No one likes to admit their fears…especially a guy. But deep inside we all have fears, something that creeps us out, or subconsciously makes us turn away. When we’re building our character, we need to know what he’s afraid of. Yes, he’ll have a Greatest Fear, something that is his worst nightmare, but usually it’s expressed in smaller fears. How do you find your hero’s fear? Remember the dark moment? That thing that caused you to find your hero’s noble cause? I’ll bet, embedded in that moment, you can also find a fear. For our fireman, maybe it’s the nightmare of his father burning to death, and the same thing happening to him. For Rafe, it might be becoming a laughing stock. Here’s a couple from two of my favorite […]
Read the RestArchive | January, 2008
Be Afraid, be very afraid! The third element of a Heart-Throb Hero
We had an ice-storm last night. Living in Minnesota, I’m pretty familiar with ice, even took a dive last week in our school parking lot (yes, right in front of my kids. I’m feeling old!). But last night, the storm, which actually started out as rain and morphed into sleet created a condition called “black ice” – it’s ice built up on pavement that causes cars to fly off the highway into ditches and other cars. It’s one of the most dangerous parts of winter in the northland. The thing is, having lived most of my life in cold (MN and then Siberia), I know how to drive on black ice. My 16 year old, rookie drive son, however, does not. Which is why I stood at the window, staring […]
Read the RestWhat shall I fear?
“Mom, can you read this?” I look up, and there is my 16 year old, holding his newest chapter to the book he’s writing. He gives me a tentative smile, and I know I need to ask the question: “As your mother….or as an editor?” Let’s face it – it’s scary to write a book. Oh, not necessarily to put words on the page (although for some people that is scary!), but to show them to others. Especially a picky book doctor mom. I had to admire his courage when he answered, “As an editor.” O-kay! We spent the next three hours going over his story. And when we finished, he said, “Well, that was painful. But good, even fun.” Facing our fears is so much like that – painful, […]
Read the RestFlaws: Examples and other stuff
Raise your hand if you’ve seen 27 Dresses. Such a cute movie (and in this one we DO fall in love with James Marsden!). Love the premise, and there is so much inner conflict potential! But what does that have to do with flaws? You’ll have to see it to understand, but there is a BINGO moment, where the heroine nails the hero’s backstory, and reveals the why of his flaw, which is cynicism. I’m not going to wreck it for you all, but the thing is, when a woman does that in your story, everything changes for the hero. Suddenly he’s found a woman who can understand him. And that makes all the difference. So, let’s take a look at some of the excellent examples sent in: (As a […]
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