How We Write Wednesdays: High Octane Heroes–Applying protagonist archetypes

Everyone shout out a HoWW welcome to USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann as she adapts one of her most popular workshops for our How We Write edification–High Octane Heroes–and kicks off our Wednesday guest blog series.  

Jenni and I will continue to alternate posts through August and September, but for the next two months we're bringing you an exciting schedule of guest authors to keep us all focused on craft through the steamiest part of the summer! Keep an eye out for a schedule any day now ;o)

This week, Catherine's talking about how she hones appealing facets of the military archetype to power up her heroes.  And whether you write romance, other genres of novel-length fiction, or even short stories, we can always learn new and innovative ways to hook readers with our protagonists. So, sit back and enjoy as a master of the craft puts us through our paces ;o)

Catherine, take it away!

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Cops, Firefighters, Secret Agents, Spies and yes – dreamy sigh – a military man in uniform!  These kinds of heroes have me on the edge of my seat.  They set my heart racing. 

But what about stories that feature the man next door, the lawyer, the accountant, the preacher, the businessman?  Can they be edge-of-the-seat, heart pounding heroes too? 

Of course they can! 

I started out writing military suspense – then began writing for Harlequin Desires as well.  As I branched out, I decided to watch a ka-zillion military movies and analyze what it is about the military archetype that so intrigues viewers and readers.  By pinpointing those qualities, I would instill them into any hero I penned, whether he's an Alpha, Beta, Gamma.  A Swashbuckler or a Professor.  A chief or the best friend.  

Here are the elements I found traditionally included in the most memorable military heroes, spanning multiple genres and time periods.  The more of these qualities the military protagonist possessed, the more multidimensional – and memorable – he (or she) became.  

I. PROWESS: Daring, Bravery, Charisma

I watched movies like Sgt. York, To Hell and Back, Flying Tigers and the machismo can't be missed in these classics.  That warrior spirit, however, transcends time in a personal favorite movie of mine, Braveheart.  William Wallace's shout of "Freedom" still sends chills up my spine. 

II. FOCUS: Determination, Drive, Pride

That intense focus is showcased in movies like GI Jane, Full Metal Jacket, The Tuskegee Airmen, Gettysburg.  And think of that scene in an Officer and a Gentleman when Richard Gere is doing sit ups and pushups in the rain and he shouts, "I aint' gonna quit!" 

III. CAMRADERIE: Crew, Squadron, Platoon

The word "camaraderie" brings to mind movies like Ba Ba Black Sheep, Memphis Belle, MASH.  And who can forget the classic scene in Bill Murray's Stripes when the motley crew pulls together a show stopping (albeit hysterical) routine that lands them a primo top secret assignment overseas. 

IV. EGO: Cockiness, Swagger, Invincibility

Oh yeah!  Now we're steaming things up with testosterone.  Fort Apache, Crimson Tide.  Think Top Gun with Tom Cruise owning the sky.  Will Smith in Independence Day swaggering toward the jet.  These protagonists own that movie screen anywhere, anywhere, anytime! 

V. COMPASSION: Gentleness, Heart, Humanity

Once the military protagonist has the crowd rooting for him, he reels them in by revealing his humanity.  These heroes can be seen in movies like Band Of Brothers, Good Morning Vietnam.  And in Gladiator, I'm enthralled by the scene where Russell Crowe says his nightly prayers with figures of his family cradled in his palm and he vows, "I live only to hold you again."  Yep, I melted! 

VI. SELFLESSNESS: Sacrifice,  Service above self

This characteristic is what makes the protagonist worthy of our respect – an individual willing to give all for others.  This is a hero that can be found in Black Hawk Down and Pvt. Ryan.  This makes him live on beyond the screen, beyond the pages.  This IS a hero. 

But what about the rest of the world?  What about those heroes/protagonists not wearing a uniform? 

Identifying these traits in them will create those same heroic moments, those same layers that have readers rooting for them and remembering them long after the book has been closed. 

To better identify how to instill this keeper-shelf air into my non-military heroes, I also searched for the identified qualities in NON-military movies and TV series. 

Prowess

Harrison Ford/Indiana Jones movies
Michael Douglas/Romancing the Stone

Focus

Professor Higgins/My Fair Lady
Sylvester Stalone/Rocky movies

Camaraderie

Ocean's 11, 12, 13/The whole team, all movies!

Ego

Johnny Cash/Walk the Line
Bill Murray/Goundhog Day

Comapssion

Adam Sandler/50 First Dates
Dustin Hoffman/ The Graduate
Woody/Toy Story

Selflessness

Will Smith/I Am Legend
Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler/Schindler's List

Yes, that's a lot to pack into one character. People even ask me if I enjoy torturing my characters.  I don't think of it that way. 

To me, the characters are living real lives.  Our lives aren't easy. Our journeys to happiness don't always come simply or smoothly.  The prize is there, but by golly, the road can be bumpy and I think the books should be true to life in showing the tough as well as the tender.  Thanks bunches for reading my stories and joining in the journey.

What are some of your favorite movie heroes and heroines, in or out of uniform, who personify one of these character traits? 

***BONUS: PRIZES FOR THOSE WHO PARTICPATE ;O)***

Two commenters will be chosen at random to receive a copy of Catherine's current release:

  Cover Me .

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USA Today bestseller Catherine Mannhas over 2 million books in print in more than twenty-five countries.  She pens military suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley/Penguin, and steamy romances for Harlequin Desire.  A RITA Award winner, she lives on the Florida coast with her flyboy husband and their four children. FMI visit her website, and she can be found on Facebook  and Twitter.

And watch for her hottie out-of-uniform in Billionare's Jet Set Babies, coming in October from Harlequin Desire.