Comments on: Writing the Alpha Male http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:10:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jami Alden http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2184 Jami Alden Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:09:33 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2184 Monica, I'm fighting you for nick. Just warning you. Laurel- glad you're enjoying the discussion! As to how I create a distinct voice, I think you have to approach each character as an individual. Like how you have friends who are similar and have a lot in common, but they're all ver distinct. As for not crossing the line- I don't know that I'm the bast person to ask- I regularly stomp all over that line! Monica, I’m fighting you for nick. Just warning you.
Laurel- glad you’re enjoying the discussion! As to how I create a distinct voice, I think you have to approach each character as an individual. Like how you have friends who are similar and have a lot in common, but they’re all ver distinct. As for not crossing the line- I don’t know that I’m the bast person to ask- I regularly stomp all over that line!

]]> By: Laurel Kahaner http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2183 Laurel Kahaner Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:08:34 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2183 Hi I don't remember what I posted that vanished, but what is on my mind now is How do you differentiate and make singular the distinctive voice of each Alpha-Male? How do you make the Alpha Male tantalizing without crossing over the line and evoking giggles or groans from readers? Thank you, I'm enjoying your workshop. Learning is such a gift. I am newly single, these daze, would be lovely if the dang archetype actually existed in a package that didn't include lots of frightening bits.... more to be revealed (grin) hope this posts, Laurel Hi

I don’t remember what I posted that vanished, but what is on my mind now is

How do you differentiate and make singular the distinctive voice of each Alpha-Male?

How do you make the Alpha Male tantalizing without crossing over the line and evoking giggles or groans from readers?

Thank you,

I’m enjoying your workshop.
Learning is such a gift.
I am newly single, these daze, would be lovely if the dang archetype actually existed in a package that didn’t include lots of frightening bits….

more to be revealed (grin)

hope this posts,

Laurel

]]> By: Monica McCarty http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2182 Monica McCarty Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:04:33 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2182 Great interview, Jami! How many hours do you think we've spent discussing this stuff, LOL? You know who my favorite Alpha hero is: Nick Ward. Hands down. I think that is Timothy Dalton in Wuthering Heights. Great interview, Jami! How many hours do you think we’ve spent discussing this stuff, LOL? You know who my favorite Alpha hero is: Nick Ward. Hands down.
I think that is Timothy Dalton in Wuthering Heights.

]]> By: TraceyDevlyn http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2181 TraceyDevlyn Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:00:44 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2181 Hi Laurel, I don't see it in our Spam folder - sorry! Tracey Hi Laurel,
I don’t see it in our Spam folder – sorry!
Tracey

]]> By: Jami Alden http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2180 Jami Alden Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:53:39 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2180 Thanks Nancy! As for the guy, I have no clue, but he kinda looks like a young Timothy Dalton to me. Laurel feel free to repost! Thanks Nancy! As for the guy, I have no clue, but he kinda looks like a young Timothy Dalton to me.

Laurel feel free to repost!

]]> By: Laurel Kahaner http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2179 Laurel Kahaner Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:21:41 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2179 Hi I think my comment vanished, just like Alpha Males vanish or are banished. Dang it. Laurel symbolicbridging.com Hi

I think my comment vanished, just like Alpha Males vanish or are banished.

Dang it.

Laurel

symbolicbridging.com

]]> By: Laurel Kahaner http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2177 Laurel Kahaner Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:19:50 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2177 Hi What fun. How do you discover the unique voice of each Alpha Male Bloke? How do you keep them sexy and not, over the edge, to giggle-dom. Is it all fantasy? Lovely fantasy. Laurel http://www.symbolicbridging.com/ http://www.aislingnano.wordpress.com/ Hi

What fun.

How do you discover the unique voice of each Alpha Male Bloke?
How do you keep them sexy and not, over the edge, to giggle-dom.
Is it all fantasy?
Lovely fantasy.

Laurel

http://www.symbolicbridging.com/
http://www.aislingnano.wordpress.com/

]]> By: Nancy Mirtle http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2176 Nancy Mirtle Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:55:19 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2176 Thanks, Jami. Your comments are "spot on." Those alpha heros get my heart pounding. I'm writing one currently and luckily have an alpha son who is a wonderful resource, especially for attitude and dialogue. He's a man of few words. I must know...who is the hunky guy in the picture at the top of the page? Thanks, Jami. Your comments are “spot on.”

Those alpha heros get my heart pounding. I’m writing one currently and luckily have an alpha son who is a wonderful resource, especially for attitude and dialogue. He’s a man of few words.

I must know…who is the hunky guy in the picture at the top of the page?

]]> By: Jami Alden http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2175 Jami Alden Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:15:17 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2175 Hey everyone! Wow - great questions already! hoping the caffeine will help kick start my brain. Kelsey, the line between Alpha and ass can be a blurry one, and often up to the reader and author to decide. there have been heroes I've loved that other readers wanted to castrate. For myself, I tend to push the envelope, and as such I have to accept that my heroes may not appeal to all. That being said, I think the key is to motivate motivate motivate! If you properly motivate your hero's assholeish behavior, you can get away with more. Carrie - hope you got some sleep! I don't know that I purposely build in a character flaw so much as I try to make my characters somewhat real, and real people have flaws. And I like the heroine to be the one who can see right through that tough exterior straight into that weak spot. Tracey - In my personal opinion, if you're going to have an alpha heroine, your hero has to be that much tougher. Not domineering, but they have to really bounce off each other before they realize they actually compliment each other and are much stronger as a team. Hi Consuela - absolutely not! For example, Jennifer Crusie writes fantastic non Alpha heroes, as does Susan Donavan. You have to go with what works for you and the relationship dynamic you're trying to achieve. Hi Adrienne - I'm so with you. Hi Keri - like I said, as long as you motivate your hero's behavior, you can get away with a lot. But yes, I have had my cp's pull me back from the edge one or two times when I went a little too old school :) Hi Laurie - You know, I think the Alpha has evolved - I don't see the modern Alpha so much as bossy as in charge. Especially in some of the contemporary romantic suspense/adventure - when you put the heroine in an extremely dangerous situation, it makes sense that she should follow the Navy SEAL hero's lead, right? I'll pop in as often as I can - I have kind of a wacky schedule today, but I'll check in to answer questions. Hey everyone! Wow – great questions already! hoping the caffeine will help kick start my brain.
Kelsey, the line between Alpha and ass can be a blurry one, and often up to the reader and author to decide. there have been heroes I’ve loved that other readers wanted to castrate. For myself, I tend to push the envelope, and as such I have to accept that my heroes may not appeal to all. That being said, I think the key is to motivate motivate motivate! If you properly motivate your hero’s assholeish behavior, you can get away with more.

Carrie – hope you got some sleep! I don’t know that I purposely build in a character flaw so much as I try to make my characters somewhat real, and real people have flaws. And I like the heroine to be the one who can see right through that tough exterior straight into that weak spot.

Tracey – In my personal opinion, if you’re going to have an alpha heroine, your hero has to be that much tougher. Not domineering, but they have to really bounce off each other before they realize they actually compliment each other and are much stronger as a team.

Hi Consuela – absolutely not! For example, Jennifer Crusie writes fantastic non Alpha heroes, as does Susan Donavan. You have to go with what works for you and the relationship dynamic you’re trying to achieve.

Hi Adrienne – I’m so with you.

Hi Keri – like I said, as long as you motivate your hero’s behavior, you can get away with a lot. But yes, I have had my cp’s pull me back from the edge one or two times when I went a little too old school :)

Hi Laurie – You know, I think the Alpha has evolved – I don’t see the modern Alpha so much as bossy as in charge. Especially in some of the contemporary romantic suspense/adventure – when you put the heroine in an extremely dangerous situation, it makes sense that she should follow the Navy SEAL hero’s lead, right?

I’ll pop in as often as I can – I have kind of a wacky schedule today, but I’ll check in to answer questions.

]]> By: Laurie London http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/11/04/writing-the-alpha-male/comment-page-1/#comment-2174 Laurie London Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:37:43 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1898#comment-2174 Great post, Jami. I, too, love those big, strong Alpha males. Some friends of mine were recently discussing how odd it was that we love the fictional Alpha hero, but in real life, if someone tried to boss us around like that, we wouldn't put up with it. I like your reason why. When my agent and I were working on my manuscript, there was a part where she told me he's acting kind of wimpy and could I take a look. I read that snippet of my hero's dialog to my husband and he said, "Yeah, this is pretty wordy for a guy." I snipped the wordiness and he sounded much more Alpha. Great post, Jami. I, too, love those big, strong Alpha males. Some friends of mine were recently discussing how odd it was that we love the fictional Alpha hero, but in real life, if someone tried to boss us around like that, we wouldn’t put up with it. I like your reason why.

When my agent and I were working on my manuscript, there was a part where she told me he’s acting kind of wimpy and could I take a look. I read that snippet of my hero’s dialog to my husband and he said, “Yeah, this is pretty wordy for a guy.” I snipped the wordiness and he sounded much more Alpha.

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