Thursday, June 21, 2012

THE ANTI-HERO

By Mageela Troche



Throughout history, we’ve exalted the hero but in romance, there is one that is an utterly delicious one—the Anti-hero.

These heroes exist in every sub-genre whether the rake in regency, the town’s bad boy in the contemporary or the vampire. At first interaction, he appears unredeemable, a man of too many flaws and nothing to recommend him. But then, he stands up for the girl getting hit on in the bar or dances with the wallflower. And you see the hero in him.

Of course, the Anti-hero buried it because of life experiences that forced to hide it. Those foolish, soft emotions that he fights against still exist in him. He buries them through alcohol, fighting, humor even sucking blood. Think Eric Northman.

This hero is one that is reformed by the right woman in his life. The evolution of this man is an inner struggle, one the heroine is at the center of. When she comes to him, he’d sneer, say something snarky or just send her on his way—maybe even use her but he can’t really let her go. Here his motivation and backstory play an important part. In the past, he had loved and had his heart ripped out in shreds, all he cared for was wiped out or maybe the people in his town thought less of him so he put up his defenses. His backstory plays a major part in his life. His past pain haunts him even as he fights against it. The anti-hero is more soft-hearted than other heroes. And the heroine helps bring the honor he possess and the grand love he is capable of producing out because he learns that he isn’t alone. This hero has a person to believe in him and love him back, his own personal safe haven.

As he faces the conflict, external and internal, his redemption is the richest reward. However, he still retains the keen edge. And nothing is hotter than a bad boy with the heart of gold.♥




An Air Force brat, Mageela landed in New York City and wanted to leave the same day she arrived. Yet, with her stubbornness, she learned to like the place and the librabries were the main reason. Learning to read at four-years-old, she decided to be an author and an actress. Once in college, she changed her life plan in the pursuit of money. After all, college loans must be repaid. With life's twists and turns, she returned to writing and focused on the romance genre. She joined RWA in 2004 and soon discovered RWANYC. Mageela Troche is a PRO member and placed 2nd in FTHRW Wallflower Best Love Scene, has published various articles for her local chapter and their blog besides having her own. She is 2012 Vice President for RWANYC chapter and currently research, writing, revising--the cycle of writing.


TOMORROW:  Come back and check out Suleikha Snyder's hero!
  
  

5 comments:

  1. Good post. Completely agree about the backstory.

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  2. I love a good "bad-boy" too! I think they usually make the best heros :)

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  3. Fun post, Mageela. Given the crazy popularity of 50 SHADES OF GREY--Christian Grey is nothing if not the poster boy for anti-heroes--I expect the trend in hot, edgy bad boys to stay stronger than ever.

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  4. What Hope said - and you in your excellent post, Mageela! I adore the anti-hero. And why wouldn't I? It makes the heroine's job that much harder, makes the conflict nearly insurmountable, and when it all turns into an HEA? It is that much sweeter! Besides, I just LOVE the bad boys. Always have, always will. That edge of darkness is soooooo sexy.

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  5. For me the anti-hero is like a fire - can give you warmth or burn you. But great fun to write and even more fun to read.

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