writersguide

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. John Gray's book became a bestseller, and it's easy to see why. The contrasts between male and female are something most adults of both sexes can relate to. Those differences also pose a challenge for today's romance writer, because romantic fiction in the 90's very often involves a combination of inputs from the hero and the heroine. Quite simply, that means telling a story from two points of view.
So what is point of view and how is it used? Basically, it's letting a reader inside a character's head in order to explain what's happening from that particular character's perspective. Remembering who is doing the thinking and viewing at any point in a story is vital for an author. And every time the author chooses to change heads, letting another character take over, whole perspectives should change as well. Not only heads—whole perspectives.

Writing Romance Means Getting Into Two Heads
His head.
Her head.
With a change in perspective every time heads change.

    That's where the hats in the title of this chapter come in. Different hats. Take a moment to visualize them. Bright blue caps for those big, brawny heroes. Jazzy red ones for those ready-to-take-them-on heroines. Now let's try those caps on for SIZE and take a peek at what might be going on beneath them. Let's say that a fictional couple is starting out on a date and the woman casually mentions that they've been seeing each other for four months. They continue to drive in silence, each caught up in their own thoughts.
    She's thinking... Four months. It's hard to believe that four months have passed since I met him. But they have. We should probably discuss the future before too long, share our feelings about where the relationship is headed. Yes, it's definitely time to consider that discussion.
    Meanwhile, he's thinking... Four months! It's been that long? Sure, it has to be, because we met at that Superbowl party. Four months have flown by, which means summer is right around the corner, and the battery in this ol' Chevy probably won't make it through another hot one. Yeah, it's definitely time to replace it.
    That's joking, of course. But more than a grain of truth is there, nonetheless. Very often, men and women don't think the same way. And they don't always talk the same way.

Writing Romance Means Talking Out of Two Mouths
He said.
She said.
But would they really say that?

    Are there some words many men don't use? Yes, in my opinion. And "darling" is one of them. As a contemporary writer, I would only put that word in the mouth of a very sophisticated, jet-set-type male character. "Honey" is an endearment I believe most men in today's world would be far more apt to use. Or if they're feeling macho, "baby." Or, in a tender moment, "sweetheart." But "darling" coming out of the mouths of the majority of 90's men just doesn't seem to ring true.
    Then there are words women as a group seem to avoid. The coarsest terms for body parts, for example. Most women don't usually use them. That sort of word slipping from a heroine's lips may win a lot of attention, but it's probably going to jar many readers out of the story, as well. The fact that a word can be used within the context of a particular story doesn't necessarily mean it should be. It all depends on who's saying it.
    Next, let's take a look at two characters and how they might think and speak to illustrate their differences. First we have to put on that blue hat so our hero can come to life. And there he is...
    He: Joe Flanagan, construction supervisor and baseball fan.

A "doer" more than a talker; the word "relationship" is basically foreign to him.
Can be hardheaded, even without the hard hat.
Thinks women can be a little strange.

A sample of Joe's thoughts:

· It was time to knock down a few barriers and take things to the next level.

· (Something) socked him in the gut as unexpectedly as a wild pitch.

· Oh, he'd like to make a long, slow slide into her. And cover all her bases. Ah, yes. Joe is my kind of hero. But we have to leave him and put on that red hat. And there's our heroine...
She: Rachel Rogers, lawyer and tennis fan.

Talks easily; "relationship" is definitely in her vocabulary.
Will stand up for what she believes in, but is usually willing to compromise.
Thinks men can be a bit of a trial.

A sample of Rachel's thoughts:

Doing battle in a courtroom had never been as stimulating as locking horns with this man.
She'd aced him with that one.
The impact of their kiss hit her like a lightning swift volley.

    And, finally, a taste of dialogue between Joe and Rachel.
    He: "I need to stop at Home Depot for some lug nuts."
    She: "Am I safe in assuming that's nothing like a cashew?"
    She: "I was at the library, doing research on a tort."
    He: "Something tells me you're not talking about a fancy cake."
    He: "I won't strike out, trust me. This is one game I'm dead set on winning."
    She: "Too bad, because it happens to be a match I don't intend to lose."
    To sum things up:

Two viewpoints.
Two heads.
Two voices.

Make them different. Take advantage of those his/her contrasts. Wear two hats, and meet the challenge of creating uniquely male and female characters.

Born and raised in Chicago, Sharon Stewart once dreamed of dancing for a living. Instead, she surrendered to life's more practical aspects, went to work in an office, and concentrated on typing and being a rabid Chicago Bears fan. Strange as it seems, Sharon never considered writing romantic fiction until she moved to the Phoenix area and met Pierce Brosnan at a local shopping mall. It was a chance meeting that changed her life, because it sparked her to ask: What if? What if two fictional characters had met in the same way? That scenario formed the basis for her first manuscript, and she's now cheerfully addicted to writing contemporary romance and playing What if? Sharon's third effort and her first published novel, Love For Sale, was a Harlequin Love & Laughter 1998 release.