Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

The romance heroine should always save herself at the climax of the story. She must make the decision, or provide the means, which allows ultimate victory over the person or thing preventing her from achieving her goal. Though the hero can play a vital role in the climax scene, he should not rescue the heroine like a maiden in distress. It's perfectly acceptable, however, for the heroine to rescue the hero!

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

The contemporary romance heroine who falls into bed with the hero too quickly or easily can appear TSTL (Too Stupid to Live) in this age of sexually transmitted diseases and daily scares about sexual predators. Though romances are built upon fantasy elements, normal rules of self-preservation must and should apply.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

Some authors feel compelled to reject the traditional "good" heroine, giving their female protagonist every possible opposing characteristic. This may work if the purpose is to show character growth and redemption. The difficulty is in persuading the reader this contrary heroine is worth the time it takes to find out what becomes of her.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

Every heroine should experience a desire, need or life-changing event which forces her to break free of the inertia that binds the average person, therefore instigating the change that will lead to her Happy Ever After.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

A true heroine should never give up her belief in herself and her quest, but should forge ahead regardless of the odds. Eternal hope is what keeps all of us going.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

Your heroine should have a strong value system. Her motives should never be self-serving. High ideals are the hallmark of worthwhile characters.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

To accept responsibility for the welfare of others is another characteristic of a strong heroine. Facing up to obligations is an admirable trait.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

Giving your heroine a secret lust will add depth to her character. Most readers can empathize with unrequited longing for a person, place or thing of great worth.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

A heroine should have some weakness that makes her vulnerable. People who are too sure of themselves can seem arrogant.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

Allowing the heroine to feel something is missing from her life is another way of making her human. A perfectly satisfied character can seem shallow and uninteresting, or an eternal Pollyanna who fails to recognize the darker side of human nature.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

A heroine may have something she wishes she had never said or never done. Facing up to past regret will make seem her more human and likeable.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

A deadly fear can be a powerful addition to a heroine's character. Her courage in facing and overcoming this fear will aid in creating reader sympathy for her.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

A heroine should have a method of attack for her goal, something she intends to do if fate allows. Concrete plans and the will to carry through with them are signs of intelligence in a character.

Writing Tip of the Day

A heroine should have something she wants more than anything in the world. The reader wants to pull with her as she strives to reach her goal and to celebrate with her when she succeeds.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

The heroine should have a reasonable measure of self-control. She should not succumb too easily to the blandishments or sexual attraction of the hero as this can make her appear lacking in resolve. If she must yield physically for plot purposes, she should still retain emotional distance.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

The internal values and moral strength of the heroine should be paramount. It is these qualities which will bring the hero to his knees.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

Regardless of how powerless a heroine may appear because of her circumstances, she should have an internal bastion of strength no one can breach, not even the hero.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

The conflict in a romance novel should never be completely set aside by the physical intimacy between hero and heroine. The story is over the instant the problem which keeps them apart is resolved--unless you immediately introduce a different and stronger conflict. Ideally, the increase in intimacy should lead to greater difficulty.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

The heroine should be consistent in her actions and emotions. If she initially despises the hero or another character, the transition to a different feeling should be gradual and caused by specific events. An about-face without sufficient motive strains the "suspension of belief" for the reader.

Writing Tip of the Day-Characters

Allow your heroine a modicum of reserve regardless of her circumstances. A heroine overwhelmed by her physical and mental reactions to the hero will appear incapable of sustaining the conflict between them. The story will weaken in direct proportion to her loss of emotional control.