“Different” from the other girls

I write romance. Proudly. Not something I could have said a few years ago and not worried what people think. The truth is the romance and fantasy genres of fiction is the red headed step child. Everyone loves to read us but no one likes to admit it. We’re anything but “literary” and considered the junkiest junk food. When you say you read or write romance it’s like confessing you watch soaps or Lifetime. It’s a guilty pleasure and not taken that serious by most. Just my luck I write romantic fantasy. Talk about double whammy.

But I digress. I mention my genre because there is something I can’t stand in a lot of fiction, doesn’t matter what genre, though romance is one of the worst culprits when it comes to this. It’s the “different from the other girls” or “she wasn’t like the other girls” heroine. Seriously does every freaking heroine have to be awkward and shy? Unaware of her natural beauty while having a killer body and model worthy looks? Does she have to like to “hang with the guys” and despise or at least not understand being pampered? Why can’t a heroine be cocky and bold, knowing she’s hot? Or ugly and not giving a f&@k? Why can’t she like having her nails and makeup done and pamper the shit out of herself? Why does that automatically make her less? The Romance genre could be feminist gold and yet I find it keeps circling around to the old tropes of how to make her attractive to men. So she can’t be emotional and high maintenance, she can’t be truly shy (to the point of agoraphobic) instead she coyly awkward but not really shy. Why can’t she be the dominant in the relationship or short or tall or fat or skinny? Why can’t she hate sports and hiking? And why can’t she go hiking with a full manicure and makeup on?

Believe me that last one isn’t unrealistic. I did a three day back country hike up the coast of California with a full set of acrylic nails. Not only was I feeling pretty they came in damned handy every time I had to open that damned bear canister. Don’t believe me? I’m including a picture of me camping with acrylic nails in all their pink glory. Oh, and fat girls can love hiking. I’m more than fluffy and I love hiking and camping. I also love food and facials and mud baths and I’m a big dork.

My point is: make your heroines real. That means they can be a bitch when they are having their periods. They can NOT want to have kids. They cannot WAIT to have kids. They can want a career over anything else and still find love without giving everything up. It’s time to evolve our heroines and our heroes. Give your heroines some real traits, give your heroes some freaking flaws. And if you want a hot hero and hot heroine go for it, this is your fantasy, but give them depth of character too, make his teeth crooked or make him stink after Playing basketball, don’t have him just smell all manly and musky. Believe me, no matter how hot the dude, he gonna stink after sweating for a while. Fresh sweat isn’t bad, but let that sit after a few hours and your awkward little heroine is going to run for her life.

So write honestly and write passionately. Romance is alive and well and beautiful, but add some new angles to it.

Now before you read some of my work and call me out as a hypocrite let me say:

AG is ballsy and doesn’t take shit from anyone. She’s hot but doesn’t have any boobs to speak of and can be short tempered.

Faith is hot, but she’s also plump, with big boobs that do not lend themselves to grand adventures. She isn’t shy either. She’s sexually bold and asks for what she wants.

Becca is plain. But to Nomad she is astonishingly beautiful because he sees her soul. The rest of the world sees a shy, glasses wearing mouse because she really IS a shy glasses wearing mouse. She is scared of the dark, traumatized and doesn’t believe in herself. She has to learn to embrace her power. She’ll do that on her own with or without her Downcast Angel.

Ruth is over 40 with a full grown daughter; Haley is not just plump but downright fluffy; M is bold, demanding, bisexual and confident. They vary in temperament and in looks. To the world they may not appear unique or “special” but to their angels, demons or other, they are perfect. I believe in romance and happy ever after, but only if they put in the work. Which means he’s not perfect and she’s not perfect. Just like in real life – If real life had immortal angels, a few demons and an Other or two.

Well until next time, that was my two cents!

L