Part One of How to create Heroines who can take care of themselves! (but still want a good man!) I used to hate romances. Why? Because I didn’t respect a woman who had to have a man to save her. BUT, I did respect a woman who allowed a man into her life to make her better, stronger, more noble, more complete. Which is why, probably, all the heroines in my books are strong women, — CIA agents, and K-9 Handlers, and bush pilots and fire chiefs. But for all the toughness of my heroines, they need a good man. So what makes a strong heroine? The first element is that your Heroine must have a Goal. And that Goal must be measurable, and specific. Now, both your characters need […]
Read the RestArchive | February, 2010
What are you so afraid of?
Creating a Hearthrob Hero…continued. My husband used to hate to dance. Last year, because he’s a hero, he gave me dancing lessons for my birthday. Now, this flaw kept him from dancing for years because…he was afraid of looking foolish. (which is why we have to make sure our dancing is perfect. It’s like dancing with a drill sergeant.) I finally figured this out and helped him conquer this fear by buying us dancing tapes and letting us learn the basics in our kitchen. Then, when we enrolled in dance class, he looked like he knew what he was doing. (And wow, you should see him now!) Behind every hero’s flaw…there is a fear. Yesterday we talked about flaws…those problems our hero has that makes him less than perfect. […]
Read the RestAw, he’s not that bad!
We’re talking this week about building a heartthrob hero into our stories – if you want more about building a hero – and characterization in general – go to our archives. There, you’ll learn how to build a hero from the inside, out. Yesterday, we talked about a hero having a Noble Cause – that thing that makes him likeable and drives him through the story, through all the obstacles and conflict. Today, we’ll touch on the next element…. Your Hero must have a Flaw Your hero has to be less than perfect. Something about him that makes him real. Maybe he has issues with recklessness, or perhaps he trusts too much and has gotten burned. Maybe he’s jaded and mean on the outside (but of course tenderhearted on the […]
Read the RestWho do you love, baby?
Or…how to Write a Heart-throb Hero! Every romance has to have a great hero who leaps off the page and into our hearts! Think of your favorites: Braveheart, or maybe Robin Hood? Maybe it’s simpler: Hugh Grant in Notting Hill. As you start building your romance, your hero is key. You need a man who will at once be noble, but flawed enough to be relatable. And don’t forget, every woman wants to come to the aid of her man, just a little (it’s the nurturer inside). So, how do we make a Hearthrob hero? This week we’re going explore the Four components EVERY HERO must have. #1 A Hero Must Be Noble – Every hero must have something to fight for. As Mad Max says in the Princess Bride—what […]
Read the Rest
