posted on February 23, 2016 by Jeanne Devlin

The ABCs of Courting . . .

Writerspace - Let's Talk Books icon.indd

Just like fashion or vacation spots or models of cars, styles of courting fall in and out of favor.

Dancing graphic BLOG 2-23-2016Our grandparents would have been appalled not to have a beau come to the door, meet the parents, and pay for dinner.  Woodstock generation parents might have favored free love in a communal setting.  And our children might find the very idea of any kind of one-on-one courting ritual terrifying, since their generation seems to prefer group dates with lots of texting, and the occasional hook up.
Ironically, those of us who read novels have been exposed to centuries of courting styles.  And truth be told, there is always one we wish still flourished in our time — and a good many we sigh in relief that have not.  (Think:  arranged marriages.)

So what does good courting look like to you?  Long walks in the park with a handsome, witty companion?  Candlelight dinners with a thoughtful soul who can’t resist gazing into your eyes?  Camping trips with a rugged adventurer who brings you bouquets of wildflowers?  Long phone calls until dawn?  Dancing by the light of the moon—or maybe in Lederhosen?

The TV celebrity Steve Harvey would argue that we get the courting we deserve . . . and to a point, I suspect he is right.

 

The irony of it might be that what we deserve is also what we secretly want.  So how about you?

Do you dream of courting accompanied by chocolate and jewelry?  Or do you prefer a date comprised of a good rom-con and an In-N-Out Burger?

What is your ideal courting style?  And did a novel fuel your choice?

—Jeanne Devlin

Jeanne Devlin

Jeanne Devlin

Jeanne Devlin is editor of The RoadRunner Press, an award-winning traditional publishing house based in the American West. An editor of newspapers, magazines, and books for more than thirty years, she has also worked on national marketing and publicity campaigns with such publishers as Simon and Schuster and St. Martin's and for a number of New York Times bestselling authors, including Robyn Carr, Sabrina Jeffries, Debbie Macomber, Linda Lael Miller, and Wendy Corsi Staub. A graduate of the Stanford University Publishing Course, Jeanne is a member of the Children's Book Council, the National Book Critics Circle, and the Oklahoma Center for the Book of the Library of Congress. She also consults with boutique publishers.

http://www.theroadrunnerpress.com

One thought on “The ABCs of Courting . . .”

  1. Crystal Cox says:

    Make me laugh and I open up so the perfect date is going to a comedy show or movie 🙂 I love a nice walk in the woods/park/beach 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Latest from our Blog

Mahoney & Squire – Military Women’s Fiction – Meet The Characters

Have you met the men and women of Mahoney & Squire, my high-stakes, high-octane military action adventure series? Let me introduce you! Captain Kathryn “Kate” Mahoney, USN Call Sign “Scarlett” Ambitious, strong-willed, patriotic, and assertive, Kate Mahoney is often derided as a “bitch” by the old school naval aviation community. She struggled through dysfunctional relationships,… Read More

Read More