A Twisted Psyche
After some comments on my recently finished manuscript, I realized there must be some seriously twisted part of my subconscious.
It has come to my attention that the balance between protagonists in my contemporary romances is off kilter. Pretty much one protagonist dominates the other in both stories. Does that make sense? In M#1, the hero is the stronger personality and overshadows the heroine. In M#2 the heroine tends to put the hero in his place a little too often, and the poor guy takes it.
What part of my subconscious thinks that this is okay in a romantic relationship? LOL
Have you ever discovered a disturbing part of your psyche through the characters of your stories?
*warning: I mean this in an entirely lighthearted way *wink, wink*
It has come to my attention that the balance between protagonists in my contemporary romances is off kilter. Pretty much one protagonist dominates the other in both stories. Does that make sense? In M#1, the hero is the stronger personality and overshadows the heroine. In M#2 the heroine tends to put the hero in his place a little too often, and the poor guy takes it.
What part of my subconscious thinks that this is okay in a romantic relationship? LOL
Have you ever discovered a disturbing part of your psyche through the characters of your stories?
*warning: I mean this in an entirely lighthearted way *wink, wink*
Comments
It was like a lightbulb based on a friend's comments. She'd read the first manuscript almost a year ago, and now she read this one. Her comments struck a chord, though she didn't say she thought this stuff about the characters (or at least not consciously, lol). So I basically realized it myself. :-)
My answer is none and that's why I refuse to write romance.
I also have not read too many novels where there is a balance, Jessie! It's real life...
Maybe your mind isn't twisted; maybe your friend is an idealist! That's okay, though. I am marreid to one, and he's a great spouse!
Jen
When I started reading your post I was thinking you were referring to balance, equal page time per protagonist, maybe. And, yes, the LI's do a good job of equalling that out I find. But characterization, now that's a different story.
That's hilarious! We do go through mood swings though, right? But our characters aren't supposed to. It's tough, making them human, and yet NOT human.
No, my friend didn't say this about me or my characters, I just came up with it based on a few comments. LOL But I'll have to ask her if she's an idealist, she may be. :-)
You're right. Maybe we're all just twisted. LOL
Yeah, I meant the characters, not page time. I definitely give my heroine's more page time. I've just found that usually one character is "stronger" than the other and the other tends to be a doormat. LOL
Hmmm, in line with real life? So maybe I'm the idealist. This makes me wonder, can an unbalanced relationship be successful, even happy?
You don't strike me as a pushover at all! :-) I love that your characters take over. Sometimes mine do too, and it's a blast.
LOL
Blessings,
Susan
That's SO funny! It's amazing how our worldview comes through in the smallest things of our writing. (don't know if that sentence made sense...)
Mary Connealy says that writing is therapeutic, only she says it in a really funny way.
Okay, so I guess I was totally naive to think relationships should be balanced. LOL
The development of my antagonist makes me question things, lol. Especially how he gets energized when he's in control over someone and when he can see the fear in their eyes.
Apparently there's an incredibly dark and somehow sadistic part of my psyche and it's a bit disturbing o_O
Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
ANd yes it's a novel I'm starting now--one of the first ones I am actually excited about because of the plot!
Now, taking that into fiction. Your characters must feel they are each getting what they need from the relationship to commit, thus they perceive balance in their relationship, in all likelihood. However, from the reader's perspective, we'll likely connect with one more than the other and thus we feel they are the stronger of the two character's in the story. That's what I'm thinking, anyway.
This is getting very confusing for my little brain. I think I'll go attempt to make supper now.
Of course who is who depends on the day- don't you think? ;)
That's super funny. So there's this dark part of you that totally understands predators, huh? :-)
Excellent points!
Jeannie
"The Character Therapist"
It's really weird, but I did the same thing after I realized that my parental/kid relationships were kind of harsh. I would never want someone to read my story (a family member) and think I was modeling it after my own life. So I'm careful to be true to the story, but also discerning as to how I'm portraying people. It's so odd how I can see patterns in my manuscripts now.
It is interesting. Maybe you can do a post on what you discover? :-)
You're absolutely right and isn't that scary? Heehee.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. :-)
Just a thought as I procrastinate from writing some more. I'm bad, I know.
I do agree with the statement Captain Hook said though. How many balanced relationships have you seen?
Usually there is one person more dominant than the other in a relationship. Then again sometimes the balance of power shofts from side to side as the relationship progresses. Oooh *lightbulb* I just got a story idea. he he he...
(as to your comment - in VK2 - she falls in love!.....that's all I'll say *teehee* - oh, except, she shouldn't have fallen for THAT GUY......)
I don't think you're stalking at all. :-)
Anyways, interesting point about the shift of power throughout the novel. I hadn't thought of that.
OOh, hope your new idea is juicy!
I always do wonder how people come up with their darker tales. C'mon Kathryn. Give us the goods! :-)