Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

Personality traits for heroes (and heroines) can be garnered from astrology-based books such as "Love Signs" by Linda Goodman and "The Secret Language of Relationships" by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers. These sources list the admirable qualities, and those not so admirable, for zodiac signs or birthdates. The less worthy aspects are especially useful for assigning character flaws.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

Male archetypes are interesting guides for the creation of heroes, but offer only broad suggestions. More complex heroes may be formed by combining aspects of different types, then adjusting them to make them more applicable to the hero of your story.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The attributes of particular kinds of heroes can be found by studying male archetypes. These include (but are not limited to) Warrior, Priest, Hunter, Worker, Hero and King. A source for studying them is "Type Talk: The 16 Personality Types That Determine How We Live, Love, and Work" by Otto Kroeger and Janet M. Thuesen. Heroic archetypes as they apply to romance novels (Chief, Bad Boy, Best Friend, Charmer, Lost Soul, Professor, Swashbuckler and Warrior) are described in detail at: www.likesbooks.com.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The perfect hero is one who combines the best qualities of both the alpha and the beta male.

"I sometimes hold it half a sin
To put in words the grief I feel;
For words, like Nature, half reveal
And half conceal the Soul within.
~Tennyson

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

Reverence for women can be the hallmark of a Beta hero. He considers his purpose to be one of protection for those perceived to be weaker than himself. His strength is always at the disposal of the heroine.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The Beta hero is compassionate, understanding and wise. Beloved by animals and children, his role is often one of support and guidance in addition to being the love interest.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The Boy-Next-Door is usually a Beta hero, a man who can be a best friend, companion and confidant as well as a lover.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The Beta hero is usually well-spoken and able to hold his own in any argument. He is sensitive to the hidden meaning in conversation, and often picks up on its nuances.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The man who truly likes women and respects them as individuals is a Beta hero. He is comfortable in their company. He often has enjoyed strong relationships with female relatives, female friends.

"Man is his own star, and the soul that can
Render an honest and a perfect man
Commands all light, all influence, all fate,
Nothing to him falls early, or too late."
~Fletcher

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The tragedies and disappointments of the Beta hero's life may have left him with scars, but they also cause him to be attuned to the emotional needs of others. He is infinitely responsive to the heroine, though he may hide it for self-protection.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The Beta hero is a man of reason. He prefers to use intelligence to solve problems rather than mere brute power.

"Know then thyself, presume not God to scan;
The proper study of mankind is man. ~Pope

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

The Beta Male hero is a compassionate and caring man with a deep sense of responsibility. Though he prefers to solve problems by peaceful means, he is well able to take charge when the occasion demands it. The Beta male is often preferred by older readers.

"Heroism, the Caucasian mountaineers say, is endurance for one moment more." ~George Kernan

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

Self-discipline is another primary characteristic of the romance hero. He maintains firm hold on his temper and more base impulses. Often, it is the heroine alone who can breach this rigorous control.

"The hero is not fed on sweets,
Daily his own heart he eats.
~Emerson

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

Nobility of soul is the romance hero's benchmark. He is always a man of honor and integrity. His word is his bond.

"Whoe'er excels in what we prize,
Appears a hero in our eyes."
~Jonathan Swift

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

A hero with a droll or ironic sense of humor is appealing to many readers, particularly when he is aware of the absurdity in his own actions and attitudes. The practical jokester, on the other hand, is seldom appreciated.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

Intelligence is as important in a hero as brute power. The combination of strength and intellect is what makes him lethal in combat, and also lethally attractive.

The Jennifer Blake Newsletter-April 2010

Greetings:

At last! I completed the rough draft for Book 2 of my medieval trilogy, BY GRACE POSSESSED, the third week in March. It's behind schedule, which means I won't have much time off before starting author revision. Meanwhile, however, I'm filling out the Art Fact Sheet for Book 1 in the series, BY HIS MAJESTY'S GRACE. This is a list of questions concerning the book's general atmosphere plus a summary of the story, descriptions of the characters and suggestions for possible scenes that might lend themselves to cover art paintings. The purpose is to allow the author some input into the cover process, which is always a good thing. I'll fill out sheets for the other two books soon, since my publisher's art department will be working on all three at the end of this month. That's because the official publication dates for the trilogy have been set for August, September and October of 2011.

On April 6th, I'll have a reissue on the stands. This will be THE QUILTING CIRCLE, a novella collection (with short novels by Jo Anne Cassity, Linda Shertzer and Christina Cordaire in addition to my lead story) that was first published in 1996. The book has a new cover and will be presented this time around in over-sized paperback known as a trade edition. (Regular paperbacks are called mass market editions.) To take a look at it: http://www.amazon.com/Quilting-Circle-Jennifer-Blake

Also out this month is a French version of another older title, GARDEN OF SCANDAL. The cover for this one has a muted and mottled yellow background with pink flowers and a girl on a swing. For French readers, it's known as UNE LIAISON SCANDALEUSE, which I translate as A SCANDALOUS AFFAIR. Well, what did we expect? :-)

This past week, I spent a couple of days filling out yet another interview questionnaire. This one is for a Yahoo group owned by writer Carrie Lofty that's dedicated to unusual historical novels. The Q&A will be posted to the group on Easter Sunday, and I'll be answering comments and queries later next week. Carrie also posts an excerpt from selected historical novels each Thursday, plus interesting historical notes. To check out this group or to join see: unusual_historicals@yahoogroups.com

I don't often recommend books, but I picked up a new mystery series this month that was actually recommended to me by a friend, Sunny Meriwether. It's the Ariana Franklin medieval series about a female medical examiner trained in Sicily then brought to England by Henry II to help deal with suspicious murders in his realm. The titles are THE MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH, THE SERPENT’S TALE, and GRAVE GOODS. Well written and researched, they are something different on the mystery scene.

In token of the new NBC genealogy program WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?, I'll tell you about recent progress with my family history. I'd always thought of myself as a Louisianan and a Southerner—though I've collected information on my family for decades, I'd never gone much beyond colonial Virginia. During the past few months, however, I’ve taken various lines back to England, Wales, Norman France and beyond. I've now learned that I'm actually descended from the ancient kings of Britain, also from William the conqueror and the Plantagenets who figure in my new medieval stories. How strange that this should happen just as I began looking to England for book settings! Yet, this is the kind of serendipity that often occurs in the lives of writers.

With warmest wishes, and the hope that interesting things come your way in this glorious spring,

Jennifer

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

Responsibility is a major aspect of the hero. He looks after those who are dependent upon him, helps those in need, and assumes the blame for both the mistakes he makes and those made by others under his leadership.

Writing Tip of the Day-Heroes

Leadership is an important quality in a hero. He should be a man others look up to and turn to for guidance during troubled times.