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Saturday, January 24, 2015

HEROES OR HEROINES?



Inquiring minds want to know: for you authors—do you have an easier time writing your heroes or your heroines? For you readers—do you relate better to the heroes or the heroines in the romance books you read?

It’s been said that readers should want to be friends with the heroine and fall in love with the hero. I’ve got the falling in love with the hero part nailed down.

Writing the hero is much easier for me than writing the heroine. I fall in love with each of my heroes as I’m writing his story. I love getting into my guys’ heads. My men are always tortured in some way, yet they are vulnerable, and despite everything they’ve been through, they are willing to open their hearts to take a chance on love. And they aren’t afraid to fight for the women they love. Readers fall in love with my heroes too.

My heroines not so much.

I struggle to write heroines. I like them to be vulnerable also, and independent and strong. Women who can stand on their own and take care of themselves. But, according to a few reviewers/readers, my early heroines were a little too stubborn. One reader who reviewed my first published book disliked my heroine through most of the story because this reader felt the heroine took too long to appreciate the great guy who was head over heels for her. I’ve had some readers defend my heroes against perceived slights from the heroines.

My heroines have been hurt in the past and steel themselves against getting hurt again. Because of that they are a little wary of losing their hearts. And, yes, maybe a little stand-offish, at least at first, for some of them. On the other hand, I’ve written heroines who have been too mushy and googly-eyed toward the hero, according to my critique group. They have me make her resist the hero more. See what I mean about struggling to write the women?

I suspect my problem writing heroines is that each one has a little bit of me in her. I’m stubborn (to a fault my husband would say), and I don’t like anyone telling me what to do. Although these can be good traits for my heroines, I’ve had to learn to dig deeper into their minds to show their inner struggles so readers can understand them better, and to make them the kinds of women readers would have for friends.

Readers tend to like the heroines in my later books. But not as much as they love my heroes.

As a reader, I asked myself the same question as above. Who do I relate to better? Hero or heroine? Many times it depends on the book and the roles the characters play. But looking back, I like most heroes a tad better than the heroines in the books I read. Why? Is it just a woman thing, and we all fall in love with the heroes?

Here are a few of my heroes and why I love them.

Logan Tanner from Logan’s Redemption (Redemption Book 1). Logan was raised on the mean streets of Philadelphia. As a teen, he was forced to flee. Now he’s back, but his past still haunts him. He puts his life on the line to protect the woman he loves, the woman he’s always loved.

Franco Callahan from Franco’s Fortune (Redemption Book 2). Franco went from a spoiled child of privilege to a wealthy playboy. But Franco’s player façade hides deep wounds. It takes a spitfire of a woman, ex-military, to break down the wall around Franco’s heart.

Luke Corrado from Luke’s Temptation (Redemption Book 3). A hotshot FBI Agent who doesn’t always follow the rules, Luke carries his guilt like a loaded Glock. Because of him, a woman he’d loved was murdered. Now, on special assignment, he has a chance to redeem himself by saving the life of another woman, a woman who tempts him to love again.

Nick Radford, from Cursed Mates, former Duke of Radford, now a powerful werewolf. Nick is a tortured soul who’s lived for over 500 years. To save the world and the woman he loves, he’ll sacrifice his own life.







 Logan's Redemption (Redemption Book 1) is free for a limited time at Amazon, iBooks, BN, Kobo, and Smashwords.


All three books in The Redemption Series are in a boxed set for your reading convenience.



13 comments:

Jeanine said...

I agree I find heroines harder to write too. Thanks for the post.

Rose Anderson said...

That's pretty much the same for me too. The heroes are easy. Great post. :)

Melissa Keir said...

I love writing about my guys but the girls tend to come to me as well very strongly. They are bossy about wanting to find their love!

Judy Baker said...

I tend to have a harder time with my heroes. I have to take time to write a full description in every detail and have a total image of him and where he's headed. Once that long process is done, he fits right in.

Cara Marsi said...

Thanks, Jeanine, Rose, Melissa & Judy. Interesting how we find it easier to write one than the other. I'm working on my heroines. Still love writing those heroes, though,

Marie Laval said...

I do love writing about both, but like you I do have a predilection for the heroes, which is strange because it should be more difficult to get into a man's mind and heart!

Mariana Gabrielle said...

I love my heroes, but I *adore* my villains. I always fall in love with my villains and then root for my heroes to kill them... ;-) I prefer writing heroes to heroines, and I find there is always more "me" in the heroes.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

It depends on the type of romance I'm writing. In THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER, a YA paranormal romance, the novel is written from the heroine's point of view solely and she has her share of flaws, but so do the two hot guys she's attracted to. No perfect people in my novels. This is true of my historical romance THE CHEVALIER as well, although the heroine of TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS is very sympathetic and appealing.

Unknown said...

It depends on the story. Sometimes I can write the heroine more easily, other times the hero. Like Mariana, I love writing villains. Maybe it's personal therapy!

Cara Marsi said...

Thanks, Marie. It is strange that we would like writing the heroes more and getting into the guys' heads. But we do.

Mariana, thanks. Writing villains is fun. I enjoy them too.

Jacqueline & Gemma, true that it can also depend on the story. Some of my heroines have certainly been easier to write than others.

Sandy said...

I enjoy writing villains, too. I have to focus on the heroine when I write her, and I have to focus on the hero when I write him. I do breaks for each character, so that makes it a bit easier.

I worked in departments where I worked with all men and all women, so I have a good understanding of both.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Cara! I write heroines because I write first person. I can get in their skin in first pov. What they see. What they feel far more intimately. Heroes I like to write, but work harder at.

Cara Marsi said...

Thanks, Sandy and Vicki. Sandy, I like the way you focus on each one at a time. Vicki, I do like writing first person, and you're right that first person allows the reader to get closer to the character.

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