I was just wondering if men write romance as opposed to a story where a bit happens to be thrown in on the way? And I'm just as interested to know if men read romance voluntarily? If so, historical, modern or even a bit of erotica (NOT pornography)? As a romance writer, this could impact on what I write next as an experiment. Many thanks for any input/opinions/experiences from men or women.
I think that the key question is "what is romance?" or "What is romantic?".
Are we not gender-conditioned to entirely different perceptions?
It would seem (as a generalisation) that "romance" for women would be Mills and Boone while for a man "romance" would be acceptable in a title such as "Romancing the Stone".
If we could unpick and/or remove social expectation would we still find that Men and women want something quite different from their reading?
Would we find that both sexes want to read material that either conforms to or confirms their perspective? Which would raise a question whether the most popular (cross gender) material is in fact gender neutral? Following which - can romance be gender neutral?
I suspect that there would then be issues of Publishers' expectations and categorisations. Will they not be looking for material for a predetermined market? Would an attempt to open a new market in "male romance" be viable? Where would Waterstones put the book on their shelves?
This does not mean that I think that the concept would never work... But it would need to be sneaked up on men very discreetly... Perhaps running it under the guise of someone like Biggles would do the job? Aren't the Biggles books romances - of a kind?
When looked at that way = aren't most Westerns romances - in heroic disguise? Which might lead on to Star Wars and Star Trek... Is the issue really one of "packaging"? ... And are these not all pretty a-sexual?
For a man would a (perceived) "threat" of M&B style romance be the issue of a women "getting" her man? (Scary!!!)
Perhaps a good author to look at would be Neville Shute? His novels might be a little dated now but I think that they were, effectively, neutral - while including bothe adventure and romance - with gentle hints at sexual activity...
Constrained by the standards of their time Shute's novels "stopped at the bedroom door". Then and now that can be safe for pretty much everyone - plus - it can be handled suggestively in ways varying from the humourous to the erotic.
I hope this is helpful
David
Men won't usually pick up a romance of their own volition, no matter how much they enjoy them when forced. I asked a man to read my first book and he loved it. Sadly that doesn't mean he'll ever read another romance. It's funny how we are completely unable to promote each other in that respect.
Oh dear, Adrian. As similar as the premise of our books appears to be (Old-fashioned will they/won't they) I don't think you are going to be a fan of my work. In order to create a truly modern storyline in a world where very little is forbidden or held back, I had to be inventive and quite naughty as often as possible. On the upside there is very little actual sex... in books two and six. *Best hopeful toothy grin!*
That's a very interesting question. Of course, I can only answer for myself, and shamefully admit to dabbling with erotica. But a true romance story? Not really, though I have done the odd teenage first love type of story, but I don't think that really counts. As for reading romance; only if somebody has asked me to read it.