What makes a romance genuine in a comic?

[keii4ii]

Is it a sin to ask? seriously...

You have to understand that a lot of people question these things with disrespectful intentions. When they ask us to define or explain what we are, they're not looking to learn; they're seeking to invalidate an important part of our identity and personhood. It's like the "is it a choice?" question being asked to homosexuals.

So even if you're just curious... or rather, ESPECIALLY if you're just curious, it's a good idea to be extra careful. Try to word it in a way that doesn't make the other person feel, "are they asking me to prove the validity of the way I am?"

[AnnaLandin]

Also, I wasn't looking for a fight and argue sigh I am just interested in your opinions. Is it a sin to ask? seriously...

Seconding @keii4ii here - this is a very sensitive topic to a lot of people, so you have to tread carefully and respectfully. Treat it with the same level of respect as you would any other LGBTQ(A) issue.

And we aren't fighting. We're explaining how this all works to you, and from what I can see, we're doing it in a rather polite and friendly way.

[Iron]

And we aren't fighting.

I was referring to your previous post where you said:

We're not here to argue about the validity of, or even the existence of, the love lives of people on various ends of the sexual identity spectrum.

Treat it with the same level of respect

I don't find my way of writing disrespectful though ._. I'm sorry if you found it offensive, I didn't mean it to sound this way (that's why I'm socially awkward OTL)

But I get where you guys are coming from. Sexual minorities are a target to attacks, so expecting ulterior motives is not so weird. I can assure you though I was looking only for an interesting (can't think of a better word) discussion. I could ask other people of course, but I see you guys as this more intelligent part of the Internet, that's why I was curious of your view on the matter. And I don't find it off topic either, because understanding those things is important to incorporate believable relationships and people in general in writing (which was my actual aim ).
I feel strange for having to explain myself so much as if I was a villain here...

Also, getting back to what Olivia said:

I think it's something that needs to be understood more.

It won't be understood unless we talk about it. That's what I think at least : )

Thanks for the reply Anna & Keii.

That being said, I'll go back to my river, not to go too much off topic here .

[Snakeashake]

I guess lots of character development. if two characters are together a long time they'll develop together and be stronger together

[mjmassey]

I think one thing that could make romance stories more interesting or "genuine" is if it's not the first time the characters have fallen in love. Depending on how long your story is, you can have characters go through several relationships, falling in love, breaking up, learning more about themselves as they go. Too often it's "you're my first love!" and that's not very realistic. I try to have my characters go through at least one or two relationships in my stories, to show how they change and grow.

[KariMcElroy]

I agree. Each love is sort of a stepping stone ascending toward that "ultimate love", so I like seeing what worked and what didn't in previous relationships and let that build me, as a reader, toward being totally into whatever couple I'm reading about. In my story, I use flashbacks to show where my characters have been at different points in the lives, romantically and otherwise. That's not to say it works in mine. . . I think it does, but I'm not the most objective reader of my own work, you know?

[elixiadragmire]

weirdly .... I've only had one relationship >.> ... ever

[AnnaLandin]

@elixiadragmire Some people are like that! My parents are; they fell in love when my mom was fifteen - dad was her first boyfriend - and they're still together, and they're in their fifies now.

[KariMcElroy]

Aw, that's amazing, @AnnaLandin!

(And, @elixiadragmire, I totally should have said I was generalizing in my post, not saying all people are/should be that way or whatever - hopefully it didn't come across that way.)

[mjmassey]

My parents, too, are the same! Met in high school and 40 years later are still together! It's not uncommon, but it seems to be the only focus in most media.

[MagicDolphin]

two characters having strong feelings towards them like a rocket on fire, or when someone diss your sister and you feel the heat and the need to hit him quickly, a burning sensation to short it, being it hatred, love, envy or whatever, i think what a good romance needs is
1- characters with burning sensations towards each others (either hatred,love, jealous etc)
2- dont throw everything in the table, dont make things clear as water, just help to pave the way
3- being creative and romantic is good, but dont go over the line of realistic, girls are not over lovey-dovey leeches
with red cute cheeks and over-sized tities as mans are not honey voiced or all talls, with the balls to start the talk

they are all just my opinion all right, but if i had to choose the best of em i would choose the number 2.

hope i helped

[purrlpankras]

My comic isn't romance, I must get a gold star.

I think a good romance is where it isn't rushed, I kinda like it being slow.
And also romance where it wouldn't be expected makes it more good. Maybe.

[futureboundentertain]

Nothing can make it genuine, its a dead genre that refuses to stay in its grave. The only relationshapes I find genuine are ones that are committed and not filled with drama.

[Lkn]

This is a very good thread because i like reading people's opinion about the subject. Actually I'm working on a comic right now and genuine romance in what I really need to create. You can check it out here.

[kazukitakamura126]

I also like couples that have flaws and they they help each other grow and accept their own problem and their lover's. This doesn't make them a "perfect" couple but, it makes them an interesting couple.

[BraveHeartTatsumaki]

I've been thinking about this, because one of the things in my comic, is also romance.
The couple that will be confirmed in my story and like the main couple, I want them to build their relationship through all the events that the story takes, idk, like I want to show that love is more than just physical atraction, and even put that these characters fall in love not for the physical thing, but by the actions and what the characters do. the guy in this couple actually had a girlfriend before but she left him very hurt so this leave very difficult for the other character to confess since she's shy but also sees that this guy don't want a relationship at all. But even when they don't say anything to eachother about their real feelings, they want to be with eachother.

[atlas]

When it doesn't feel forced. It doesn't matter if it's a first, second or third love; If they have some type of history together, and understand each other on an intimate level, then it can be considered Genuine. And, despite the curve-balls that may come their way (meeting other people, obligations that force them to live apart), do eventually come to the realization that they are meant for one another. That's just my take on it.

[TheLemmaLlama]

Only non-fictional romance is genuine in a comic

[unknown_user]

I still don't quite understand, why some couples in fiction look cute to me, but others look mawkish and cause annoyance. And the previous answers haven't clarify the picture for me, despite there were several interesting thoughts.
I can definitely name only one aspect, which make relationships look insincere for me: overwhelmly demonstrative "romantic" behavior. I mean couples, who are overdoing "romantic" things at every opportunity and say how they love each other every five minutes, like they don't know how else to demonstrate the reader, that they are in LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.
For example, I was really irritated by Marco and Ai - couple, who share the Exchange Diary - in Mirai Nikki. I've skipped a couple of series because of them.
Sorry for necromancy, I'm just really curious to hear more opinions on it, cause the thematic is of current interest.

[joannekwan]

I'll agree that I have a distaste for blatant PDA and usual 'romantic' behavior.
I much prefer couples who aren't always hanging off each other.