  Romance/Love
This week: Edited by: StephBee  
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I'm honored to be back for another guest editing spot on the Romance/Love Newsletter.  Thanks for having me.
In my last newsletter, I took an in depth look at what makes a man a convincing romantic hero. In this newsletter, I'll be taking a look at what makes a woman a convincing romantic heroine. |
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The Picture of a Romantic Woman
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 an 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 romances, to embody modern trends. This might prove tricky in historicals since women were treated differently and expected to act differently, but it is do-able to have historical heroine with 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. He strives to do the right thing. Our heroine must live up to 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.
Reference for this Newsletter: On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels, 2007, F&W Publications.
FEATURED PRODUCT REVIEW
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Here are couple of romantic picks from around the site:
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Here's some feedback from my guest spot on 12 AUG:
Jaye P. Marshall 
I thoroughly enjoyed your article on the types of romantic man. Good selections for reading too.
Thanks, Jaye! 
Coolhand 
Your comments on on alpha and beta romantic types were very interesting and insightful. Great Newsletter!
Doug Rainbow
I have recently experimented with genderless love stories. "The Angle and the Arc" is a poem about love between two geometric concepts on facing pages of a text book. "Glass Lovers" is a short story about glass birds in a home. There are no alphas, betas, . . . or omegas present.
This sounds very interesting!
sarahreed
Thanks for the informative article about the alpha and beta males in romantic stories. I do wonder how the anti-hero fits in here because that is a popular male character in the some of the paranormal romance novels I've read.
Great question, and one I'll explore in greater depth if I get another guest spot. Usually though, anti-heroes are not a "beta" personality. I would think he embodies more alpha qualities to the "max." Also, the anti-hero generally shows a soft side, but in private, rarely publicly. I hope that helps a little.
francie
Excellent newsletter, especially because I write outside of this genre and want to broaden my skills. I read and left a close to 5,000 word review for "Magnolias." Awesome example.
Thanks for your hard work.
Yay! This is heartwarming to hear. Thank you!
T. Elizia
I've a question. What about villain love? I have been doing some 'researching' on it, but I've come up dry. I wonder whether it's possible or how to make it believable, even though the one in love is the evil one.
You've touched a "tough" spot here. Of course, one can love a villian, but believablity is another matter entirely. There must be something sympathetic about the villian to make it work. And if he is evil, must be redeamed before he can become a romantic hero. That is what gives it and him believablity. If you don't redeam him, its not believable.
mellow pearl
Reality or not, that was one of the best love-stories I've ever heard, i.e. the one you wrote in the intro. It's beautiful. Thanks for sharing it.
Ah, a picture paints a thousand words! I must give kiyasama credit for the picture. She has a wonderful graphics shop that I love to use. She takes my vision and inteprets it just the way I want it every time!
Tornado Dodger 
Great article on romantic leading men Steph. I always enjoy reading your NL's. And thank you so much for highlighted (and reviewing) my story "Magnolias." I got some wonderful reviews because of it. You're the best - thank you!
You're welcome! Keep writing! Thanks again for all your great responses!
StephBee is a 911 Dispatcher with LAPD. Her paranormal romance, "The Hungarian," will be published with Desert Breeze Publishing in May 2010.
Your Full Time Romance/Love Newsletter Editors:
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Romance/Love: September 23, 2009 Issue [#3263]
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