What does a hero need to do to garnish the heroine's attention?
Smile...talk to her about what she finds interesting. Approach her with confidence but not too quickly. Lean in and act interested, but back off if she leans away, her space invaded. Ask her for a date for something she expressed an interest in. Keep eye contact, listen, and lighten the tone of conversation. Be positive and fun.
Sound like a hero? Nope. LOL Sounds like the dating game. So what's wrong with the hero in this scenario? For fiction, NOT real life, the woman wants to be pursued, sought after, approached quickly, not left to linger, and often the conversation is confrontational and not sweet and light. There's no fun in reading about that.
:) So for dating tips, these are great ideas! For writers, forget it. We have to have conflict between the hero and heroine! That's what makes fiction fun to read. I think of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Lots of conflict, lots of fun, and lots of sexy make-ups afterwards. :) For fiction, sure it's great. But marriage? Nah.
So what do you think? Do heroes in real life and heroes in our stories have double standards?
Terry Spear
http://www.terryspear.com/
Heart of the Wolf, Don't Cry Wolf
Still time to sign up for the 3-D Characterization Class- just email me @ tspear@flash.net
Starts Jul 14-Aug 8 (4 weeks, 3 lessons per week, critiquing of your work, $20)
Jul 14-Aug 8 2008
What a Character!!! Jump from Cookie Cutter to Great 3-Dimensional Characters in Your Writing!
How many times have you heard how important it is to have 3-dimensional characters? That the publisher wants character-driven stories, not plot-driven? To show, not tell? But how easy is it to really write characters that come alive on the page? Some writers have a natural ability to concoct terrific characters who are full of life. Then there are the rest of us who need some help. In this workshop, Terry Spear will show the difference between average characterizations and those that will get noticed! In this online class, which features lectures, discussion, practical exercises, and handouts, she'll teach students how to captivate readers with engaging characters.
Terry Spear has published in many genres, including romantic suspense, contemporary, paranormal, and under the name Terry Lee Wilde, young adult paranormal and fantasy romances. She's the author of Winning The Highlander's Heart (Vintage), The Vampire...In My Dreams, Deadly Liaisons (Samhain), Heart of the Wolf, April, 2008, Don't Cry Wolf, April 2009, Betrayal of the Wolf, Allure of the Wolf (Sourcebooks), Deidre's Secret, Relative Danger (Wild Rose Press). She also writes nonfiction for numerous genealogy, WWII, teen, and family magazines, and has had romantic fiction published in magazines. Currently, she's working on her latest werewolf adult novel, Allure of the Wolf.
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I agree with you on that, Terry. The dating game/real life is so different from romance novels. One moves slowly and has little conflict, the other moves quickly and needs lots of conflict. Fantastic post!