Today I'll be posting writers writing about what they look for in their heroes, what is important to have in a hero and I'm expecting readers everywhere to tell us if we are right or wrong!
Since a hero is male, I's starting with a man's point of view first. Welcome Alex Sinclair, an excellent writer of erotica and erotic romance, gothic romance, action and adventure, paranormal romance, historical romance and suspense novels.
"Traits of a hero...?
A hero should be scared, uncertain, fragile and knows pain. I like my heroes to be slightly darker because they have lived through bad times and terrible events. They know the suffering others will feel if they don't step up. They put themselves in harms way without a moments hesitation, whilst inside a whirlwind of emotion and fears shows that externally they are brave, but internally they are just like every other person. This is what a hero is to me."
Follow Alex at his blog: http://sinclairbooks.blogspot.com or
join his group at http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/45395.Sinclair_Books
Now for female perspective. To me, a great hero is a combination of what men are in real life and what they are not. A great hero is brave, kind, imperfect and always up for sex like men often are in real life and a good listener, unembarrassed by his woman's show of emotions and always available...like men sometimes are not in real life! Seriously, if my hero isn't sweet and good to his woman I won't like him and my readers won't like him. Handsome helps, though drop-dead gorgeous isn't necessary.
What about his physical characteristics? I try to mix it up with size, but often end up with tall. My heroes are blond or brunette. I've never had a red-headed hero, I'm embarrassed to say.
I don't like to be too descriptive about him physically because I want the reader to envision him her own way, making him her hero. I find that hooks a reader into the story better, making it more emotional and compelling.
What does he do for a living? So far my heroes have been college professors, deans, soldiers, scientists and I'm now writing about my first fireman, *sigh*! Even a college professor can keep his woman safe, which is a must for my heroes. If your hero can't keep you safe, then he doesn't qualify as a hero.
What qualities do you look for in a fictional hero? What must he have to win your heart? Please leave your comments. We writers always want to know what our readers think.
Look for hero-talk here on Tuesdays. Tomorrow is Confessions and Lies Wednesday!
http://www.astraeapress.com
(multiple formats)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Moonlit-Nights-Joachim-ebook/dp/B004MMEFMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301849536&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sunny-Days-Moonlit-Nights/Jean-Joachim/e/2940012255570/?itm=1&USRI=sunny+days%2c+moonlit+nights
7 comments:
It's a must for every great hero to protect his lady- in my mind and my writing this is the number 1 trait he must have
Dawne
Strong yet vulnerable and flawed.
A man who makes mistakes but learns from them, grows from them.
A man that will hold you when you cry
Fortunately, Jean, there's a hero for every taste in romantic fiction today. Be he the black-haired vampire hero or the tawny-maned fireman or the brooding covert agent. I like my heros of the Alpha variety, most assuredly. But then again, they seem to be rather popular with other readers, too, don't they? I also like heros either supremely confident or terrifically tormented. Easygoing is not in my hero repertoire! But bottom line, that's why I love romance. Because I'm always GUARANTEED a hero (and an HEA).
I think a college professor could be very exciting. Indiana Jones??
Physical traits are one thing- I am not a materialistic person- my hero/man would have to love me unconditionally...no doubts...no questions of my returned love and no insecurities.
I'll take one. Naw, I take 2please.
They put themselves in harms way without a moments hesitation, whilst inside a whirlwind of emotion and fears shows that externally they are brave
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