Part two of of Creating a Heroic Heroine. Yesterday, we talked about how every heroine needs to have a goal – something tangible and specific that they are shooting for in the story. A goal is your target, and give you a place to aim for in the story. But, of course, we can’t let her get there, at least not without a struggle. Which means our heroine also needs a FLAW. We know women aren’t perfect. But we try, oh, we try. And the key to a great flaw is something that can be overcome – with the help of a good hero. It doesn’t have to be a huge flaw, maybe it’s a tendency to run away from her problems, or better, a tendency to push men out […]
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About Susan May Warren
Former Russian Missionary Susan May Warren is the best-selling author of more than 40 novels and novellas with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill, and Summerside. A Christy award and RITA winner, and multiple finalist for the RITA, Christy and winner of Inspirational Readers Choice contest, Susan currently has over a million books in print. A seasoned women’s events speaker and writing teacher, she is the founder of http://www.mybooktherapy.com an online community for writers, and runs a fiction editing service teaching writers how to tell a great story. Visit her online at: http://www.susanmaywarren.com.Author Archive | Susan May Warren
Why are you here?
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 […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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