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Romancing Your Story

Crafting the Hero––Part I

Our romantic heroine, Tovah, is about to meet her match. She’s a Jewish rabbi who fears rejection because of being dumped by a boy while she was in high school. What kind of man should she end up with? [bctt tweet=”First, and foremost, a romantic hero is created to love and be loved by the heroine. She is the prize for him. He is the treasure for her.” username=”@A3Authors @donnalhsmith”]  #amwriting #RomancingYourStory #AlmostAnAuthor #CraftingTheHeroine

Let’s give him a name. A good Jewish name for a hero. After all, he’s going to end up with the rabbi. How about Judah. I like that name. A solid, Old Testament name that means “praise.” Judah will become Tovah’s treasure. Let’s begin to look at some general characteristics for Judah.

Immediate Connection

Of primary importance in romance is that immediate connection between the hero and the heroine. It can be awkward, aggravating, exhilarating, or exciting. But some sort of immediate connection must be there. An attraction, a respect, something to keep them wanting to get to know each other.

Mutual Attraction

I love the old movie “Enchanted Cottage.” Did you ever see it? Two people fall in love in a “magic” cottage. The woman is plain and almost unattractive. The man has been disfigured in war. Through the “magic” of the enchanted cottage, they fall in love, but don’t see the imperfections of the other. They see the other as extremely handsome or very beautiful. Robert Young and Dorothy McGuire played the parts.

As long as the hero is handsome to the heroine, and the heroine is beautiful to the hero—that’s all that matters. That attraction fuels the desire to spend time with and get to know each other.

Character Strengths

Judah will be morally and emotionally strong when it comes to Tovah. He’ll have imperfections, and emotional wounds that she can help him overcome. He will help her overcome rejection because he’ll accept her just as she is and love her. That will bring her healing from the high school incident.

He’ll be incorruptibly honest, living by a strong moral code that is never compromised. We’ll figure out some emotional wound or some difficulty in his past that will need her strength, but for now, he’ll live by the Ten Commandments, as a Jewish boy should.

[bctt tweet=”When the romantic hero first appears on the scene of the heroine’s life, she will never be the same. He will affect her in ways that have never happened to her before. ” username=”@A3writers @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #RomancingYourStory #AlmostAnAuthor #CraftingTheRomanticHero

How are you liking Judah so far? Leave a comment and let me know.

By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor

I'm a prairie girl from Kansas transplanted to Amish country, Pennsylvania. I'm married to a wonderful man since 1987, a member of a great church, where I serve as a greeter and on ministry team. On Sunday afternoons, I stand a two-hour prayer watch at our local 24/7 House of Prayer. I also enjoy reading, occasionally reviewing books, and of course, writing. A graduate of Christian Writer's Guild's Craftsman program, and holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in communication. I seek to encourage beginning writers in learning the craft. I am currently the Mid-Atlantic Zone Director of American Christian Fiction Writers and serve as Managing Editor for A3. My debut novel, Meghan's Choice, published in late 2017. Her second novel is in the editing process. She also teaches workshops on writing and inspirational.

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