Comments on: Negative Traits for Heroes

By: Rikki

Rikki — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:07:21 +0000

I like heroes that are overbearing, arroganr, possessive, moody. All others would be a turn off for me (esp. manipulative or no sense of humor). I think there is way too little laughter in romance.

By: Shelley Munro

Shelley Munro — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:42:05 +0000

Some interesting comments today on character flaws. I like the idea of giving a character an excess of a virtue. I think flaws are a delicate balance, a little like seasoning. Too much and it’s overwhelming and the characters can’t redeem themselves. Too little and the characters are bland and wishy washy.

By: Janice~

Janice~ — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:40:16 +0000

Two of my heroes were very jealous, and another one teased too much which put the heroine on edge.

I also had one who chased the heroine by phone, trying to date her, but kept getting everyone else but her for days. She wasn’t avoiding him, she was just busy. He got frustrated but kept trying.

He finally caught up with her when she got sick and was in the hospital.

Janice~

By: DrillerAA

DrillerAA — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:51:06 +0000

Failing to plan adequately always puts the hero in the position of having to go to plan B, assuming he has a plan B.

By: Barbara Martin

Barbara Martin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:13:30 +0000

A trait I could add which could be used either way: secrets.

By: Nancy Henderson

Nancy Henderson — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:56:16 +0000

Manipulative is the worst. Even if he’s trying to help the heroine in some way by being manipulative.

By: Lanie Fuller

Lanie Fuller — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:30:29 +0000

That’s a tough one. I’d rather have a lot of little faults than a few huge ones, you know what I mean? But, then again, as long as there’s a good reason for the big fault and the hero works on it, then it’s better (IMO). But I can’t stand an alpha alpha male, or one who is so arrogant you constantly want to club him with the heaviest object available.

I don’t mind moody or a little overbearing. I’ve been trying to think of something to add to the list, but I’m coming up blank, LOL.

By: Susan Helene Gottfried

Susan Helene Gottfried — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:36:24 +0000

I am very impressed that you can plug traits into a character like that. Every time I try, the character winds up morphing into something of his/her own, something I hadn’t intended.

By: Paige Tyler

Paige Tyler — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:17:54 +0000

I prefer the heroes in my books to have small faults, and they can’t be anything I wouldn’t forgive them for! Like being overly flirtatious with other women after he hooks up with the heroine. That’d be a deal breaker!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://tinyurl.com/4zejcp

By: Gabriele

Gabriele — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:43:27 +0000

Tight with money would be a deal breaker for me. I love my men generous.

Of course, I can’t stand the whole array of alpha-jerkishness, either, and that’s a very fine line to thread between alpha and jerk.