Anti-Heroes 101: The Mysterious Bad Boy

Everybody loves a bad boy, okay...not fathers, but most women who read romance do. There's something about that elusiveness that just grabs our attention. From rogues a la Han Solo to rebels like James Dean, there are anti-heroes to challenge your heroine no matter who she is or what the story.


The Dark Quality:
Today I'd like to touch on the first kind of bad boy...the Mysterious Bad Boy. This is the guy with a secret. A man with baggage so intense, he keeps the heroine at arm's length for her own good.


Whether its a dangerous association or a frightening aspect to his own being (blood lust) it is something that will certainly put the gal in peril.


The Appeal:
This is all about the chase. This kind of guy allows only a select few into his circle and that in and of itself is a major draw. Here is a man who doesn't offer himself to just anyone and being trusted by him is very flattering. The more elusive, the better because the one who finally captures the heart of such a guarded man is truly special, right?


There are usually some traits that help us understand why she is attracted to him. These can be in the the form of an incredible talent for something beautiful...music, art, photography...this is how he communicates how he feels. Its veiled and its aching, but it is definitely deep. She gets it and it hits her like a ton of bricks.


The Set Up:
A great way to utilize this type of character is hint at this destructive threat enticingly throughout the first few chapters. A strange happenstance here...a cryptic suggestion there, and your heroine will be unable to quell her curiosity.


The Mysterious Bad Boy is a great character because his secret is usually the main conflict of the story. It is the catalyst for the inner turmoil between them...his need to keep her safe and her not understanding his aloofness. And it is the drive for the outer conflict as well; the actual physical danger to them.


A great way to amp up the tension with this type of anti-hero is to put him in opposition with a heroine that is naturally a hunter of truth. Whether its a cop, an investigative reporter, or a someone who has a past that drives this specific curiosity (think sister gone missing years ago or abandoned by father) make sure your heroine is not afraid to demand full disclosure.


The Reward:
With every bad boy story line, you need to have that moment of redemption. That scene where all the things he's done or said finally make sense.  Usually ten chapters in or so, the time you need to supply the first major disaster. 


Show the real danger here, amp up the threat, and show how much of a sacrifice he's been making to keep those he (secretly) loves safe.


Having believed for so long that he was unlovable because of this "secret" her acceptance of him will bond them through out the remaining two disasters. Be sure to make the remaining two conflicts escalate in personal and public danger.


Later, show how far will he go to protect the heroine. Will he take it to his own destruction? Will he go against everything he believes to not lose her to this danger? 


The Heart's Hope:
There has to be a reason for a perfectly sane leading lady to choose to become entangled in this situation. What is the hope of her heart? What does she truly and deeply believe will happen if she just sticks it out?


In this type of story, it is usually that only she "truly" knows him. He is an elusive prize that all women want, but only she can attain. She is the "chosen one" that he allowed into his secretive world. 


She believes that if she just weathers the catastrophic events fueling your novel, that in the end their bond will be so powerful that nothing can separate them. (Think Bella and Edward)


This is the quintessential anti-hero in almost all paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, and comic book stories where there is a secret identity/secret power. 


Can you think of any that you really loved? How about some that you really didn't buy?


Until next time...Go Write!

What to Look for In an Agent

Agents are people and as such, they vary from micro-managers to the other end of the spectrum. One thing to help you decided what you to look for in an agent is to look at yourself and how you work. 

·         Do you need hand holding?

·        Do you hope for a movie-esque relationship where they call you up at night with a great idea?

·         Do you see an agent as a sort of mentor or teacher?

·         Do you want them to help you with your manuscript because it needs an overhaul?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you don’t need an agent. You need more time.

You see, agents take you on spec. That is, they don’t make any money unless they sell your book. So when looking for an agent, make sure that YOU’RE what THEY’RE looking for in a client.

Once you feel you’re ready to query, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you separate the honest, reputable agents from the scoundrels.

·         Agents do not charge you money. Period. Not for a reading fee or a submission fee or anything else.

·         They do not say they will take you if you use their editorial services. Reputable agents with connections to an editing service let you know about that relationship up front. And whether or not you use their service should not affect your submission with them.

·         You can check their track record on Publisher’s Marketplace or similar sites. If they are successful and have been in the business a while, then it will show. 

·         If their commission is outrageous, more than 10-15% domestic, or they penalize you for being new by charging a higher commission then walk away.

Where do you find a great agent? 

One of the best places is to meet them face-to-face at a conference. My own agent has said that he finds 80% of his clients during sessions at conferences. This is a wonderful way to dialogue with an agent about what to expect, how they handle client questions, and what level of interaction you are looking for.

Websites like Query Tracker, a free database of literary agents and publishers, is a fantastic place to start when you’re ready to submit your query. Finding an agent is a long process, but worth it when you connect with the right one. 

As a wise person once pointed out…publication isn’t a selection process, it’s a survival process.

(Post originally appeared on Purple Knot blog tour.)

Photograph by John Buckman. 

The Hidden Value of the Sticky Note

Plot threads, character quirks, correct spelling of names…writing a novel is wrought with details that can sometimes get overlooked. The average fiction manuscript in my genre has between 80,000 – 100,000 words. That’s a lot of opportunity to either make a mistake, or make it great.

When I’m in the midst of a story, I try to keep notes around my computer or on my binder to remind me of the important things I need to keep in mind. Sticky notes are great for this, but a writer friend of mine prefers index cards. It’s your call.

You know you’re weaknesses. When you revise, what are the issues you generally have to work on to make the next draft better?

For example: I tend to get a little too technical when describing what the situation is, or what the danger may be. I want to keep the reader engaged and invested in my main character’s experience. That takes emotion. So I have a bright pink sticky note with “Emotion!” surrounded by hearts on the wall just over my computer.

If you tend to need more dialogue…then remind yourself to write as much as you want, you can always edit later, and to really let your conversations flow. Remember that the first draft gets the story out of your head, it doesn’t have to be perfect. You go back over it multiple times afterwards, so let the story pour out of you. Don’t get in the way.

Remind yourself to second-guess your first idea. I have a blue sticky note that has “2nd Place” because I usually hit upon a better twist, a better plot point if I dig beyond what first pops to mind.

Description, of characters and places, may be your weak point. Make yourself a note to constantly check for that as you write. Whenever you look up, you’ll be prompted to take a second look at what you just wrote.

By doing this as you write, it makes the editing process less overwhelming. You can concentrate on the larger issues like pace and tension. It also adds a bit of layering where you might not have otherwise known you needed it.

What are some tips or tricks that YOU use to make your writing/revisions easier? Until next time...Go Write.

Photograph by lalawren.

Writing in Space and Time

You're running out of time...tick-tock, tick-tock.  Writers have a lot of responsibilities outside of creating a compelling story.  There are the queries, the proposals, revisions...and if you're awaiting a book release..Oy vey!  Marketing, promotion, travel -- all of these things have to fit into your schedule. 

Problem is...when do you write? When do you pound out another 350+ page book? When do you block out the chapters? When do you do your research?

Writing to be published, not for a hobby, is a job. A full time job.  You have to commit hours to it.  Whether it's during your kid's naptime, after work, or during your beloved television show...you have to put in the hours at the computer to make any real progress. 

An agent once told me that writers under contract are expected to produce a book every 4-6 months.  Months, people, from research to revisions.  Whew! Sounds daunting...but it can be done, is done regularly by authors everyday. The way to do that is to have a schedule. An iron-clad, cannot-alter, leave-me-to-do-my-work schedule. And you have to commit to it.

 

Now, few of us can quit our day jobs to concentrate solely on honing our craft. But most of us can fine-tune our time management.

It's helpful to set a goal, a deadline, and meet it as if your advance depended on it. Because if all goes well, you will have to be able to do this for real one day. This is not as hard as it seems with some little tweaks to your work habits, you can do it.

• Be reasonable. Don't try to pound out 300 pages in three months. You'll burn out and probably end up burning the manuscript.  Try 10 pages in ten days, a chapter in a week, or a scene a day.
• Write it down. Pick a day to be finished with revisions, line editing, everything having to do with your manuscript. Mark the date your calendar.  Treat it like a a publisher's deadline. Don't fudge it...don't go easy on yourself...meet the deadline like the professional you are.
• Block things off. Do research when you need it.  If you don't absolutely need to know the tensile strength of suspension bridges yet...wait until you're ready to write that scene to do it. Nothing throws a writer off on a tangent faster than "research" that ends up in a webcrawl through Failblog or YouTube.
• Track your time. There is a cool pdf tracker here for free. Write down the hours you spend actually writing your story. Not revising, not "tweaking a scene", not polishing a query...but writing new stuff. 

**And blogfest entries DO NOT count. Research and edits don't count, but build them into your timeline so can finish by your "deadline."**

• Clear a space. Painters set up near windows. Photographers have darkrooms. You need a writing space. A place where you can write without interuptions. That can be in your room with the headphones on, or in a coffeeshop that none of your friends go to. It takes a while to get into the groove of a scene. Don't cut yourself off at the knees by inviting distractions.
• And finally...Don't Procrastinate, just...don't. It not only slows you down, but stresses you out.

There are a lot of other ways to manage your time. Some online programs offer stop watches, organizers, and task trackers for free or a small fee.  Sometimes its as simple as joining a critique group that meets regularly. Knowing a group of peers are expecting your next chapter is very motivating.

What are your tricks and tips for staying on track.  What are the pitfalls that eat up your time? I'd love you hear what you have to say.

Until next time...Go Write! No, really. Go start typing.

Photograph by Michel Filion. Photograph by Cushing Memorial Library and Archives.

Photograph by antony_mayfield.