I was always aware that certain writers had favorite words and phrases they used throughout their books; that doesn’t bother me. But I’ve been having a speed-read marathon of popular romance selections, both past and present, and there seems to be a collective “romance voice” with romance lingo.
There are many stock phrases recirculated within the romance world, but by far the worst offender for me is primal urge. This is used when the author wants to convey the strength of sexual desire… the trouble is, when I read it, I think of different kinds of primal urges.
- After months of hardtack and rum, Captain Silverman felt the primal urge to devour the glistening pile of fresh fruit set in front of him.
- “Ughh,” he groaned, clutching his belly. He had the primal urge to find a bathroom, and quickly.
- His meaty hands curled into fists, but he still tried to restrain the primal urge to start swinging.
“Primal urge,” despite its widespread use, usually says to me, “This author isn’t that comfortable writing passionate scenes.” It’s a shortcut that the author hopes will convey passionate urgency without having to do the work. In my critique group, I notice it all the time with beginning romance writers, who have no doubt picked it up from the crates full of paperbacks they’ve consumed. (I’m sure that it would appear in my own writing, if I were going to write a romance, just from exposure!)
Then again, critiquers have their pet peeves too. What may annoy me may be perfectly acceptable to other readers. Your thoughts on this?
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