SCA Porn - You Know You Want It.

[jamesq]

I was chatting with othelianna last week when she told me about her Cowboy porn. I observed that romance novels/porn aimed at women tend to have two goals:

1. Getting the reader hot and bothered.
2. Reinforceing traditional gender stereotypes.

I then suggested that she write an SCA themed romance novel.

It wouldn't be hard to write. Our protagonist would be a woman coming off of a string of bad relationships with rough, manipulative men. She meets her romantic-object when he rescues her from some dangerous situation (a mugging say) with his superior bravery and rattan-wielding skills. They'd date for awhile and plot tension would be created by having her join the society and not really understand it. Being plucky, she'd eventually win the hearts of all around her, applying all the women's liberation skills of the 70's to the task of improving the society. It could be very Mary Sue-ish.

Rosie balked at this, stating that if it ever got out that she'd wrote the novel, everyone and their dog (in the local group) would read it and speculate on who each of the characters was based off of. She'd get a lot of grief over it. She cited a few episodes of NCIS and Bones to back this up (each has characters in a similar situation). I could see the conversation now:

Sir Loin of Beef: "Hey, is this 'Sir Rhino' character based off me?"
The Author: "Now what possible reason could I have for writing a character who never takes hits off of you Sir Loin?"
Sir Loin of Beef: "..."
Sir Loin of Beef: "No reason."

And if you think people would be upset by the SCA stereotypes, imagine what fun they'd have with the sexual stereotypes!

Lady Roundheels: "Hey, is this 'Lady Belt Bunny' character based off me?"
The Author: "Now what possible reason could I have for writing a character who jumps every knight she can find in the hopes of becoming Queen off of you Lady Roundheels?"
Lady Roundheels: "..."
Lady Roundheels: "No reason."

I'd almost be willing to write this myself, except it would transform from "romance novel" to "Comedy/porn" in short order, which probably isn't the desired outcome. Plus it would be very hard to keep myself from inserting the character Lord Gary-Stu the misunderstood archer who sweeps the lead off her feet.

Comments

[oblivions.livejournal.com]

Pary tell me what's wrong with being the coolest character in your own story?

[jamesq]

It would be fiction?

[oblivions.livejournal.com]

Or it may not be...

[jamesq]

♪ To Dreeeeeaaaaaam the impossible Dreeeeeaaaaam! ♫

[snooness2]

Tell othelianna there is a very long tradition of writing SCA based novels. There is a crime novel, a mystery novel, a few fantasy novels, and a few romance novels already published centered around either the SCA or Ren Faires.

Besides if she writes in archtype characters or merges multiple people then she can leave everyone guessing.

[jamesq]

Oooooh. Aside from SCA references in Stirling's Emberverse books, I was not aware of any. Could you let us know some titles?

[snooness2]

I was thinking Murder at the War, and Summoned to Tourney.

but here's a whole list
http://www.uvm.edu/~hag/sca/biblio.html

[cat-cetera.livejournal.com]

You could have the romance novel with two potential romantic partners for your heroine. One would be the dashing but ultimately unsuitable Sir Rhino, and the other would be the misunderstood but ultimately suitable Lord Gary Stu the Archer.

[jamesq]

I suspect this would break some genre conventions. That is to say, it would make a good book, but it probably wouldn't be a traditional romance novel.

But then, I've never read one, so what do I know. I'm all about the outlandish outfits and mutant powers in my reading preferences.

[cat-cetera.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, it would be well within the conventions of the genre to have the heroine almost hook up with the wrong guy until most of the way through the book, due to some misunderstanding that could easily have been resolved in 5 minutes if the parties could only communicate with each other like adults. So you see, in our scenario, Sir Rhino the dashing heavy has promised to make our heroine princess, but nobody bothers to tell her that's what he told the last five newbies. On the other hand, Lord Gary Stu can never make our heroine the princess, but is too shy to tell her he loves her, and she takes it for snobbery.

[jamesq]

Oh I get that part, I'm all in favour of the archer winning the lady's favour over the smelly heavy fighter. What I meant was, you probably shouldn't promise the readers of Romance Fiction that their proxy is going to be made princess/queen and then not deliver. The fantasy is the position, not the person.

Mind you, I like the Paper Bag Princess style ending, where she ends up becoming Queen by her own hand.

[cat-cetera.livejournal.com]

Yes, perfect. She is supposed to enter the coroner tournament with Sir Rhino, each inspire by the other, but at the last moment she learns he has decided to fight for Lady Roundheels instead. Reluctantly, she asks Lord Gary Stu to inspire her. He has only ever been standoffish to her but he is the only bloke with a valid membership she can find on such short notice. He confesses his love to her as they process onto the field, and it is by this inspiration that she is able to become princess by her own hand, preferrably by defeating Sir Rhino in the final round.

[jamesq]

Did we mention that she has a black belt in Kendo?

[snooness2]

Hey I think I read that book...
(There is way to much pop-romance-fiction in my pleasure reading recently)

[minyata.livejournal.com]

I rather like the idea! You both should collaborate! I have some name suggestions for the characters for you ;)

[jamesq]

Thus guaranteeing trouble!

[mallt.livejournal.com]

Very appropriate choice of music.

[jamesq]

Feel the romance.

[mallt.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[ersatz-marduk.livejournal.com]

I'd almost be willing to write this myself, except it would transform from "romance novel" to "Comedy/porn" in short order, which probably isn't the desired outcome.

Not desired by whom? Porn that can laugh at itself sounds like it would be very entertaining, as well as positive.