Wicked Holiday Wenches

  Anne started such a wonderful discussion of Wicked Wenches that I’m not certain there’s much room to jump in. But writing a 10-12,000 word story has taught me something about writing short, so I may practice short blogging, too.

The difficulty of writing “wicked” in short form is that there’s very little room for redeeming a truly wicked sin, much less an entire character. I’d like to try it sometime in novel form, but for the sake of a short story, I tried to make it easy on myself. I created a character who really did something no good romance heroine should do—deliberately lied by a rather spectacular omission and betrayed a loyalty. Readers would have screamed in outrage had I pulled this stunt in the normal course of a story, because of course, it’s pretty impossible to carry out the lie she was perpetrating, although the disloyalty could be justified.

But in short form, events have to move swiftly. So there’s no time for deception to reach the level of true wickedness—or stupidity, which is what I’d label the actions of most heroines inclined to such stunts. Damaris knows what she’s doing is wrong and is fully prepared to accept the consequences, because she knows she’s doing it for good reason.

And because this is essentially a feel-good holiday story, even though she’s caught out and is faced with the harsh judgment of those she’s fooled, love does overcome all.

The one really difficult part of writing short is that there’s little room for both romance and plot. Most of the wenches resolved this by having the hero and  heroine know each other before the story started. I, on the other hand, needed anonymity for my mischief. So I had to end on a hopeful note for two lonely people and let readers reach their own conclusions.

Interestingly, a holiday spirit seems to imbue the story with just the right note of hope. Is this the reason so many of us enjoy Christmas anthologies? Any other theories as to why Christmas stories are so popular?

Comments

[CateS]

I love Christmas anthologies... The holiday season is one where you meet up with unexpected visitors and old friends. I love that it is also the season of hope and then there's presents!! Why have a holiday [like Labor Day] and not give presents!!

[Mary Jo Putney]

I don't know about other readers, but I like holiday stories because they can have outrageous, over the top sentimentality. *G* 'Tis the spirit of the season!

[Patricia Rice]

I'm not so much into MJ's over the top sentiment, but I do love the promise of hope and peace. And yes, unexpected guests!

Hmm, Labor Day with presents? Lawn mowers and blenders?

[Diane Sallans]

Christmas stories really get me in the spirit for the holidays so it's time to line up some good reading for the season.

[Anne Gracie]

Pat, I think you've nailed it — it's the hope that comes with holiday anthologies that does it for me. It's a time of redemption, for forgiving old wrongs, for making plans for a new or different life.

I also enjoy the revisiting of traditional activities, so many of which get shoved aside in a busy world. And yeah, I'm with Mary Jo — I do like a bit of sentiment.

[Sherrie Holmes]

I'm with Mary Jo and the outrageous, over the top sentimentality! I'm a sentimental old fool, and Christmas anthologies always get me in the mood and give me permission to be as gooey and sentimental as I like!

[Jenny Reid]

Hi Patricia. I have absolutely no idea why Christmas anthologies are so popular, but I love them. I collect every Christmas story I see and save them to be read at Christmas time. Somehow they fit the season. Only problem is most are set in the northern hemisphere with lots of snow etc. and I am usually reading them in the middle of summer when it is hot and sticky. Maybe I think a little bit of snow will cool me down. I live in hope.

[Pam Wilder]

I agree with Anne and Mary Jo, plus that is a magical, anything can happen time of year. I actually love to read them all year. I like anthologies as well as stand alone novels. One of my favorites is Jo's Christmas Angel.

[Patricia Rice]

It's kind of exciting to see that people love Christmas stories as much as we love to write them!

Interesting to ponder our predilection for setting the holiday in snow. In actuality, the first Christmas was far from anything resembling snow. Most of our holiday memories are obviously Victorian, since earlier eras really didn't have a great deal of the customs we know now.

But I like to think the sentiment has been handed down through the ages.

[theo]

I'm a snow for Christmas gal because that's what I grew up with and still live with. I can't imagine the season any other way. And I do love Christmas stories. I haven't read one yet that didn't end on a note of hope for the future and I think during the Christmas season especially, that's what we look for. Especially after a day of getting beaten up at the local pre-Christmas sales...

;o)

[LilMissMolly]

I love Christmas stories because everyone is always so happy go lucky during that time and many times during the year I just want to escape into another world!