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May. 16th, 2012 07:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Work Bites:
Boss comes up to me as I'm busily working away, picks up my hand, I glance up at him, he writes in ink on my palm and points at it. I stare at the blue ink (which took two days to come off by the way) that states in bold letters - "time sheet". In my defense - I got in at 8, it was 9 am, and I was busy.
I wonder later, when a memo comes around about workplace violence, if this qualifies? Most likely not, since the Momster burst out laughing when I told her about it over the phone.
Me: Hello.
Co-Worker: You can speak.
Me: What?
Co-Worker: You actually can speak, you never talk.
Me (bewildered, guessing she's probably pissed because she said something to me and I was oblivious to it): okay, I tend to live in my head. And to focus on the multiple projects I'm doing, I shut everything else out...it's not personal. People call me aloof - but I'm just in the ...
Co-worker: Oh...I get it, you're in the zone?
Me: Yep. It's not meant to be rude, I just am not aware...I'm living in my head.
Sigh. Being an introvert in an extrovert world is a pain in the buttocks.
Extroverts just don't get that mindless chatter can be frigging annoying. Or hello, personal space - it really isn't necessary to place the piece of paper that I printed out in my lap. Nor do I see the point in telling you about all the ins and outs of my personal life. And really, can't you survive a day without me saying hello every time I pass you on the way to the bathroom, printer, or copy machine or smiling. Get over yourselves.
Extroverts? So frigging needy. They have to be the center of attention 24/7.
At any rate, being me, I spent the rest of the day worrying that I'd inadvertently pissed off a whole list of co-workers and other random people by being oblivious to their existence because I live in my head. I do. And I'm reserved. Always been that way. Was born that way. It's deeply embedded in my DNA. This happened at evil library company too - evil boss railed at me for being cool and aloof in the halls and not saying hi to people. Which also gave me a complex. At least current boss seems to be an introvert, so doesn't care. Also fellow comrades in arms seem to be similarly inclined.
2. Been thinking about story tropes that pull at me...lately I've an itch that I can't scratch in this regard, so have been reading a seemingly endless array of badly written contemporary romance novels - to the point that I'm contemplating writing my own or rewriting my third finished novel (it's actually the fourth or fifth, but I'm not counting the ones that I didn't finish or wrote as a kid - I've written a lot, this is why the comment "oh, you finished a novel - that's a huge accomplishment" tends to make me roll my eyes. Or "this is your first novel, you can't expect much" - actually no, it's more like my sixth...but hey, we'll ignore the fact that the first five were unpublishable, okay. Writing is easy. Writing something other people want to read and are willing to buy? Really hard. Or not...considering the number of really badly written books that are on Amazon and being devoured by people as we speak. My worst novel was better written than some of these things...it's scary. And yes the fact that I want to write in a blog, after writing and working on a computer all day long...possibly means that I'm insanely addicted to writing. I love it. I love writing more than...anything. I can't think of one think I like to do more than write.) Third finished novel - Heir Apparent - could easily be turned into 50 Shades meets Da Vinci Code by way of Secret History. My problem with the romance genre is the whole girl gets and marries boy and lives happily ever after bit bores me after a while as a writer and I have to invent some insane plot. Also I find writing graphic sex scenes incredibly silly and dull, not to mention embarrassing. I just can't do it.
Anywho...tropes that grab me in the romance genre - or itch can't be scratched.
1. Tortured male leads...the more tortured the better.
2. Ambiguously good snarky male leads - or the gothic hero, who is grey not good or bad, but in between, flawed.
3. Alpha or controlling male leads (note not in reality - I run from these guys in reality, or intimidate them...I can't decide which. Big girls don't attract insane alpha males, thank god. To date, only dated beta males...which may be why I'm still single and never mind.) who are constantly trying to protect, shelter, or control the woman but she fights him tooth and nail the whole way and often wins.
4. Daddy issues meets Mommy issues - anything remotely psychologically twisted. I love books about mental illness or mental problems or mind games. (Daddy issues meets daddy issues on the other hand turns me off for some reason, just as Mommy issues meets Mommy issues does.)
5. Gender wars (banter, verbal fights) also gender flip-flops or transferals (rare to find, have yet to find it in any book that I've read in the contemporary romance genre...damn-it.)
6. A seemingly impossible relationship hurdle or problem (preferably not about babies, which unfortunately seems to be the problem in all these books and is highly annoying. Not all women want babies, damn it.)
7. Wild Passionate Love...Obsessive Love...only in stories (in real life this gets scary)
8. Rich vs. Poor
9. Power plays...particularly between genders.
10. Smart, witty, heroines - with chuztpah
11. Two leads, male/female must be equals in all things. (would love to read one where they are competing spies...but that apparently only exists in movies and tv shows. Where's the book version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith?)
Boss comes up to me as I'm busily working away, picks up my hand, I glance up at him, he writes in ink on my palm and points at it. I stare at the blue ink (which took two days to come off by the way) that states in bold letters - "time sheet". In my defense - I got in at 8, it was 9 am, and I was busy.
I wonder later, when a memo comes around about workplace violence, if this qualifies? Most likely not, since the Momster burst out laughing when I told her about it over the phone.
Me: Hello.
Co-Worker: You can speak.
Me: What?
Co-Worker: You actually can speak, you never talk.
Me (bewildered, guessing she's probably pissed because she said something to me and I was oblivious to it): okay, I tend to live in my head. And to focus on the multiple projects I'm doing, I shut everything else out...it's not personal. People call me aloof - but I'm just in the ...
Co-worker: Oh...I get it, you're in the zone?
Me: Yep. It's not meant to be rude, I just am not aware...I'm living in my head.
Sigh. Being an introvert in an extrovert world is a pain in the buttocks.
Extroverts just don't get that mindless chatter can be frigging annoying. Or hello, personal space - it really isn't necessary to place the piece of paper that I printed out in my lap. Nor do I see the point in telling you about all the ins and outs of my personal life. And really, can't you survive a day without me saying hello every time I pass you on the way to the bathroom, printer, or copy machine or smiling. Get over yourselves.
Extroverts? So frigging needy. They have to be the center of attention 24/7.
At any rate, being me, I spent the rest of the day worrying that I'd inadvertently pissed off a whole list of co-workers and other random people by being oblivious to their existence because I live in my head. I do. And I'm reserved. Always been that way. Was born that way. It's deeply embedded in my DNA. This happened at evil library company too - evil boss railed at me for being cool and aloof in the halls and not saying hi to people. Which also gave me a complex. At least current boss seems to be an introvert, so doesn't care. Also fellow comrades in arms seem to be similarly inclined.
2. Been thinking about story tropes that pull at me...lately I've an itch that I can't scratch in this regard, so have been reading a seemingly endless array of badly written contemporary romance novels - to the point that I'm contemplating writing my own or rewriting my third finished novel (it's actually the fourth or fifth, but I'm not counting the ones that I didn't finish or wrote as a kid - I've written a lot, this is why the comment "oh, you finished a novel - that's a huge accomplishment" tends to make me roll my eyes. Or "this is your first novel, you can't expect much" - actually no, it's more like my sixth...but hey, we'll ignore the fact that the first five were unpublishable, okay. Writing is easy. Writing something other people want to read and are willing to buy? Really hard. Or not...considering the number of really badly written books that are on Amazon and being devoured by people as we speak. My worst novel was better written than some of these things...it's scary. And yes the fact that I want to write in a blog, after writing and working on a computer all day long...possibly means that I'm insanely addicted to writing. I love it. I love writing more than...anything. I can't think of one think I like to do more than write.) Third finished novel - Heir Apparent - could easily be turned into 50 Shades meets Da Vinci Code by way of Secret History. My problem with the romance genre is the whole girl gets and marries boy and lives happily ever after bit bores me after a while as a writer and I have to invent some insane plot. Also I find writing graphic sex scenes incredibly silly and dull, not to mention embarrassing. I just can't do it.
Anywho...tropes that grab me in the romance genre - or itch can't be scratched.
1. Tortured male leads...the more tortured the better.
2. Ambiguously good snarky male leads - or the gothic hero, who is grey not good or bad, but in between, flawed.
3. Alpha or controlling male leads (note not in reality - I run from these guys in reality, or intimidate them...I can't decide which. Big girls don't attract insane alpha males, thank god. To date, only dated beta males...which may be why I'm still single and never mind.) who are constantly trying to protect, shelter, or control the woman but she fights him tooth and nail the whole way and often wins.
4. Daddy issues meets Mommy issues - anything remotely psychologically twisted. I love books about mental illness or mental problems or mind games. (Daddy issues meets daddy issues on the other hand turns me off for some reason, just as Mommy issues meets Mommy issues does.)
5. Gender wars (banter, verbal fights) also gender flip-flops or transferals (rare to find, have yet to find it in any book that I've read in the contemporary romance genre...damn-it.)
6. A seemingly impossible relationship hurdle or problem (preferably not about babies, which unfortunately seems to be the problem in all these books and is highly annoying. Not all women want babies, damn it.)
7. Wild Passionate Love...Obsessive Love...only in stories (in real life this gets scary)
8. Rich vs. Poor
9. Power plays...particularly between genders.
10. Smart, witty, heroines - with chuztpah
11. Two leads, male/female must be equals in all things. (would love to read one where they are competing spies...but that apparently only exists in movies and tv shows. Where's the book version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith?)
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no subject
Date: 2012-05-16 11:53 pm (UTC)I like Lisa Kleypas' and Sylvia Day's historicals (LK also writes contemporary; ot sure about SD.) I am a sucker for all hot and bothered in all of those clothes. As I have said before, I let erotic romance get away with a lot more than in other genre "quality-wise," but I enjoy both of these authors. I also think both writers started with fan fic (particularly SD; maybe BtVS fan fic.) I have no evidence for this, just kind of a feeling that I get.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-17 10:01 pm (UTC)Do you only like contemporary romance?
Oh no...actually quite the opposite. You missed my Loretta Chase historical romance binge, followed briefly by Rosemary Rodgers...and I've got Laurie McBain and Katheleen Woodwiss as well as Connie Brockaway - all historicals.
Actually, in regards to the romance genre...the only novels I read specifically in that genre were historical, Regency (aka Georgette Heyer) and just a smattering of contemporary or genre blenders. Contemporary don't tend to be written as well as the historicals and Georgette Heyer's for some reason - not sure why. It may be that some of the tropes don't quite work as well - ie. the inexperienced with sex female, or the controlling male. In modern society - women have rights, we can put the guy in his place, which was harder to do when women couldn't vote and were considered their husband's or father's property. Which may be why I'm attracted to the contemporary at the moment - the women are in some respects more independent and have more power at their disposal. For example? They can leave the guy.
This is a huge trope in contemporary romance - the woman leaving him. In historicals that's harder to do (not that they don't do it - they do, all the time.) Another huge trope in contemporary is "her career" or wanting it all.
I'm weirdly interested in the Contemporary at the moment - itch, scratched.
And discovering as I sample and read them...how insanely purple the prose is in places. Hee.
As I have said before, I let erotic romance get away with a lot more than in other genre "quality-wise,"
I do as well. I actually treat erotica and romance novels more or less the same way I treat super-hero comic books and comic book movies - I don't expect them to be good. They are just fun. The people writing them are doing it to entertain themselves...and damn them, making money in the process.
Although I think they are working a lot harder creating the things, then I am reading and watching them. That's actually the appeal - no work involved.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-17 02:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-17 09:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-17 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-17 09:44 pm (UTC)Very weird sense of humor as well. Not quite sure what to make of him.
But I am somewhat protected, if he really crosses the line - I can always go to his boss, who is nice and much easier to deal with.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-17 10:26 pm (UTC)You hit it on the head, love. Understood a thousand times over.
Zu
no subject
Date: 2012-05-19 03:53 am (UTC)