tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862302997225239634.post7091881422614384749..comments2023-04-16T07:22:34.291-05:00Comments on Chloe Harris: Hot Spiced Historical Romance: Protagonists 101, ConclusionBarbra e. Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07426699511725750915noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862302997225239634.post-10321879335260574412009-05-15T16:56:00.000-05:002009-05-15T16:56:00.000-05:00I have heard Noelle's theory before. And there's s...I have heard Noelle's theory before. And there's some merit to it. But what I think readers want is a heroine they can identify with and one they want to be, not necessarily one that is like them. So the complete fantasy is they become the exciting, beautiful heroine who gets the studly, exciting romantic hero. It's the ultimate fantasy.<br /><br />But, like Barbra, I have a hard time with so many heroines. I'm far harder on heroines as a reader than I am the heroes. And as a writer, I think the same rule applies. I'm much harder on my heroines. But, confession time, I do put a little of myself in each one, some aspect of their personality, not the whole thing, but just a little thing that's all me. Or maybe it's who I want to be? Who knows. But that's my way of identifying with the characters as I write them. Truth be told, the same thing for my heroes. Derek's sarcasm? All me, baby.Samantha Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15714986331449463732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862302997225239634.post-88498964589819495762009-05-15T16:29:00.000-05:002009-05-15T16:29:00.000-05:00Thank you, Sam!
I also think writing a heroine is...Thank you, Sam! <br />I also think writing a heroine is hard - much harder than writing the hero. We all basically know what we want in a hero. As a writer you just have to present it in a nice package (and I don't mean looks only).<br /><br />Heroines are hard because, I think, we want them close to ourselves (to make them believable) and completely different at the same time (to create something "new"). Does that make sense? <br />Making a list of qualities you want your heroine to have definitely helps with that. <br />If a heroine is likable and believable, I really don't mind a modern attitude or anachronisms that much. <br /><br />I believe there's a changing attitude in writing heroines. Probably there always was. Some time ago the HEA was simply that the hero saves the day (and it's still a basic ingredient, true) but nowadays we expect the heroine to play a significant/active part in that as well. So much so that sometimes we even count on the heroine to save the hero and the day! <br /><br />As for your theory about wanting to be loved by the hero, Noelle, sorry, but I don't buy that. <br />I've read too many books where I detested the heroine, so I constantly thought "What the hell does he see in her?" and in the end it wasn't a satisfying read at all - simply because I thought the hero was out of his mind. I don't like men who have a few screws loose. And I certainly don't desire to be loved by a complete basket case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862302997225239634.post-70232392345480082392009-05-15T11:48:00.000-05:002009-05-15T11:48:00.000-05:00First great job B on this whole series!
I have a ...First great job B on this whole series!<br /><br />I have a completely different theory on the heroine thing.<br /><br />Yes there are some heroines that are not that well written. But I think we connect better with the hero because there is a part of every reader that wants to be the heroine ourselves. Regardless of whether you are happily in a relationship or not I believe somewhere in the back of all our minds we want it to be us instead or her. <br /><br />Having said that though there have been heroines I connected with. A couple of old school Teresa Medeiros come to mind like Miss Lucy Snow from 1994's Thief of Hearts. When the hero says her straight blond hair was not marred by one frivolous curl (just like mine), well let me just say 15 years later I still know that line by heart. <br />And I love love love Prudence Walker from the Fabio adorned Heather and Velvet (http://www.teresamedeiros.com/heatherbp.jpg). She's nerdy, quick witted, passionate and strong yet she can't quite see how wonderful she is. "sigh" I do love her. <br />But mainly I love her because I see so much of myself in her (mostly the nerdy part) that I feel like the hero loves me as much as he loves her. Does that make sense?<br /><br />Anyway the point is I think we are all predisposed to always connect better to the hero in most cases. <br /> <br />As for historicals and traditional vs modern attitudes in your heroines it's a fine fine line. I think Madeline Hunter, Teresa Mederios and Caroline Linden do it well. Me? Well I put people on their own private island or make them from the future and try to avoid the whole issue. :)Noelle (Chloe Harris)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01454970869821482474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862302997225239634.post-29324874859389774082009-05-15T11:32:00.000-05:002009-05-15T11:32:00.000-05:00Great post! Very thought provoking. You know, the ...Great post! Very thought provoking. You know, the one heroine I wrote that I tried to keep true to historical mores is the one that I got the most complaints about. Although, by the end of the book she had grown tremendously. My husband, of all people, likes my two feistiest and most modern heroines. Okay, not such a shock after all. ;-)<br /><br />It is hard to write a historical heroine who embodies the characteristics we admire in contemporary women and still adheres to historical romance traditions and accurate social values and manners. I'm reading a medieval romance right now and there are a couple of places where I think she's a little too modern in her thinking and actions. But I don't care! I'm really enjoying the book. I think the key is to create a strong, likable character and even anachronisms and inaccuracies will be forgiven.<br /><br />I've found that making a list of the characteristics you want your heroine to have helps. Because even if you like strong heroines, they don't always work for every story. I just finished a book where the heroine isn't strong at all at the beginning. I've written probably three books with heroines who can be described that way. But by the end of the book she's very strong, and basically says to hell with what everyone else thinks or expects. I'm doing it my way. But that fits in her character arc.<br /><br />Heroines are much, much harder than heroes to write. MUCH. I didn't realize that as a reader. But as a writer, it's the Dreaded Heroine Syndrome.Samantha Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15714986331449463732noreply@blogger.com