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

This is a fun series! The author has a huge imagination.

5 Stars,  Michelle Stanley for Reader's Favorites

"A wonderful book."

BUY LINKS FOR A LADY NEVER LIES:

PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK:

http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/the-windsor-diaries-book-three-a-lady-never-lies-epub/

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-aladyneverlies-1547037-343.html

BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-lady-never-lies-stephanie-burkhart/1119712149?ean=2940149360352

AMAZON (KINDLE:)

http://amzn.com/B00KX6FD12

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:

http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:

http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Writing Tips for aspiring authors - Character Traits for the Romantic Heroine

She's gutsy, clever, and stands up for what she believes. She's the romantic heroine. She the perfect "girl" for the hero, so I thought I'd talk a little about what character traits which makes our heroines special.

For a modern reader, a romantic heroine must embody three things: an ability to connect with the reader, strength, and she must deserve the hero.

Connect with Readers:

What makes her sympathetic?

How does she deal with sorrow and loss? Does she fall apart or put on a brave façade?
How does she deal with loneliness?
Does she have a sense of humor. Laughter is one trait everyone finds appealing. Who doesn't enjoy a good laugh?

Strength:


I try to draw on the following qualities:

I like a smart, clever heroine who can figure things out for herself.
I like her to have some inner strength. When it gets tough, I want to her to be able to look her problems right in the eyes despite the challenges she faces.
I like her a little gutsy and brave. I'd like her to be willing to take chances.

Deserving the Hero:

Does she have a like mindset as him?
Does she embody the inner nobility he does?
Does she do the right despite the temptation to lie, cheat, and steal?
Does she hold firm to her values like he does his?

QUESTION: As an author, what traits do you weave into your heroines? As a reader, what kind of heroine appeals to you?

Stephanie's latest release is "Feast of Candles," a spicy contemporary romance. When Drake steps into Lily's lonely world, he's determined to win over her heart, but is she willing to let him in?

EXCERPT:

She placed her hands on his chest, aware of his strength and warmth. Over the past week, she'd become comfortable in his embrace. "The van leaves at eight from the winery and we'll arrive at the hospital around ten. We'll set up and meet with the children at twelve. After passing out the gifts, we'll share a dinner with them and then we're done around four."

"Sounds like a busy day."

"Have you ever been to San Francisco?" "My plane landed there, but I didn't linger." "I'll show you the sights, then."

"Do we have a place to stay?"

"My penthouse. I have a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge."

"Is there anything you don't own?" Amusement danced in his eyes.

She placed a finger to her cheek. "Give me a minute. I'll think of something."

5 Stars, Amazon Reviews, Loves Romance
The ending with the feast of candles is so romantic you'll want your own. Lovely Story.

Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B008NXELPG

Tuesday's Writing Tips - The Romantic Heroine

A modern heroine has a lot to live up to. Our society is so fast paced, and yet she’s suppose to embody that perfect balance between being a woman, and living up to today’s high expectations. So what is she suppose to look like? Let’s start there.

A big element to your heroine is attractiveness, but the romantic heroine shouldn’t be drop dead gorgeous – she should be convincingly attractive to the reader.

What does that mean?

The everyday woman usually doesn’t have model looks. By weaving in realistic physical flaws you can paint a picture of any everyday romantic heroine. Perhaps she thinks she’s too tall. Or she doesn’t like her nose. She could be a plus size, or doesn’t care for her curly hair. Most women can connect with those elements. The big thing to keep in mind as you paint your heroine is to keep her self-respect intact. If she doesn’t respect herself, then how can the hero? Our heroine may not like her nose, but her self-respect for her body and her appearance can’t suffer. If it does, then she isn’t convincing as a romantic heroine.

The Qualities a Romance Heroine Embodies

For a modern reader, a romantic heroine must embody three things: an ability to connect with the reader, strength, and she must deserve the hero. Most modern writers try to deliver.

Food for thought: Have you read “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald? Think of his heroine in the story, Daisy. Written in the 1920’s, Daisy doesn’t embody the modern romantic heroine. She lacks strength and she doesn’t deserve Gatsby – yet in the 1920’s, Daisy cut a romantic figure for her contemporary audience. Nowadays, Daisy would be frowned upon.

Keep in mind romantic norms have changed over the years. Modern readers expect heroines, even those in historical, to embody modern trends. This might prove tricky in historical since women were treated differently and expected to act differently, but it is do-able to have historical heroine portray modern norms.

Connect with Readers

If the heroine can’t connect with the reader, then she isn’t convincing. Her physical appearance is only one aspect of connecting with readers. There are other aspects as well. For one: a sympathetic past. This doesn’t mean she suffered an abusive set of parents per se, but she has to be shaped by previous experiences. Was she raised by an aunt and uncle? Did she have a stern father? Was she the only girl in a family of five boys?

NOTE: The reader doesn’t need to know all about the heroine’s past in the first chapter. Reveal it slowly, over time, preferably to the hero of the story. An info dump on the heroine’s past in chapter one is a sure story killer.

Strength

Heroines don’t need to be physically strong, but they must embody an inner strength that the reader can relate it. She may have problems, but she has to have the inner strength to overcome them. She has to be able to do the right thing when the time comes.

She Must Deserve the Hero

Our hero is strong in body and character. He doesn’t lie, unless he think he’s protecting the heroine. He doesn’t steal. H e strives to do the right thing. Our heroine must embody these traits as well.

She may be looking for a romance, but she doesn’t need it. She can take care of herself. Finding Mr. Right is a bonus for her.

The same rules apply to our women as they do our romantic men. They have dignity. They’re honest. They’re tenderhearted toward their men.


So when composing a modern heroine, even a historical one, remember to be convincing, show her inner strength, and make her worthy of her man.