Excellent delineation of writing styles! Reading over your categories, I notice that I almost always write "romantic," both in fan fic and in original ficiton, which strikes me as kind of ironic because I like to think of myself as a psychological-realist writer. Actually, I tend to write what would probably be categorized as physically "romantic," often with more psychological-realist angst/issues going on in the characters' heads.
I agree that the romantic style is in keeping with female socialization in the USA. It's a safe place, and I probably write in it, to a large extent, because it feels safe to me.
I'm also reminded of an essay in the Guardian's book review insert a few months back that talked about writing sex in mainstream/literary fiction. It basically argued that since postmodern lit began, "good sex" has become non-narratable: sex in the postmodern novel always seems to be disappointing or icky or emotionally distant or surprisingly unfun, etc. This makes me think of your description of the "realist" style, which (from what you say and from what I've read) does seem to focus on angst, embarrassment, awkwardness, etc., more than on "great sex" or "real intimacy." So have we culturally lost the idea that there can be such a thing as realistic, romantic, fantastic, intimate sex? 'Cause that's kind of sad!
argued that since postmodern lit began, "good sex" has become non-narratable
That is disturbingly accurate, from the discussions of sex-in-writing that I've watched going on. There's a real devaluation of fantastic sex, and I'm right with you in thinking that this is terribly sad. It's as if the denial that fantastic sex is even possible has become some kind of badge of artistic elevation. It makes me wonder whether the trend in the last handful of years toward "porn=good" is some kind of backlash. (Who was it who was talking about God words recently? I remember thinking that porn belonged on the list, while, curiously enough, PWP doesn't seem to.)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2005-02-22 04:26 am (UTC)Excellent delineation of writing styles! Reading over your categories, I notice that I almost always write "romantic," both in fan fic and in original ficiton, which strikes me as kind of ironic because I like to think of myself as a psychological-realist writer. Actually, I tend to write what would probably be categorized as physically "romantic," often with more psychological-realist angst/issues going on in the characters' heads.
I agree that the romantic style is in keeping with female socialization in the USA. It's a safe place, and I probably write in it, to a large extent, because it feels safe to me.
I'm also reminded of an essay in the Guardian's book review insert a few months back that talked about writing sex in mainstream/literary fiction. It basically argued that since postmodern lit began, "good sex" has become non-narratable: sex in the postmodern novel always seems to be disappointing or icky or emotionally distant or surprisingly unfun, etc. This makes me think of your description of the "realist" style, which (from what you say and from what I've read) does seem to focus on angst, embarrassment, awkwardness, etc., more than on "great sex" or "real intimacy." So have we culturally lost the idea that there can be such a thing as realistic, romantic, fantastic, intimate sex? 'Cause that's kind of sad!
Great essay!
no subject
Date: 2005-02-22 08:10 pm (UTC)argued that since postmodern lit began, "good sex" has become non-narratable
That is disturbingly accurate, from the discussions of sex-in-writing that I've watched going on. There's a real devaluation of fantastic sex, and I'm right with you in thinking that this is terribly sad. It's as if the denial that fantastic sex is even possible has become some kind of badge of artistic elevation. It makes me wonder whether the trend in the last handful of years toward "porn=good" is some kind of backlash. (Who was it who was talking about God words recently? I remember thinking that porn belonged on the list, while, curiously enough, PWP doesn't seem to.)