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So You Want To/Write a Love Story: Difference between revisions
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There are two basic layers in any relationship. One layer is that oft-used word, '''Chemistry''' and has to do with your desired traits. Ask yourself right now: what do you look for in a potential mate or significant-other? [[Troubled but Cute]]? [[Yamato Nadeshiko]]? [[Cloudcuckoolander]]? [[Eyes of Gold|Blonde eyes]], [[You Gotta Have Blue Hair|blue hair]]? Well, those are your desired traits. If Marty wants to be swept up into the arms of someone [[Tall, Dark and Snarky]], then when such a person walks into "Marty's Books and Stationery" some time during the second page of the novel, The Reader expects them to end up together. Likewise, Quinn is looking for someone feisty and independent who won't just play the fainting violet. Oh, and maybe [[Heroes Want Redheads]]. When Quinn walks into that bookstore and sees the fiery-haired proprietor chewing someone out, The Reader expects Quinn to be interested. Why? Because of desired traits; because of chemistry. That makes Marty's presence in Quinn's life (and vice versa) a [[Chekhov's Gun]]. This is how [[Love At First Sight]] justifies its existence, incidentally, and it's also where [[Opposites Attract]] comes into play; in general you don't want to date someone who's an exact clone of you. ([[Screw Yourself|Unless you do]]. If you do, please don't tell me about it.)
The other layer is '''Compatibility'''. This one doesn't get as much press, partially because it's harder to explore in the time frame of a love story, and partially because a lot of Americans (the predominant consumers and producers of the [[Romance Novel]]) think "love" is some sort of magic black box which they have no hope of understanding. "Look! [[When Things Spin, Science Happens]]!" So here's the inside of that black box: shared values. If "desired traits" are what you look for in a partner, shared values are what you look for in ''yourself''. Ask yourself right now: now that you've met this girl/guy whom you have chemistry with, what are you going to do now? Are you going to have mad hot sex? Are you going to recline upon a sun-drenched meadow and quote poetry to each other? Are you [[I'm Going to Disney World|Going To Disney World]]? ''What kind of life do you want to live'', and does this potential mate help or hinder your efforts to live it?
This is one of the ways the [[Wrong Guy First]] plot or [[Betty and Veronica]] situation can get resolved: Devin spends some time with Haley, and enjoys the mechanics they have together; Haley is a good person, but is living a life that goes in a different direction than Devin's, and in a way unsuitable for long-term entanglement. (Alternately, Haley's just psycho.) No, it's Robin, [[The Nondescript]], the plain one, who really fits. True, Robin is kind of boring, because they share so much in common... But consider where Devin stands with Haley. Devin wants to travel the world, but Haley hates airplanes. Devin loves animals and wants a dog, but Haley is allergic to animal hair. Devin wants to be a full-time doctor, and Haley wants to have a fulfilling law career... and they both their spouse to stay home and have [[Babies Ever After]]. Which of them will abandon their career? With this in mind, do [[Opposites Attract]] anymore? Do you ''really'' want to spend your life with someone who's going to be at cross-purposes to you, all the time?—whose happiness ''requires'' your misery, and vice versa? Or do you want someone who dreams your dreams? Like Robin, for instance?
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