with writing. I write heavy stuff some of the time, but sometimes I just want to write something fun.
Heh she's not defending herself, that would require an attack be made. She IS asking a provocative question because I'm the one who called her work light and fluffy. and in comparison to mine, it is!
But good post babe.
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