WhyDo I write Romance …
(written after I watched the season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy)
Why do I write romance?
Izzie and Denny. The twinkle in his eye when he looked at her. The lengths she went to (right or wrong) to save his life and get him a heart. Their love. The possibility of a future. They make me feel good. She laid on the floor in her prom dress and they sat Shiva. They made me cry. They made me feel.
Meredith and Derek. “You have a choice to make. Take your time because when I had a choice to make I made the wrong one.” I love you. They made me feel good.
Cristina and Burke. “Don’t ever die on me.�? FINALLY she expresses her feelings and emotion.
Addison. I hated her. I grew to like her some. OK I like her so long as she’s not with Derek. Good characterization does that.
George and Callie. Poor annoying George. Poor unloved Callie.
Poor Finn.
Love. Laugh. Cry. Live.
That’s why I write romance. Ultimately, to feel good inside.
That’s all I want . . . for you to feel like I do when I’m watching a show or reading a book that just . . . plain . . . works.
Does my writing make you feel good inside?
I sure hope so.
Happy Tuesday!
Carly Phillips would like to take 100% credit for all her stories but the truth is, Carly’s strength is writing family, emotion, funky elderly people and animals. She couldn’t plot her way out of a paper bag, which is why she smartly found her plotmonkey pals early on in her writing career. Thanks to their support, Carly is now a NYT Bestselling author of 23 plus novels. Because writing doesn’t keep her busy enough, Carly is also a wife, a mother of one preteen and one teenage daughter, the primary care giver of her soft coated Wheaten terrier and an expert carpool mom.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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All of those are reasons I read romance. To get that warm, fuzzy feeling, that glow of happiness. To read about people who are meant to be together. After all, why else are we here, right?
I love romance novels. They make me glow…. LOL.
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Oh ladies, I highlighted you the other day as my blog highlight. If you are interested, check it out:
http://www.trelainastarblazer.blogspot.com
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Carly, I felt the same way about the first episode of the season. Though I wanted to slap Derek at first when he said it was “her choice” (since it’s his choice and has been all along!!!) when he clarified it by saying he loved her andm basically, would wait for her to be sure she still wanted him and wasn’t making a mistake, I remembered why he was so dreamy. :wink:
And Stacy, thank you SO much for the blog pimp!! That was really nice of you.
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i read romance for the same reasons- when the world around me is going to heck in a handbasket, I am losing my mind and want to drop kick everyone off a bridge- it helps me to remember that not everything in this world sucks. Maybe because it gets my endorphins going? Has there ever been a study that says romance readers are happier people because their endorphins are up? hmmmm…… they say chocolate does it, and they have done research on that. does that mean people who read romance and eat chocolate have more endorphins???:devil:
I grab everyone of your books when they hit the shelves, then I have to fight over who gets to read them first.
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I felt all the same emotions watching Grey’s Anataomy the other night too. But I have to say after seeing the flashbacks of how Addison acted when Derek found out she was cheating made me like her even less than I did. She was the one who betrayed him and then she starts playing the victim. “You can’t go now.” and then that whole “We are Addison and Derek!” That just made me want to reach into the TV and slap her. LOL!!
Now as far as your books Carly. If you only knew half of what your books do to MANY readers including myself. I used to work full time and loved the work I did. Then after years of fertility problems, including surgeries, tests, failures etc…it finally happened and I had my daughter. Now I am a stay at home mom and although I love it and wouldn’t trade it for the world there are days when I just crave to use my brain in tha capacity I was accustomed too. Your books not only helped me get through some pretty dark times (they would make me smile and laugh when my family couldn’t) now they help me feel like I am having some adult interaction when my daughter sleeps. So thank you, and thanks to the other plotmonkeys whose books have also helped to make me smile. laugh, feel good when I needed it most.
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Have I thanked all of you ladies for the countless hours of reading pleasure you have given me? You have been my escape from my reality – my shared quality time discussing your works with my friends – and my enjoyment for a long time. Many, many thanks. (Carly, I just started Cross my Heart and am loving it!)
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That’s exactly what your books do for me. Love. Laugh. Cry. Live, through each character. Thank you :) for all of those emotions when reading.
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Vicki said it… a good book is like watching a great show or movie. Except the book gives the reader a little bit more creative license on exactly what the character looks like to them.
Love Greys after House it is my favorite show.
I watched a new one last night on NBC Heroes. I think it has the makings for something really good. Me and the girls especially liked the Japanese guy.:thumbsup2:
He was too funny.
:doggie::doggie::doggie::doggie::doggie::doggie::doggie::doggie::doggie:
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I love all of your books Carly, I am still catching up on the ones prior to the Bachelor. I can not wait until your next book comes out next year. I have your story in Santa Baby to look forward to, since I have not read it yet. The warm and fuzzy feeling is the best, especially at the end of the book. I am really excited to see how the Hot Zone series Continues. I bought all three books when they came out and read them right away.
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I too love watching Grey’s Anatomy(it’s a must see for me just like Gilmore Girls and the new Standoff), but I love reading more because I can picture the characters how I want them to look. I love that although they are described perfectly, I can put my own little spin on the picture. It kills me when how I see someone in my mind is changed when Hollywood makes the movie. Thanks for all the great guys and love stories!!!:D
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Reading romance is my escape from reality. My 11 year old has such severe ADD that his behavior often mimicks bi-polar disorder. We got some releif last year when we finally figured out what the problem was but life with him has been very, very difficult.
I think the only way I’ve been able to stay sane is to escape through romance novels. When I read I forget the stress of my world and literally jump into the world with them. They make me feel happy instead of overwhelmed. My husband doesn’t completely understand it but he certainly can see a difference in me when I’ve been reading.
Thanks to all the Plotmonkeys for writing books that allow us to leave our own worlds for a while and go some place that we know is going to end up happy.:bowdown:
Leslie, I’m off to the bookstore!! Have a great day everyone.
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You really hit it on the head with this post. THIS is why we write romance, to warm the heart. It’s why I read it too! Thanks for the reminder.
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Reading romance is probably the next best thing to writing romance. I love the happy ending you get when you read a romance. I wish I could write well enough to write romance, but since I cannot I’m satisfied with reading romance.
Keep up the good work plotmonkeys.
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What a nice post, Carly.
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Sorry I missed GREY’S. The Dodgers are still in contention for the postseason!
I always say as to why I love reading Romances is “Unlike RL, I love when the heroine falls in love with the hero, & she actually gets him”. I feel Romances are a bright light in an otherwise dark world. They give me hope. I don’t want to read about RL (as if the newspaper & news shows don’t show enough of it)–I want to be swept away. And, books by the Plotmonkeys always deliver that for me.
Patricia A.
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First of all, I loved the season opener of “Grey’s”. I just want to tell Derek, though. Love him, but ‘hello’ the only time he pays attention to Meridith is when she is with another guy. Love George (especially George and Callie). My hubby is such a George. I don’t mean that in a bad way, totally a good way. He puts up with me and loves me still. He’s my McDreamy George…lol!
Why do I read romance novels and blog on Plotmonkeys? My life is so serious. I have a 6 year old with autism (high functioning, but still lots of quirks) and two other boys. Things are great when there is structure and routine, but otherwise a teeny bit of chaos. As Leslie knows, I have been dealing with my oldest thinking he is a velosaraptor, lately (this is NOT a good thing). I use your books and site as sort of my “I can be totally normal’ thing and just have FUN! You guys keep me sane and a smile on my face. I was out of my mind this morning when I couldn’t get on until now!
So, thank you, all of you for keeping me happy and sane! Keep up the great work, Plotmonkeys (Can’t wait for the new books!):thumbsup2::thumbsup2::thumbsup2::thumbsup2::thumbsup2:
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Yikes, when I changed my first paragraph, it doesn’t make sense, now…I want to tell Derek that he needs to pay more attention to Meridith….Yikes, sorry! Love Meridith with the Vet!!!
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I don’t watch the show, Carly, but what a great post!
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Thanks for all the great posts, everyone!
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What a great post Carly………and it is the biggest reason that I read Romance……I love the way it leaves me feeling and can alway put me in a better frame of mind when the rest of the day has sucked…….:thumbsup2:
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Carly,
What a great post. Thanks for the insight into your motivation. I read romance for all those same reasons. Although I will admit I am spoiled–I expect my real life to work out like a book…..
Keep on pushing those keys, baby.
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Your books are great, Carly!
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that is great carly:party:
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Carly, thanks for the great post. I read romance, yours included, because they make me smile, they make me cry, they make me laugh, they make me enjoy life more. :love2::) Thanks to all the Plotmonkeys for all the hours of good reading. :love2::cheer::cheer:
I love Gray’s Anatomy, can hardly wait to see what this week brings.
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Books by you and the other plotmonkeys keep me optimistic when I’m feeling cynical. Boys are Bad. :wallbash: more importantly, entertained
And McDreamy is finally acting McDreamy again. Though I feel kind of bad for McVet. Maybe they can find someone else to hook up with.
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Absolutely! As good as a great cup of coffee!
…or better yet a good romance AND a cup of coffee!!:thumbsup:
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YES!
I love reading your books, Carly! They make me feel all good inside just like Derek and Meredith…I love them and keep writing the good stuff that make me fall in love with your characters!