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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Moonlighting Curse: To Believe or Not To Believe
Happy Tuesday, D. D. Scott-ville!
Every romance writer has a choice to make...with each book or series...and with each Hero and Heroine. And that choice is:
"Will They? Or Won't They?"
As in...will they become a couple and complete that part of their romance...or won't they resolve that part of their relationship journey...then continue that quest in the next book, if a series, and keep the reader guessing...and in some cases, guessing...and guessing...and guessing.
So...while I'm writing my new Stephanie Plum-Wanna Be, Cozy Cash Mysteries Heroine - Zoey Witherspoon - "will she" or "won't she" hook up with her Hero Roman Bellesconi?
I'll tell y'all, right up front, that, as a writer, I tend to lean far, far away from The Moonlighting Curse...
Not familiar with The Moonlighting Curse?
Here's the scoop:
The popular '80s series that starred Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd sizzled in the ratings, until the two of them sizzled in the bedroom in the 14th episode of season three. After that, the ratings took a steep nosedive and the show never recovered.
Denise Warner, The 'Moonlighting' Effect: Is That Why 'Bones' Refuses to Pair Leads Romantically?
And Bones isn't the only hot TV show where writers and producers battle the "Will They? Won't They?" of The Moonlighting Curse. Take this fabulous article last month in TV Guide regarding one of my all-time fave, quirky crime procedural dramedies Castle
Castle Exclusive: Inside TV's Hottest Romance
Castle's Creator and Executive Producer Andrew Marlowe had this to say about the studios' fears of The Moonlighting Curse:
Everyone talks about the Moonlighting Curse...Will they or won't they? [The resounding answer] They will. I'm absolutely convinced there's quality storytelling to be had after they get together. Anybody who's been in a relationship knows that they have complexities and compromises. There's plenty of stuff to mine.
And Marlowe certainly knows all about that relationship stuff to mine as he's been married since 1997 to fellow Castle writer Terri Miller.
Like Castle's Marlowe and Miller, then, my Cozy Cash Mysteries Hero and Heroine are sooo not goin' the Stephanie Plum relationship route of Morelli vs Ranger, Ranger vs Morelli, to infinity and beyond.
No way!
My Zoey is gonna have her hands - full for books and books and books - dealing with all Roman's secrets, but dammit if she doesn't fall for the guy, and wayyy beyond just fallin' into his bed...
I'm an Andrew Marlowe-style writer through and through...who says, like him, "I'm as impatient as the fans when it comes to the relationship."
In D. D. Scott-ville, The Moonlighting Curse can take a big 'ole hike!
'Cause yeah, my Rachel Zoe-esque Zoey Witherspoon and her super-hot Hero Roman Bellesconi have their own "Castle"s to explore and conquer...lit-er-a-lly.
And their love, trust, and rock-solid relationship are the only things keeping 'em happy...oh, and keeping 'em alive too.
Sexy Sassy Smart Moonlighting Curse be Damned Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl, The Moonlighting Curse, Writing Theories
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