[NOTE: Comments I was about to post on IG & decided these words better served on this blog]
[DISCLAIMER: Some of the original texts has been changed in order for the post to make sense. Have also added more]
As a consumer of Romance media - whether by books, through TV, via films, etc., I'm trying to change some of these more harmful tropes in my own stories: in my Rom-com/Slice-of-life webcomic WIP, the relationships are healthy and the comedy comes from situations the couples end up in. You know, Sitcom's Original Definition and Full Name: Situational Comedy.
I do have a few 'enemies/bullies-to-lovers', but I do not show the relationship while one side is a bully/abuser. By the time I'm highlighting the relationship, both characters have changed or are willing to change for the better.
Also, I realized I'm not a fan of 'Love Triangles'. I never understood this kind of "comedic dilemma". I hated love triangles in media growing up because someone HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE AGAINST THEIR HEART. I now have OCs who are polyamory, so no more 'picking' sides! You can have more than 'one love of one's life'!
I have 'Second-chance Love' too, with mostly older couples as well as a few of my younger pairs.
Last but not least, a few of my Ace (Asexual) sex-indifferent/sex-repulsed OCs who end up with their 'found family' of friends and they are living happily ever after, because Romance isn't for anyone, Love can be for everyone, but Affection/Attachment is still very much valid in this world and I want to reflect those aspects of life as well.
