Larissa blogged about starting out a novel in her hero’s POV and how when she plots a novel she sees it as “the heroine’s story”. That got me thinking, as Larissa’s posts usually do. (Thank you, Larissa!)
Later, I received a crit back from one of my cp’s. She’s been pointing out to me how in this particular story, the hero is pretty much running the show. (Lord, he’s so yummy though, you just have to forgive him. 
) Her exact words were, “OBVIOUSLY {hero} ?owns? the story.” And I have to admit that he does. My heroine is just hanging on tight for the ride. Not to say that she’s wimpy, far from it, she’s awfully bold, but this story is definitely the hero’s story. Then I started thinking. Are all of my stories like that?
Sapphire’s Worth is definitely Sapphire’s story.
Lucien’s Gamble is definitely Lucien’s story.
And I realized that when I conceive a story I start out with one character and then build the tale around them. I flesh out one individual entirely and then create their perfect match. But it’s almost always somebody’s story, not both of them. The exception to this is my first ever manuscript where both the protagonists have an equal share of the limelight.
I’m not sure what this revelation means, but it sure got me thinking. :confused:
I began to think of books I’ve read where the story was OBVIOUSLY owned by one of the protagonists. Lisa Kleypas’s RITA winning Worth Any Price was definitely the hero’s tale, as was her breakout book Dreaming of You, while her Then Came You was definitely the heroine’s story. Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels was the hero’s tale, while Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’s Shanna was the heroine’s tale.
How many of your favorite books are owned by one character? And how do you write your stories? Are they hero’s tales, heroine’s tales, or joint ventures?
Excellent post that got ME thinking!
My favorite books are usually owned by the hero. I know that romance is "usually" about the women, but for me, romance novels are about the men. I don’t usually care much about the heroines. I want to fall in love with the hero, and the more he’s on stage, the happier I am.
on October 1st, 2004 at 6:05 am
I never thought about HOW I started one. With the series most of them were already there. W/CDC I had Ty first and found Betti. W/TBGG I had Jade and matched her up w/Rowdy.
From a writer’s standpoint, I think it’s pretty evenly split. CDC is very OBVIOUSLY Ty’s story–he just has more at stake. TBGG they get pretty equal time but I think Jade owns it. TCRA again this is one where there’s no question who owns it–in this case Jessa. ECGTB is pretty evenly split–they’re both alphas — OUCH!
The new WIP is more geared toward chick lit (allegedly :confused: ) and it’s definitely all about her :). Steph’s love interest has nothign at stake and nothign to lose so I’m doubting I’ll write anything in his POV. Doing a book ALL in first person from one POV is going to be interesting.
Sorry for writing a book on here
:blush: :blush:
on October 1st, 2004 at 5:38 pm
Anytime, Cece. I don’t mind!
on October 1st, 2004 at 5:42 pm
For me, most of the time, my heroine comes to me first and then I find her perfect match. In reading, regardless of whose story it is, I have to like both of them, or neither.
It’s physically impossible for me to "fall in love" with just the hero, or just the heroine.
Books that are obviously lopsided are harder reads for me because the focus is so much on one of the protagonists, their love interest is practically a nonentity and it’s not a romance if the love interest reads like a peripherary character instead of an equal.
on October 1st, 2004 at 11:09 pm