The Romance Reviews

Wednesday 19 August 2009

From secondary character to not-so-spunky heroine


Secondary characters are easy to love. Often they are my favorite parts of a book. They can be quirky, sly and blunt without repercussions. Their job is to say things that your hero and heroine never would and nudge the story into the tangled hedgerows where conflict thrives.


For example, in ANAM CARA, my heroine, Liza, is too determined to maintain control over everything within her sphere of influence to offer Bran and Aedan a place to sleep for the night. She knows minstrels are uncontrollable and suspects these two are worse than most. So her daughter, Tess, issues the invitation because it's the right thing to do (and because she's already a wee bit curious about the minstrel's younger brother, Aedan).


Tess also provides an outside point-of-view through dialogue to explain what Liza does and why.


When she asks if Liza shares a past with Bran because of the way he looks at her, Liza curtly replies, "I cannot control how a man looks at me, Tess."


Tess gets to reply: "You try. You try with your ugly hair, your constant glare and your sour demeanor, but you got me from somewhere."


There is a wealth of knowledge about Liza in that statement, even if it is filtered through Tess' eyes. But a plain-spoken daughter doesn't necessarily ascend easily to heroine status. Like Aedan, when I sat down to write TIES THAT BIND, I had to not only grow Tess up, but also fully flesh out her character. In the process I discovered something quite challenging: Tess is not her mother.


To understand the steps I needed to take to make Tess her own person, you need to know a little bit about her mother, Liza, and me, the writer.


I don't write spunky heroines. They are strong and stubborn and a little bit harsh. Life has battered the hippie-like optimism that heroines need to be spunky. In fact, my heroines often need to find hope and the gentle side of themselves before they find love (no Freudian analysis, please).


In Liza's case, if there is such a thing as reincarnation, she was Boudica in a former life. She's that determined, unyielding and capable. The downside of those traits? Domineering, stubborn, and controlling. She's a hard woman to befriend, but once you know her, there's no one else you'd want in your corner. The line that introduces her--"Of all the things Liza would miss when dead, being gawked at by strangers was not one of them" sums her up perfectly.


Like everyone else around Liza, Tess learned early the futility of direct confrontation with her mother. Instead of being the defiant rock in the middle of the stream, she's the water that quietly goes around all obstacles. And because she's quieter, more easy-going on the surface, others are quick to remind her that she's "not like" her mother.

And unlike Aedan who spent five years drenched in wine, women and song, Tess spent the intervening years keeping secrets, experiencing loss and living with heartache. Midway through writing the book, I realized quiet, self-possessed, stubborn-but-sad heroines who don't openly stand up for themselves aren't the easiest for readers to identify with. Too often we assume placid is the same as passive.


I tried to do a character make-over on the second draft, but true to form Tess stubbornly remained the same. The fault lay not in the character, but the writer. I needed that outside point-of-view. So I went to the person most likely to notice the changes in her: Aedan.


Here's the passage where we get a sense of Tess:


Mirthless gray-blue eyes inspected her. She had no idea what he sought, but what he found tightened his mouth and his eyes darkened to the dangerous color of lay-grade pewter.


"You are wisp-thin and pale as a cloud."


As close as a linen shroud, his searching energy danced over her skin. Her heart jolted, fiercely hammering against her chest. She should run, push him away and race to wherever it was she would be safe and free of men.


"You barely feel solid."


She closed her eyes and shivered when his fingers touched her neck, skimmed her collarbone, stopped at her ribs. Internal heat followed the trail, and then pooled deep and low, making her feel as if she would boil away if he didn’t stop.


"You feel cordoned-off, nay, hidden." He spoke softly, as if to himself. He bent closer, his breath a whispering invitation against her mouth.


"Nay."


He drew away just far enough to allow her to breathe. His hand fell away, but her skin

still burned where he had touched her. "You do not feel right."


"That is nonsense. You have no idea how I should feel. It has been too long."


And throughout the story, Tess shows herself to be the perfect ballast to Aedan's more mercurial nature, culminating in what is one of my favorite scenes from the book because we see just how strong Tess is.


"Go. There is no gentleness in me this night."


"I need none."


Her declaration scraped against the dead, frostbitten portion of his soul, exposing raw, throbbing emotion. Aedan flattened his palm against the wood, seeing the dried blood splattered across his sleeve. He had washed his face and hands, but that was all. Looking down, he noted his tunic was ruined. "Bran is right, Tess. You should not be here. I am not a good man."


His declaration, perhaps the most honest of his life, fell lifeless at her feet. She ignored it and came to him, standing inches from him, waiting. His lungs clogged at what he saw. Her heart and mind were as clear as a fresh stream. He could sift her like flour in this moment, and she would let him.


Her trust shattered his heart. At the same time, the calmness that always seemed to ride the air around her wrapped him, slowing the torturous whir of his thoughts, quieting the itch to run murderous throughout the keep.


"Say what you came to say and leave."


"I will." Tess pressed her palm against his heart. The trembling tension in his body spiked. Grief swirled through him, catching in his throat and eyes. "Later."


He knew the tone, though he'd never heard it from her before. He'd sooner move the sea than change her mind. With the fluid efficiency of a falchion at close range, she loosened his bloodsoaked tunic and tugged it off.


"Rest," she said, and pushed him onto the bed.


He grabbed her wrist, held her at arm's length. "Tess, you are a grace from heaven that I

do not deserve."


"Does anyone deserve love and grace?"


With that, she stepped inside his guard and curled around him like a wood nymph comforting a freshly hewn tree. She was solid. Real. Warm.


I've come across a few other calm, quiet heroines in my readings, and I have much greater appreciation for them now than I used to. So, if you have a moment, leave a comment and tell me who your favorite not-spunky heroine is.


17 comments:

Chelle Cordero said...

It is interesting how you helped to cultivate Tess into your next heroine. I adore the idea of continuity in the character.

Lindsay Townsend said...

Writing less obviously 'up-front' characters is always a challenge but the reader and writer both gain from it. Tess is a marvellous character and quietly compelling. I could totally identify with her. I enjoy the more quiet heroines and heroes.

Beautiful excerpt, Keena, full of truth.

Jane Richardson said...

Stay OUT, Freud, like you were told! ;-) Hi Keena, I do like your approach, and your not-spunky heroines. They seem so much more rounded, characters with so many more layers to them, and I really like that - the idea that you might be still thinking of that secondary character long after the h/h story has ended. That's creating a real place with real people, in my vho. More power to you, my dear!

Jane x

DanielleThorne said...

This is one of the most intelligent, thought provoking articles I have read in a long time. I think it's too easy to use those secondary characters as sounding boards or comic relief--you show here how much thought you put into your writing process-and I'm both fascinated and humbled by it.
There is nothing wrong with writing a heroine who isn't spunky. We aren't all spunky, ourselves! Kudos to you for reaching beyond cookie-cutter stereotypes and writing raw, real women into your stories.

Gwynlyn said...

Spunky has its place, but strength comes in many forms, and Tess shows hers in quietude. She IS the rock in the middle of the stream. Water flows around her, leaving its mark as water will, but steadfast and solid despite the ravages. A place to put an uncertain foot or where a weary bird can rest before flying off to battle the wind once more.

She's a great heroine, Keena. Ya did good. *g*

Keena Kincaid said...

Wow, I pop in here at lunch to find all these fabulous comments. Thank you, Chelle, Lindsay, Jane, Danielle and Gwynlyn.

Unknown said...

KEENA--your thoughtful analysis of your own character brings her to life.I like a heroine--or secondary character-who-will-be heroine--who does not flounce around with so much "spunk" we tire of her quickly. I identify with your approach so much more. In one review I received, criticized my heroine, Cynthia. she wanted to "bop cynthia over the head" for allowing, blah, blah, blah. Well, this reviwer apparently didn't see the quiet, stoic, proud Cynthis who chose her battles--and won without screaming or yelling. Thank you--I'm on your side. Celia

Linda Swift said...

Keena, what a powerful excerpt. It made me want to read more. And I like your views on the less-than-spunky heroines. They are the really stong ones, aren't they? Wonderful article. Thank you. And I wish you success with all your books. Linda

Savanna Kougar said...

Keena, I appreciate your deep layers of thought in your story and in your heroine, Tess.
Just like heroes, it takes all kinds of heroines, or a heroine for her time and place like your Tess is.
Actually, my Aunt, my mother's oldest sister, Lillian, is very much as Tess is. An amazing type of strength I am in awe over, yet could probably not do myself. It's not in me, or if it was, it's been destroyed.

Keena Kincaid said...

Thanks, Celia. I think there are so many spunky heroines that readers sometimes don't know how to interpret those who aren't spunky.

Linda, TIES THAT BIND will be released Dec. 18. Details are on my website, keenakincaid.com

Savanna, I think you're on target when you say a heroine for her time and place. I'm sure there were spunky women in the middle ages, but when every aspect of your life is restricted, women definitely had to pick and choose their battles and some (like marriage for noblewomen) were over before the child was weaned.

Lexie O'Neill said...

Keena,
I love secondary characters. I enjoyed the writing insight and wish you the best...Lexie

Linda Banche said...

Hi Keena, it takes all kinds, and flash doesn't necessarily make a heroine.

Quiet is subversive--people often mistake quiet for wimpy. Not necessarily so, as your Tess shows.

Cheryl Pierson said...

Keena,

Your excerpts are so powerful. Every one of them I've read from this book, just rips my heart out. And I agree about spunky. I tend to write heroines who have suffered loss, and hardship, and maybe are not as "spunky" as they are just strong because they have had to be. I identify so much with Tess. Your writing is like poetry. Just wonderful
Cheryl

Keena Kincaid said...

Thank you, Lexie, Linda and Cheryl. I've enjoyed reading all our thoughts on heroes, and now heroines.

Maggie Toussaint said...

I like Tess exactly how she is. I've known people like her, the not-so-flashy kind, the kind that moves easily around obstacles to accomplish what needs to be done. They are my favorite people in the whole world. They bring me peace, healing, and inner joy.

LK Hunsaker said...

Keena, I'm late getting here but I loved this (even if I have to change what I was going to write about heroines now, LOL!). Yes, often the less spunky heroines are the strongest. I prefer them almost always.

Beautiful excerpt.

Keena Kincaid said...

Thanks, Maggie. And sorry if I preempted you, LK. I've enjoyed reading about all the different ways we go about creating our heroines.