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The good stuff.
NO story where they question where its right. I mean come on, you never see a straight person questioning. Why should we?
I just HATE stories like that.

Also anything with a bad ending.
Where the one leaves the other coz its wrong. 9.9

Mushy lovey stuff.

Thanks for the great replies, guys!
So, you prefer:

- romances that build up slowly
- 'innocent' rather than 'steamy' (though you don't mind the odd bit of steam razz )

I like sweetness and overprotective people. Magda/Tilda, anyone?

Also, I agree that it should build up slowly. It just makes more sense to me, I guess.

Hmm.. I'd have to say a lack of sleaze and innuendo makes a story great.
A female writer is a plus, as in sex scenes they have a deeper understanding of the concept of "foreplay" XD .

Ahem. <.<;;

As for the non-sexual aspect of the relationship, things should happen at a natural pace, as Tsaoma mentioned. I have also noticed that in alot of stories
(especially in fanfiction, yaoi and yuri alike) that the concept of internal and external prejudice and homophobia is completely pushed to the side. Yes, nobody will care a tiny bit that you're in a gay relationship.
rolleyes <******** PLEASE.

Thank you very much.

Realism, grammar, pacing (and foreplay). Having read a lot of nasty fan fiction myself, I understand the value of those basic elements. Of course, achieving them can take some thought!

-smiles- I love detail. I want to see into the hearts and minds of the characters in love and the secondary characters. It can be as slow or fast as the author wishes it to be as long as I can follow the story easily. It has to flow. I want to be able to feel the character's emotions. When the character is sad I want to be sad with her and when the character is happy I want to be laughing too. As far as romance goes, I would love to see some intimate scenes where the character's can show they're feelings for each other without having to have sex. People have no idea just how a loving brush of a hand against a cheek can feel as if he world is slowing disappearing beneath your feet and can be more romantic than any sex scene. Words are powerful and I expect authors to use that power to their fullest capabilities. If the author decides to put a sex scene in the story i think it should have some type of meaning to it instead of just shoving one in there just because. If there happens ot be death in it, I think that should mean something also. Why did the character die? If she died for someone who was it for? What will happen to those her death affects? I believe that authors can answer questions like these if they wish or to leave it up to the reader to draw their own answers. The story plot has to be interesting and loveable. I mean when I read it, it has to catch my attention and hold it for as long as possible. I believe that is the importance of questions in a novel. If you can get the reader to start asking questions about the novel, subconsciously or otherwise, than they will continue reading to see if they can find the answer. That's what people have been searching for for years so it would only make sense. People like questions and they love answers even more, but it's the search for those answers that will keep them reading. I want to see the characters evolve. I love complex characters. I'm not ruling out the possibility of simple characters because I honestly don't think that people use them enough anymore but complex characters are the ones that people want to read about.

Well...that's my little rant. Without all that detail and everything I just love a good story.