I was going over the notes I made for my characters in my Colonial mystery series when I discovered a romance subplot blossoming between Amos and the daughter of an Irish farmer (who's parents immigrated to the colonies). I imagined the two walking across the pasture talking, Amos doing a little farm work here and there (maybe doing something to impress the girl), etc. But isn't it a cliche to have a romance take place in a barn/ranch? While granted the people in question are a French tavern boy named Amos and the daugher of a farmer but still... I guess it's because I haven't been exposed to romance at all that makes this a bit iffy. Plus, the idea of Amos and the girl makng out inside a barn makes my stomach turn. It seems to cliched, like bad romance in the making. Thoughts?
You could change location to a large isolated tree or down by the river. In those times you made use of what was around you for private space, I see no problem with the barn setting, its warm and dry.
It's only bad if you write it badly. So long as you write it well, there's no problem. EDIT: This is true for everything, BTW.
*Coughs*... I've made out in weirder places... *Coughs* Trust me, a barn is a great place and isn't a cliché if you don't make it into one. That is the truth and nothing but the truth.
Good points. Plus, who knows what the dad might think. He may not mind/care that his daughter has a crush on Amos. But like mammamaia once said, whatever they're doing (ie, Amos milking a cow or whatever), it has to either move the plot or character development along. @ Metal= Dare I ask where you've made out?
I don't think it's cliche at all. Hell, I've never even seen or heard of it done! I'm not entirely sure how it would work out, but I'm sure it could. Though you may want to do some research on the subject. People throughout the country are touchy with two people of the same sex having a relationship/marriage, so I'm not sure how they'd feel about two barns going at it. I'm a bit open minded myself. What two barns do in their spare time is no concern of mine.
Unless it occurs in a city of the time, your only choice is rural/farm. It's not like there were colonial suburbs. So, not in a city? Then, farm...
It doesn't seem cliched to me, as long as the characters taking part aren't cliched. Of course, if they seem like "cookie-cutter" characters it's a different matter entirely. I don't care how original the setting is if the character's are flat and boring.
