My Problem with Alpha Heroes by Alison Henderson

My problem isn’t that I don’t like alpha heroes. I love them—when somebody else writes them. The problem arises when I try to write one myself.

Why should that be a problem, you ask. There’s room in our genre for all types of heroes: alpha, beta, and everything in between. Writers are free to create whatever character best fits each individual story.

So why do I struggle? Because some stories, like the one I’m working on now, scream out for an alpha hero. Dominic “Nick” Rosetti, my hero in Boiling Point, is a former Detroit police detective who left the force after his partner died in a shootout. When the pair cornered an armed drug dealer in a blind alley, Nick hesitated a second too long, and the gunman fired first, killing Nick’s partner. With his confidence gutted by guilt, he moved to Chicago and became a P.I.

I have to write Nick as a tough guy, because he is. He carries a lot of emotional baggage he prefers to keep to himself. He’s used to taking charge without wasting time on explanation. He’s a man of few words. Yet I keep having to stop myself from writing him dialogue that sounds more like Nick Charles from The Thin Man movies than Nick Rosetti.

I think it’s because I love witty banter. Writing dialogue is my favorite part of any story. When my characters really get going, the air is thick with provocative statements and sharp retorts. I can’t seem to help myself. I’ve always been more attracted to intelligent wise guys than sullen tough guys. That’s how I ended up with OG. (Not to suggest he isn’t tough, but his wit attracted me first.) Most of the men I’ve met in real life who would fit the current fictional definition of alpha males are self-centered, arrogant jerks and not attractive to me at all.

That’s because fictional alpha heroes are just that—fictional—and because we write romance, they are creations of fantasy. Some authors are brilliant at bringing those fabulously unrealistic men to life. Sadly, although I love reading about them, I don’t seem to be much good at translating that sort of fantasy to the page. My heroes all end up being men I would actually enjoy spending time with. Hence, my struggle to bring proper balance to the character of Nick Rosetti.

Since passing the half-way point in the first draft of Boiling Point, I think I’m finally getting a handle on him. However, I’m afraid some of my favorite bits of his dialogue will end up on the chopping block when I go back to revise. Sigh. The sacrifices we authors make for our characters…

Alison

www.alisonhenderson.com

If Vladimir Putin Married Mother Teresa by Alison Henderson

Most of you are familiar with the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. I'd venture a guess that you know your type and perhaps those of your loved ones, too. The test, based on the work of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, was devised by Katharine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers, beginning in the 1940's. It is now a standard personality type indicator, used in everything from career counseling to Internet quizzes. If you haven't done it yet, just Google "Myers Briggs" and take one of free online tests. They might not be as accurate and detailed as a complete evaluation by a trained professional, but they can be impressively accurate.

Out of curiosity, OG and I recently took one of the more detailed on-line quizzes. He got what he always gets - INTJ. Mine was a bit of a surprise. I though I knew my type, based on a career book OG had bought several years ago. It turned out I was just fooling myself. I had answered a number of questions the way I presented myself to the work world, not the way I truly am inside. Removing that bias and looking deeper, I discovered I am an ISFJ - much more the real me. 

After the test there was a list of famous people who had the same personality type. OG and I discovered our union is the equivalent of Vladimir Putin marrying Mother Teresa. Really. That explains a lot. It also didn't come as a big surprise to many of our friends and family. What surprised me is how we've made such glaring incompatibility work for thirty-two years. Must be my saintly nature. LOL

Interesting, you say, but what does this have to do with writing? I've used the Myers Briggs personality types for many years to create characters. I start with one character - usually the heroine - and write down everything I know about her. Then I try to match her with one of the sixteen personality types. That gives me a head start creating the hero. 

I've never been a big believer in opposites attracting - not complete opposites, anyway. I try to give my couples at least one or two similar character traits so they'll have something in common. Two opposite traits create plenty of opportunity for conflict. Trust me. Just look at me and OG. You can't get much more opposite than Putin and Mother Teresa, and we have two traits in common.

Using the MBTI personality types also helps flesh out characters. If you're wondering what your hero or heroine would do or feel in a particular situation, re-read their personality type info for a clue. You might worry that using "types" will turn your characters into flat stereotypes, but I've found the opposite to be true. People, and fictional characters, are much more than four personality characteristics, but these categories are broad enough to encompass the infinite variety of humanity. For me, typing helps keep characters consistent and realistic. 

Have you tried this method? What are your favorite tips for creating vibrant characters?

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com
http://alisonhenderson.blogspot.com