Kay L. Ling
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What Do You Call the Female Equivalent of a “Bromance”?

1/21/2018

2 Comments

 
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A few popular fantasy novels feature two male characters that have a close bond, and they're almost like brothers. People refer to their relationship as a “bromance.” But where are the books with a similar bond between female characters? There may be some, but offhand, I can’t think of any.


​After struggling to write the blurb for my upcoming novel, Wards and Wonders, I realized I was using the wrong angle. I was focusing on the plot, not the characters.

Before starting this book, I had thought how much fun it would be to develop an unlikely friendship between two radically different females—Tyla a gnome, and Tina Ann, a deformed, genetically altered gnome called a breghlin. Not only are their appearances different, Tyla does research and runes translation at Elantoth Fortress, and Tina Ann works in the kitchen. Tyla is levelheaded and staid. Tina Ann is uncouth and unpredictable. Before long, the developing friendship between this unlikely pair drives a wedge between Tyla and her real sister, Arenia. I enjoyed watching this relationship unfold as the book progressed, and I think readers will, too.
​
So, despite all the fascinating plot points I had hoped to work into my blurb, Tyla and Tina Ann’s friendship took center stage. I have no idea what readers will call the female equivalent of a bromance, but I’ve given fantasy fiction two very memorable friends who share a sister-like bond.  

2 Comments
Cathleen Townsend link
3/17/2018 05:35:49 pm

Hi, Kay *waves from kboards*

I love the idea behind Wards and Wonders. I wrote a story like that, too--Stolen Legacy. I tried to put into it how much I've valued having close relationships with other women. Most women seem to need close friendships, at least from what I've seen. But it's definitely an undeveloped niche in fantasy.

I also like the idea of networking together as noblebright authors. Looking forward to it. :)

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judy
8/4/2018 02:01:37 pm

I think that fiction backs away from strong female characters bonding for the same reason so many do in real life. They are accused of being involved in a more intimate relationship or if one is married and the other single then the single woman gets mixed signals. If she is friendly with the husband then the married woman while wanting the two people she loves to get along she also starts having niggling doubts. Can she truly trust her friend not to cross the line with her husband. Can she truly trust her husband. And men being men in the real world some just have to suggest a threesome. Because in the real world when 2 men bond since the idea of it becoming anything more or the two of them being gay or bi is just so despicable it's not even considered. But for some reason when 2 women are close male minds always start the whole idea thing that women have to be more than just friends. Because males so many of them will fantasize 2 women together and it's ok but 2 men together is disgusting.
Not sure why the real world has to destroy so many beautiful relationships by injecting sex into everything. But most men can't seem to interpret close female bonding for what it is. Then again lesbians don't seem to be able to trust their partners to be bonded but not sexually either. Green eyed monster stirs up a lot among women straight or gay . I think it does in men as well they are just better at hiding it. But hats off to women brave enough to bond and to ignore the sniggers the innuendos the underbreath remarks behind their backs. Long ago I had one of those relationships. Until she married a very insecure man who threatened to take her child away if we continued to be friends. And so after many years of looking out for each other through all the ups and downs the letter from her saying she knew I would understand why she had to make the break well I put up walls around my broken heart that no one ever broke through. They eventually broke off years down the road but once her kids turned of age where he couldn't touch them to her credit she did try to reach out. But i just couldn't let go of the pain she had caused so we remained very casual. Distant. I never talked to her about it. I think she understood why I kept up the barriers. And eventually we drifted. She reached out though when my parents died. I give her credit for taking that risk. But we were never going to be tight like before. Sharing everything. Protecting each other. See...it was my protector that cut me. My protector that took my security my faith away. Sure I knew she had no choice. But i guess a part of me wished she hadn't given in so easily. After so many years a part of me wished she had tried to put up a little resistance. But the letter she wrote didn't give me any impression she tried to defend our friendship. So i think there are just so many misconceptions about the bonding of two females in real life that it never finds its way into fiction.
And maybe it's just my tainted view.

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