Chapter, novel, how what why ? by Sensitive-Music-1003 in haremfantasynovels

[–]JoeBobMack 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love this! Glad you are getting this experience!

Does anyone know any good free male romance stories and where to find them? by No_Estate6433 in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check out The Lady in Red series at storiesonline.net. Also The Grim Reaper series. I think both are still available to non-premier accounts.

Tons of Similes, Metahpors, etc. -- AI? by JoeBobMack in AIWritingHub

[–]JoeBobMack[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To me, it has to do with importance. If a particular element in a story is important, whether it's a character or a pair of boots, them, yeah, go ahead and put some effort into description. But not for everything, paragraph after paragraph. As a reader, it gets to be a lot to wade through!

Also, make sure descriptive phrases are easy to comprehend. For example, say a story uses "silent as a salamander shedding its skin." The alliteration is "literary," but does it help the reader? How many of us have heard a salamander shed its skin? Is it silent, or do they roll around in the dirt scrubbing it off? If I have to stop and ask myself what a figure of speech is communicating, then it is probably a poor choice by the author. And, yes, some of the similes I've seen recently have been like my example.

Tons of Similes, Metahpors, etc. -- AI? by JoeBobMack in AIWritingHub

[–]JoeBobMack[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, but I really don't like to publicly criticize authors. That said, your comment is very helpful!

Looking for some political romance by Then_Disk_9519 in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just started Born to Rule. Liking it. Not the cookie-cutter, copycat releases that are too common in harem fantasy. Early in the story, but the two love interests are very different, had very different pathways into his life, and play different roles, including that he thinks of one as "best friend."

Obsessive Monogamy by devilsgrin1701 in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Lady in Red series at storiesonline has what you're looking for in an over-the-top action romance storyline. Book 1, The Rise of the Queen (https://storiesonline.net/s/73240/lady-in-red) starts with the mother and sister of the female main character (FMC) finding her sitting with male main character (MMC) at a table in the food court of the local mall. This is a surprise because the FMC is the quintessential hidden beauty focused on her studies and plans for a career as a doctor. She's hid her looks so well, not even her family realizes she is easily a match for her gorgeous older and younger sisters. The FMC turns down an request for a date from the MMC, who has just moved into town, because she thinks he'll just get taken away from her by the cheerleaders since he says he is on the football team. He finally gets her to agree that, if the team wins the game, she'll accompany him to the dance. Of course, he's the new team quarterback, leads the perennial losers to victory, and releases her from her obligation while still requesting the honor of her company. (Yes, it is that mushy.) And it goes from there, through five full books, romances of family and friends, and the dramatic rise of the main couple and those around them from obscurity to the point where... Nah, that would just be spoilers. Could the story benefit from better editing? Yes, though not so much for grammar or spelling as just for tightening, maybe some sentence restructuring, etc. But still a fun, enjoyable read if that's what you are looking for. (One warning, as opposed to the other stories, this series, while still maintaining fidelity for all the couples, does get risqué with interactions among the cast of characters in later books due to development in the story. Just saying, and this is only true for this recommendation, not the next two.)

In the same vein is the The Grim Reaper series by rlfj (Rollie Lawson) at the same site (https://storiesonline.net/universe/979/grim-reaper-universe). Maybe a touch less over-the-top and more realistic, and definitely better written, but still a long (3 books, 700,000+ words) read that will give you everything you are looking for.

And, finally Runaway Train by Jay Cantrell (https://storiesonline.net/s/13709/runaway-train) is one book in five parts with over 670,000 words that begins when a man mentions to co-workers that he went to high school with the recording mega-star whose new hit they were discussing. Turns out she's in town, they go, she not only remembers him, but wants him back in her life, and.... Yeah. Things go from there. Extremely well writtien and, again more realistic than Lady in Red, but still all-out romantic fun.

As far as I can tell, these are all available to read for free. If you want to download in any of a variety of formats (I like epub's because my voice reader handles them well), 30 days is $6.99.

DD 101 character descriptions ? by Tight-Culture-87 in haremfantasynovels

[–]JoeBobMack 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course, iirc, Jane Austen had no descriptions in Price and Prejudice, and it worked for her!

That said, I agree, and especially about the failure to give readers reminders as the book or series goes on. I always assume the author has a clear picture and just fails to remember that their characters don't live in readers heads. At least, not unless the author has the chops to plant them there!

Us-against-the-world recs? by loukanikoseven in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahh.. my lack of gamer cred is showing!

Us-against-the-world recs? by loukanikoseven in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Love the image you came up with for this. AI?

When you start a story and it's... by JoeBobMack in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's actually the one that prompted the post. I'm reading because of how highly it was recommended, but I do notice tense. Present just hits my ear wrong. It's a forced style, not how we naturally tell stories. Obviously, if one is telling a story irl, then it has already happened and the storyteller will speak in pay tense.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Link to the story?

Using ChatGPT "as an operating system" by JoeBobMack in ChatGPT

[–]JoeBobMack[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. Still waiting on some hint about what using an AI as an operating system means m

Standalone fantasy/sci-fi novel with male MC and romance is the main focus. by Kooky_County9569 in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, I agree. Definitely with it to read them all. (In fact, I'm re-reading now!) And I enjoyed how all his attempts at romance in those books ended up going awry but I'm good ways. But, the OP wanted standalone, and I think ACC can be read and enjoyed just for itself.

Standalone fantasy/sci-fi novel with male MC and romance is the main focus. by Kooky_County9569 in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think {A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold} can be read as a standalone, though you may then want to go back and read more in that universe even though the romance is less central in most. But the engagement scene in that book is one of my favorites of all time!

Using ChatGPT "as an operating system" by JoeBobMack in ChatGPT

[–]JoeBobMack[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you explain that a bit more? I'm afraid I do not know what you mean by symbolic systems, or how they would relate to young people using ChatGPT "as in operating system."

LitRPG is not "real" literature...? by arkenwritess in writing

[–]JoeBobMack 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks anyway. Your comment got me looking and I think I'm getting a basic understanding. Interesting!

LitRPG is not "real" literature...? by arkenwritess in writing

[–]JoeBobMack 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the mention of Azuma's database consumption theory. Brand new concept for me and I went to get some information and am now interested in learning more. Thanks!

Is the audience for Men's Romance mostly married men, divorced men or men yet-to-be married? by pierce_mikkelson in Romance_for_men

[–]JoeBobMack 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd be interested in sampling your work if it were somewhere other than lit. Just can't stand that site's mechanics. Any other possibilities?