Romance Under the Moonlight: On Writing: Writing a Romantic Heroine #writingtips

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

On Writing: Writing a Romantic Heroine #writingtips

When it comes to romance, it’s about two people, the hero and heroine’s perspective that takes the reader on the journey. So why is the heroine’s point of view important?

A majority of romance genre readers are women and women usually identify with a feminine point of view. Don’t get me wrong, men also read romance. So what makes a romantic heroine appealing to both sets of readers?

It all comes down to the qualities she embodies. It’s a tricky balance finding the right qualities to give your heroine, but the one a writer really has to nail is: Does she respect herself?

Self-respect means the world to the reader and appeals to not only women but men, too. What qualities embody self-respect? Is she clever or witty? Does she fall for every little lie she’s told? Is she independent? Self-supporting? Mature? Or does she easily walk into traps? Is she helpless or inconsistent?

Modern heroines should strive to be witty, clever, and self-supporting. But modern heroines are “too” perfect, aren’t they? Especially when it comes to weight and physical attractiveness.

A modern heroine’s weight can be a challenge to portray, but it doesn’t have to be. Realistically, I can tell you it can be a struggle to keep the weight down. Heck, I’m struggling to get the weight down after I had my last child and that was 8 years ago! To write a realistic heroine, not only does she have to be self-supporting and independent, but she’s got to be convincingly attractive. So what does that mean?

The heroine does her best to take care of her body and her mind. It’s all right if she’s not a model. She has to possess self-respect and do her best to take care of herself. She also has to have those inner qualities that will make her attractive to the hero. Does she have a temper or is she even-tempered? Is she kind? Compassionate? These are qualities that the hero appreciates. She doesn’t have to be perfect, just realistic.

Question: What qualities do you look for/or want in a romantic heroine?

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She writes steampunk, paranormal and contemporary romance. She writes children's books with 4RV Publishing. She lives in Castaic, CA and is a den leader for her son's cub scout pack. Her latest novel is Book 3 in the Windsor Diaries steampunk series, “A Lady Never Lies.”

BLURB:

Jocelyn Dunkirk is not your typical Victorian lady. She dresses in leather, wears goggles and is not afraid to get a little grease under her fingernails. Gentlemen avoid her like a dirty rivet.

Richard Windsor, the Prince of Wales, travels through time to claim Jocelyn's heart, but if it isn't one challenge, it's another. He determines to be a constant, steady presence in her life, hoping to prove he'd make a worthy husband.

Jocelyn's facing a bucket full of problems. The Prime Minister wants her to assist in ending a coal strike before it cripples the nation while her father attempts to recover from a serious injury. Will Jocelyn's dedication to her country and family ruin the one chance she has at love?

EXCERPT:

She swatted her hand next to her head like she was swatting a fly. Love could flitter away from her heart like a hummingbird for all she cared. Who needed it? Love hurt.

A knock rapped on the door, but before she could voice a reply, Richard walked in. He crossed the room, raw concern splayed over his face and he knelt before her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You look annoyed."

"A lady never cusses," she replied.

His lips tipped in amusement. "What else does a lady never do?"

"They never wear the same dress twice."

He pulled up a chair and sat in front of her. "I believe that."

"And a lady never lies," she said.

He slid his hand over hers and laced their fingers together. A sweet jolt pulsed up her arm and she smiled despite herself.

"So what's bothering you?" he asked.

REVIEWS:

"You've got romance, betrayal, time travel and gadgets. Perfect mix!!! Can't wait for the next book!" The Crafty Cauldron

4.5 Stars, Clue Review