We talk a lot about heroes here at The Naked Hero (hmm I wonder why?). We talk about what makes a good hero, what makes him tick, why we need him in a romance novel. Which brings me to a question that I ponder in the middle of the night: in same sex novels do you designate one of the characters as the heroine and the other as the hero? Nah, that would be silly. One of them is the hero(ine) and the other is the more kick ass hero(ine). So never mind that question.
Now on to the real question that keeps me up at night: What makes a good hero and how can I make the guy in my newest story a better hero? Big muscles? No, body builders don’t make me hot so that’s a no go. Charming? Sure but not too charming otherwise me and my heroine are going to think he’s a little too slick. Handsome? Obviously. Funny? That’s a definite. Smart too. He’s got to have brains or he’s going to redshirt in one of my novels. Take charge? Eh, probably not.
See that’s the thing. For me, personally, the hero is always the hardest part of the story. Heroines, they pop into my head like house guests that never want to leave. But when I start planning a story most of my heroes don’t even have names.
Heroes are hard work. A good hero has to have all those sort of things that make a woman melt but he’s also got to have flaws. Redeemable flaws. And unlike a real man he’s got to be somewhat likeable before his first cup of coffee and remember that his socks go in the hamper. Because this is romance after all and romance is about fantasy. And my fantasy after 8 wonderful years of marriage? A man who doesn’t leave his socks littered across my bedroom floor while I’m trying to unpack.
Have a good rest of the month everyone and I’ll see you again on July 1st. Until then tell me what you think are essential elements in a hero please. I’d love to know what everyone else thinks. And yes, I have a Eureka addiction. With as pretty as the men are do you blame me? Science and pretty all in one place. If only the real world were that kind.
About Patricia Eimer
The “one” thing that always makes me fall in love with a hero is when he shows his vulnerable side. Or when the heroine figures it out… He can be macho, charming, a braniac, an alpha what have you… I love many of those individual traits but, until his vulnerable side is revealed I can’t truly fall for him. That’s the fantasy and romance for me- The knowing that comes from reading a great romance where the h and h compliment each other in such a way that they can show each other their whole selves and together they are better.
And great choices for smart sexy men… Love love love the geek that grows up sexy… hard to resist.
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Patricia Eimer Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:01 am
Oh I like that one. Excuse me while I go scribble down ‘vulnerable side’. I always forget that until my second draft rewrites that guys need to be vulnerable.
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Charm. I’m a sucker for charm, IRL and in books. And yes, charm can easily slip over into icky slickness, which can be a lot of fun to write, albeit not for the hero, unless he starts out being a jerk. I don’t need overdeveloped muscles, but I don’t really want a doughboy, either. And he doesn’t have to be handsome, since not everyone is, and it’s the personality that counts, really. When a guy is awesome inside, he’s gonna be attractive even if he isn’t conventionally handsome. Reasonably smart, sure, but I don’t need a genius. I do tend to write about guys who take charge, although I sure don’t like it when DH tries to lay down the law.
I think I agree with Kimberly. A man who isn’t afraid to show his vulnerable side – even if it’s to just one woman – is very hot. Especially if he doesn’t seem to have any vulnerabilities when you first meet him. The cutthroat businessman, the uber-alpha mercenary, the much-smarter-than-thou science geek… once they show that they’re human underneath – and vulnerability is human, yes? – that does it for me.
And it definitely helps if he picks up his socks too. Bonus points if he unwads them before putting them in the hamper. I have a husband and two boys. I have to unwad a whole lot of socks on laundry day.
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Patricia Eimer Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:04 am
I like charm but there are a few guys (I met one IRL recently) that the charm slides into skeezy and it’s just like wow, I don’t care how hot you are I wouldn’t let any of my single friends take their clothes off for you.
As for take charge? I have a problem writing those because it’s such a fine line between take charge and jerk and I always find my characters on the wrong side. I’m goign to have to give it a go again soon for another story and I’m sort of dreading it.
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First, I am so glad to hear that I’m not alone on the socks thing (my husband and son seem constitutionally incapable of putting them in the laundry flat and right-side out).
I’m in the same boat as Jenna and Kimberly. When a guy is sensitive and vulnerable, he’s sexy. The uber-macho – nah, doesn’t do it for me. But I don’t want him to be a wimp, either. He has to know what he wants and not be afraid to go after it – but when he shows that soft spot, whether it be for a woman or something else, he’s really a guy you can fall for.
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Patricia Eimer Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:04 am
Soft spots are an obvious must. My only pet peeve is when they show them and immediately fall into bed together. It’s like hello? can you say nakedness ploy?
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I like a tidy hero. I also like him to be fit–not ripped necessarily–but have good muscle tone. Humor is probably the most importan though. He needs to be quick witted and easy with that good ‘ole fresh from the dentist smile.
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Patricia Eimer Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:05 am
Tracy I would have never thought about good teeth but now I don’t think that ones going to leave my brain for a while.
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Modesty. I absolutely love when the hero saves the day and doesn’t tell a soul that he did it. But there’s that one witness that tells everyone of his actions-and he’s not to happy that the secret is out. Love that.
(I keep trying to train my son ‘not’ to leave his socks out, but I’m failing miserably. It’s gotta be in the genes.
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Patricia Eimer Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:06 am
I think it’s that chromosonal thing on the socks. None of the men in my life can get them in the hamper. And I like modesty too. Diffuse the bomb then go for coffee like it’s no big deal — that’s a cool hero.
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Girlfriend. I almost did not click through to this post because your slide show thingie on your landing page almost made me motion sick. You gotta either slow it WAY down, or realize, the squeamish won’t make it to your awesome posts.
Okay, now that my head has stopped spinning – a good hero. Flaws. Personally, I think a little pot-belly or muffin-top is adorable, especially if he’s self-conscious about it. (Not a full-on beer belly though, those are gross.) Maybe an underwear fetish – white briefies for everyday, but he’ll wear the black or red ones to impress a g-f. Hums off-key. Unusual hobby, like knitting or rescuing kittens.
There are worse things than a guy who drops his socks on the floor. My favorite giggle is the guy who keeps ‘em on during sex – jaybird naked everywhere else, with the black socks on. Hilarious.
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Patricia Eimer Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:08 am
Bev,
I’ll let the admin know about the scroll bar and motion sickness
. And the socks thing? I think I need therapy now. Wow. I had a pretty wild 20s and that’s something I never found myself faced with. Thank God.
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Heroes are difficult to get right. And maybe that why they’re so much fun =) I always find it interesting making a hero alpha, yet sympathetic. He’s tough. And vulnerable. Sexy, hot, yet ready to console when the story needs his compassion. And, yes, a great bod helps a lot!
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Patricia Eimer Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:08 am
When doesn’t a great body help?
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