A poll is like positivity, but easier

[megwrites]

Since I'm (foolishly) secretly working on a Vampire Novel of Doom, I had to post this poll. Because I need to know the trufax about vampires.


[Poll #1492062]

Comments

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

That's all right. I *want* to hear from people outside the "demographic" for vampire books (whatever that is, IDK) - because those are the people who, oddly enough, have some of the best insights into the genre.

You're another person who's commented that the entire idea of making vampires sexy and romantic is the biggest turn off when it comes to the genre. Which is something I'm going to keep in the back of my mind because I'm pretty sure there's something to be mined there for a story - turning the idea of a romantic vampire hero on it's head in someway.

[aberrant1.livejournal.com]

I do want to state for the record that I'm not turned off by romantic vampires because "eew, romance, for girls! I want my vampires hideous and evil and manly!" Because I've seen complaints like that in forums.

My problems with it are: 1. The simple one: it's about one step removed from necrophilia. Creeps me right out, and not in a good way.
2. The "sexy bad guy" trope squicks me pretty often. I'm sure there are ways to play up the Forbidden Romance angle, but there are many other ways to write a young woman (usually) helplessly drawn to someone who's going to kill her/turn her into a vampire/whatever. Of course, there's a ton of unexamined creepy sexual issues in there to play with, and more power to you if you want to subvert them!