Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Writing Wednesday: About those Alpha Males ...(part 1)

When you hear the term "alpha male" you think strong and in charge. Movie images of ripped Navy SEALs or muscle-bound Highlanders might flit through your mind. Or maybe you picture the powerful billionaire CEO, intense and driven with the "A" type personality.

A for alpha.

Alpha males are a staple in literature as well as movies, and as a writer you should take some time to master this stereotype (pun intended.) There's a difference in writing a strong alpha male who might also have hidden vulnerabilities, as opposed to one who is simply a domineering jerk.

When reading any genre of novel, we want our heroes to be strong and stand up for what they believe, but we also want to connect with characters on a deeper level. Even an alpha male needs something to make him vulnerable, and thus human. He can't just flex his muscles and order women around. And in a romance, he needs to give as good as he gets.

This came into stark contrast for me recently with two very different novels that I read back to back.

The first was the fabulous chic lit romp Lingerie Wars, by Janet Elizabeth Hendersen (highly recommend for a light read that's lots of fun.)
 
The hero, Lake Bensen, is a former British special forces officer who could totally be the next James Bond. Complete alpha male package who comes off as controlling, sexy, self centered and domineering when we first meet him. But the author also gives us flashes of his humanity, when he walks a stranger who's had too much to drink home from the pub, or the way he puts up with his older landlady, or even the  fact he decides to offer women's self defense classes in the back of his sister's shop. Granted, that last one may have been calculated to help him win the battle between his sister's lingerie shop and the one across the street, but an alpha jerk wouldn't have bothered to put himself out. In the end, when it came to saving the woman he'd fallen in love with, he doesn't hesitate for a minute, his sole thought being her welfare.

In contrast, that same week I also read Mermen, the first book in a trilogy by Mimi Jean Pamfilof, a New York Times Bestselling author.

The alpha male hero of her story is Roen Doran, a Seattle-based billionaire shipping tycoon who, let's be clear, is a complete asshat from start to finish. Okay, yes he saves the girl, and yes, she falls for him (I have no idea why) but even with his tragic backstory, he doesn't evoke emotion or empathy from the reader mostly because he's arrogant, selfish and thoughtless of other people's feelings or needs. And each and every time he saves the girl (it's a convoluted storyline) he does it for self-serving reasons. Saving her is merely a byproduct of his own desired outcome.

What's my point? Mostly that the designation of "alpha" doesn't necessarily equate with being a selfish dickhead. Alpha males more than eye candy on the cover. Written well, their characters can be sexy, hot and (most of all) interesting heroes, if only given the proper emotional abilities.

Okay, whew. There's only so much testosterone I can talk about in one post. And these are just general observations, as I'm sure you've noticed (and are griping about!) Next time, I'll be more specific with my alpha-do and alpha-don't recommendations and examples.Maybe pictures. We'll see.

10 comments:

  1. I enjoyed your assessment of the Alpha males here. In historical romance over the past several years, I've seen an evolution from your No. 2 Alphas to your No. 1 Alphas. Take charge, confident men who are still sensitive and thoughtful (especially after meeting their delightful ladies). I'm looking forward to your alpha-dos and alpha-don'ts!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Barbara! I don't read a lot of straight-on historical fiction, but if we look at the Outlander series, Jamie is definitely an alpha male... with a tender side.

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  2. Katie, you are so spot on!!! And this is so timely, too. I have a book I wrote years ago for a traditional print publisher, and then re-pubbed in digital form a couple of years back. I have an alpha male in there, and he is vulnerable, as he's overawed by the heroine and afraid he's too much of a big frog in a little pond and she will never give up her glamorous life to be with him. However, I've had a few reviews that thought he was still too macho and wondered why the heroine fell for him. So, I obviously, did not properly communicate his softer, nicer side to my readers. I decided to take a closer look at the book and see if there was any way I could redeem him. I want readers to not see him that way. I want them to understand his vulnerabilities and make him a more giving person. So, I know exactly what you mean with this blog.

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    1. Thanks Hebby! I'm so glad it makes sense ~ I was starting to wonder if I was one of the only people who feels this way.

      Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate the insight!

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  3. Hi Katie! Enjoyed the blog. I've read some stories where the alpha male was such a jerk I had to put down the book. I like them where they are strong and capable but also have feelings and are kind. Like you said. :) And no, you aren't the only one that feels this way! Great post!

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    1. Hi Karilyn, Yeah, since 50 Shades there are SOOOO many billionaire stories with brooding alpha asshats in the starring role.

      I stopped reading the MERMEN story several times, but kept hoping it would redeem itself because, you know, mermen...

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  4. Hi Katie, I just finished reading Wanna Get Lucky by Deborah Coonts and really enjoyed her alpha male character. I would consider him alpha male because he is super hot and REALLY good at his job which just so happens to be a female impersonator headlining a Las Vegas variety show. He also really loves the heroine and takes care of her in ways she doesn't even know she needs. Maybe that is an untraditional alpha male. Anyway, great post - fun to think about!

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    1. A different kind of alpha for sure! But sounds like a fun read!!

      Thanks for stopping by and weighing in!

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    2. I've always written alpha heroes (since I'm married to one.) The main thing (I think) is that they can be insufferable if they have that sweet spot, that candy heart for kids and women and their struggling friends that makes them human.Loyalty and a love for the vulnerable makes up for a lot. In books and in real life.

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  5. Who wants to read about a selfish jerk? We sure wouldn't want to date or marry one! There is a difference - a true alpha male is not just a selfish jerk. He's got to have redeeming qualities, or I'm not going to be able to get into the story.

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