The fine line of being an Alpha-hole.
Being an Alpha male is a tough gig. But why do we women love them so? It's not like they make it easy on us. They are snarly, bossy, hot, dominant, sullen, mono-syllabic, cruel, sexy, selfish, tortured, broken - a combination of all of these things and more.
The Alpha-hole always seems to know what he wants, and more often than not ignores anyone else's feelings to take it.
Which makes him kind of a prick, really. So why do we women sigh over them? Add them to our laminated list of top ten fictional boyfriends that we'd get a free pass to sleep with, if only they were real?
For me, as a writer, and avid reader, the Hero has to walk a fine line of being an Alpha-hole. He can dip his toe over the line occasionally. He may even take one big step forward and stomp all over the heroine's life/feelings. But... and this is a serious big BUT here, if I'm going to fall for this guy, he needs to be redeemable.
There needs to be a glimmer of hope that I can hang onto as the storyline unfolds. A sly sense of humour. A detailed explanation of why he is broken and he needs to eventually come to terms with that past, apologise, and move on.
And no cheating either - I want to hear the Alpha-hole admit he was wrong, out and proud. None of that Stockholm syndrome crap where the heroine excuses away all his bad behaviour because he had an ouchie once when he was ten.
I'm not saying the Alpha-hole has to man up. I'm saying he has to act like an adult. Be mature enough to realise that treating other people like dirt is unacceptable. And work, everyday, on trying to be a better person (as we all should).
No spanking the heroine (unless it's agreed upon fun banging boots good times) to punish her. Or to try and get information from her. Who in the hell spanks a woman to get information out of her anyway? Seriously? Sorry, this is a major hot button for me.
The Alpha-hole always seems to know his way around the bedroom and is invariably an expert when it comes to a woman's lady-parts.
And that's fine, for the occasional hot and steamy scene. But it gets a little repetitive for the reader if the Alpha-hole ALWAYS takes charge. Sets the pace. Manages the woman like she some kind of doll. Teases her relentlessly. Tells her when she's allowed to come. (Nothing wrong with this behaviour in the BDSM world - but I'm reading romance here, give and take would be nice, that's what couples do)
And the biggest saving grace when it comes to an Alpha-hole is the heroine. When you think about your favourite Heroes who really skirt that line, the heroine is more often than not sassy, smart, capable and independent. She's a challenge for the Alpha. She doesn't take his crap and if he slings any her way she slings it right back... but way more stylishly.
The biggest death kneel for a H/h romance is when the heroine is forced to manage the Hero's feelings. Seriously, we have enough children to deal with, some Alpha-hole cracking a tantrum and the heroine having to soothe him - that is just not sexy.
So bring on the Alpha-hole, but make him layered. He can be snarly but I want the occasional glimmer of sweet. He can be mono-syllabic but I want to read about how he just can't take his eyes off the heroine. And yes, please, make him hot & tortured, but also occasionally kind.
And whatever you do, don't make him perfect. Let him make mistakes, but let him own them.
Yeah, totally, bring on the Alpha-hole - but pretty please, keep him walking that very fine line.
Wishing you all fantastic five star reads and may all your Alpha-holes be contenders for your laminated list.
The Alpha-hole always seems to know what he wants, and more often than not ignores anyone else's feelings to take it.
Which makes him kind of a prick, really. So why do we women sigh over them? Add them to our laminated list of top ten fictional boyfriends that we'd get a free pass to sleep with, if only they were real?
For me, as a writer, and avid reader, the Hero has to walk a fine line of being an Alpha-hole. He can dip his toe over the line occasionally. He may even take one big step forward and stomp all over the heroine's life/feelings. But... and this is a serious big BUT here, if I'm going to fall for this guy, he needs to be redeemable.
There needs to be a glimmer of hope that I can hang onto as the storyline unfolds. A sly sense of humour. A detailed explanation of why he is broken and he needs to eventually come to terms with that past, apologise, and move on.
And no cheating either - I want to hear the Alpha-hole admit he was wrong, out and proud. None of that Stockholm syndrome crap where the heroine excuses away all his bad behaviour because he had an ouchie once when he was ten.
I'm not saying the Alpha-hole has to man up. I'm saying he has to act like an adult. Be mature enough to realise that treating other people like dirt is unacceptable. And work, everyday, on trying to be a better person (as we all should).
No spanking the heroine (unless it's agreed upon fun banging boots good times) to punish her. Or to try and get information from her. Who in the hell spanks a woman to get information out of her anyway? Seriously? Sorry, this is a major hot button for me.
The Alpha-hole always seems to know his way around the bedroom and is invariably an expert when it comes to a woman's lady-parts.
And that's fine, for the occasional hot and steamy scene. But it gets a little repetitive for the reader if the Alpha-hole ALWAYS takes charge. Sets the pace. Manages the woman like she some kind of doll. Teases her relentlessly. Tells her when she's allowed to come. (Nothing wrong with this behaviour in the BDSM world - but I'm reading romance here, give and take would be nice, that's what couples do)
And the biggest saving grace when it comes to an Alpha-hole is the heroine. When you think about your favourite Heroes who really skirt that line, the heroine is more often than not sassy, smart, capable and independent. She's a challenge for the Alpha. She doesn't take his crap and if he slings any her way she slings it right back... but way more stylishly.
The biggest death kneel for a H/h romance is when the heroine is forced to manage the Hero's feelings. Seriously, we have enough children to deal with, some Alpha-hole cracking a tantrum and the heroine having to soothe him - that is just not sexy.
So bring on the Alpha-hole, but make him layered. He can be snarly but I want the occasional glimmer of sweet. He can be mono-syllabic but I want to read about how he just can't take his eyes off the heroine. And yes, please, make him hot & tortured, but also occasionally kind.
And whatever you do, don't make him perfect. Let him make mistakes, but let him own them.
Yeah, totally, bring on the Alpha-hole - but pretty please, keep him walking that very fine line.
Wishing you all fantastic five star reads and may all your Alpha-holes be contenders for your laminated list.
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