Book 1:
Girl: Oh, Perfect Guy. I love you more than life itself.
Perfect Guy: No, I love you more. We were meant to be together.
Other Perfect Guy: Wait! What about me? I'm perfect for you. Seriously.
Girl: I do love you Other Perfect Guy, but I love Perfect Guy more.
Other Perfect Guy: Oh, snap.
Girl: Let's run away together Perfect Guy.
Perfect Guy: We should probably finish high school first.
Book 2:
Perfect Guy: Let's get mad at each other for a stupid reason and I'll distance myself from you for a while.
Girl: Okay. I'm going to hang out with Other Perfect Guy while you get over your self loathing.
Other Perfect Guy: YES!
Girl: Okay. Since Perfect Guy is staying away from me for some reason, I'll pick you instead. Even though we went through all of Book 1 to get together and finally did, I'll give it all up to be with you.
Other Perfect Guy: Oh, you fickle girl, you. Kiss me!
Perfect Guy: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Book 3:
Girl: I'm getting bored with Other Perfect Guy. I want Perfect Guy back.
Other Perfect Guy: But we belong together.
Girl: No. You were just a fling. I really love Perfect Guy.
Other Perfect Guy: This is stupid. I'm so pissed right now.
Perfect Guy: We are so in love. I'm so happy you chose me in the end. Even though you already did in the first place. Why do you have to add so much drama to our relationship?
Girl: Sigh. I know. I just like to leave my options open. Not anymore though. I love you. For reals this time.
Love Triangles. Love them or hate them?
19 comments:
I like love triangles...but not like those. :) A good love triangle is difficult, because there's always usually one clear forerunner. In fact, I can only think of one series off the top of my head in which the love triangle is very, very murky. And I love it.
This is great! Of the three books I've written, there is one love triangle. I like them sometimes, but sometimes they just really annoy me.
I don't mind them (as the idea has crept into my own writing) but the one above is annoying!
Hmmm. Is this the Twilight CliffsNotes? Funny. When I was a young adult in singles ward there was a real-life love triangle like this (not involving me!) And it was sooooooo annoying!
Oh, snap! You should write those books:) And yes, I love love triangles. Instant tension!
Definitely a love/hate thing. I'm not sure I could do one justice though. If they're not done right, they're just annoying.
Mostly I just hate them ... and avoid them like the plague (I know it's cliche, but it's so apt!). I'm a fan of action, not romance (i.e. as the focus of the story). But of course, I'm a guy.
Ba ha ha ha ha!! I love this. I have to admit, I'm not generally fond of love triangles. But it depends on how they're done. I mean, I've liked more than one guy before, so it's not unrealistic. If the characters are strong and realistic, and not a slave to their horomones, I can handle a love triangle. :)
Wow, you nailed it! I think love triangles are great if they are well done and motivated by more than hormones and hotness.
I love Love Triangles, but I do get tired of the one you described. I also roll my eyes at all these Perfect Guys that would cut off their left hand for the MC. They are 100% loyal, caring, sensitive, and devoted, and they would do ANYTHING for the Girl. Even nobly stand aside as she goes for someone else. PUH-leaze.
Love triangles can be great! Or they can be frustrating like what you've written above. That outline is perfect, by the way.
ROFL! This. Was. AWESOME! So much fun. :)
And hmm. Love triangles. I'm not sure I have an opinion!
I actually really like love triangles as long as they aren't cliche. :) I think it's fun to have a couple guys in the mix.
Oh, but that doesn't necessarily mean I don't like other love stories as well. I guess what I'm saying is, as long as the story is a good one, I don't mind the love story formula that's thrown in. :)
That was hilarious! I love triangles. I can't say why because I haven't really given it a lot of thought, but I write them into my books... Maybe it's just that added tension. Maybe it's because most people has this desire to be loved/admired, or maybe it's that drive to find 'the one' (even though I don't believe in reality that there is one right person for anyone).
I understand the point of love triangles but I'm not a huge fan. There can be plenty of tension in a two person relationship.
@Summer Frey I know what you mean. The love triangle has to be good, and there has to be a clear forerunner. :)
@Candice I sort of have a love triangle in the book I'm writing now, but she is leaning toward one person way more than the other almost the whole time. If they are done well I like them. Most of the time. :)
@L. Diane Wolfe I agree! :D
@Maggie Ha ha! You know, I didn't even really think of Twilight until after I wrote it! :)
@Ruth Maybe I'll start a new series! :D
@Michelle Merrill Totally agree Michelle. I just can't stand it when the couple works through the whole first book to get together, and then they break up in the second book and she's with someone else! Stupid!
@Reece I love action too. Although, I have to have some romance...I am a girl! :D
@Shallee Ha ha! I agree about the slave to their hormones thing. I can handle love triangles if there is a very good reason both guys are in love with the same girl.
@Jeigh True! I agree 100 percent!
@Renee Collins I know. Seriously, if you love the girl what the heck are you doing letting her go out with another guy!? Grrr.....
@JEFritz Thanks! Ha ha! I was obviously bored! :)
@ali Oh, come on Ali! You have to have an opinion!! :D
@Kasie West Exactly. Cliche is bad. Girl love guy, girl breaks up with guy, goes out with new guy, but ends up with guy number one in the end. Lame. (Although some I do like. Mostly because of the main story though. :)
@Nisa I do like adding tension to the story, and love triangles definitely do that. I tend to stay away from them, but sometimes I do like writing them. :)
@Sierra Gardner Amen!! :D
Love triangles are okay if you can somehow spin them in a different way. Good luck anyone attempting to try.
At first I was just going to say I hate love triangles (in general) but reading through the comments gave me time to think.
I think it's not so much the love triangles themselves that I dislike, because I have read some good ones. I think it's the ones that are there only to artificially create dramatic tension that I find distasteful. You know the ones I'm talking about, when the reasons the people are in the situation are so utterly banal or stupid or far-fetched that you want to throttle each and every one of them.
....or maybe that's just me.
Perhaps a better way to say it would be that I dislike it when a love triangle is created as a crutch or to drive a story. I think the story and the characters should drive the relationships, and if a love triangle is the result, then explore it, but don't make the love triangle be the driving force of the story and the characters. Otherwise it's just cheapening the story and frustrating the readers. I might except a romance but even then (especially then) it better be good.
Loved your portrayal of the one-size-fits-all love triangle progression though, that was great.
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