What is a circle?
There’s the geometry, the science, the math, the allegory, the cultural significance, the traditions, the psychology, the social constructs, and the subconscious symbolism.
There’s the many ways it can be used in design, in architecture, in construction, even in manhole covers (it’s the one shape that will not fall through itself no matter its position).
There’s the ways it can be twisted and turned to become an oval, the symbol for infiniti, or a mobius strip, or it can be made whole into a sphere.
This two-dimensional, oblique representation of an octisected sphere is the symbol for the religion of Perístanom–Wikimedia Commons
Then there are the things that can be put into a circle and what is often left out–like being in the inner circle can make you feel included and special, while being outside the circle can make you feel excluded. (Hopefully, only until you realize maybe it’s because you’re different and unique.)
Yet a circle is so easy anyone can draw one, and with enough practice even a good one. But drawing a perfect circle takes intention, planning, and practice because an imperfect circle or a poorly drawn one is easy to spot.
Writing is like that. Writing romances even more so.
Simplicity is deceptive, necessary, and quietly beautiful. Would we want it to be otherwise?