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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Hero's POV

In romance and erotic romance, it's a given that the tale will be told mostly from the heroine's POV. After all, most of the folks reading this genre are female and--if I've done my job properly--readers will most strongly identify with the heroine. While it's always nice to get a peek inside the hero's head from time to time, it's rare to find a tale told mostly or entirely from the hero's POV. Lately, I'm wondering why.

Yes, in reality, we rarely get to know exactly what is going on in the mind of our leading man and maybe that's a good thing, lol. I suspect we would find it uninteresting at best and terribly alarming at worst. But fiction by definition is not reality. Wouldn't it add to the experience to know all the hero's thoughts, intentions, insecurities and desires? If indeed readers do identify with the heroine, wouldn't it heighten the fantasy to project yourself as the object of the hero's affections?

I'm testing that theory with my latest WIP, titled If You Were Mine. This work of short erotic fiction is told entirely from the hero's POV from the moment he spies the heroine to him working up the courage to talk to her, his internal dialogue as they flirt and finally, and, finally, her seduction and submission. I do realize I'm imposing my own wants and desires on this whole process, but isn't that ultimately what fantasy is all about? This is how I would want to be seduced were I to be seduced *grin*.

Never having done so before, I'm struggling a bit to narrate an entire story as a man would speak--I mean, we all know men think and communicate differently, but trying to keep the masculine voice is part of the fun. I enjoy challenging myself as a writer and I'm hoping readers will enjoy something that's a little bit different. I'll keep you all updated on the progress.

So here's my question: Would you like to read an erotic romance told entirely from the male POV? Why or why not?

Cheers,
Cindy
http://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Jacks/e/B003XRMLLS/

11 comments:

Eliza Lloyd said...

For sure. I love everything about men including there alarming thoughts.

Eliza Lloyd said...

"their thoughts."

Denysé Bridger said...

I love this idea, too - and it's odd, because the one I am finishing now is my first attempt to tell at least HALF the story from the hero's POV, and he's a troubled vet with a Dom streak, so it was very intriguing.

Good luck, Cindy! Sounds very interesting, love.

Hugs,
Denyse

Mellanie Szereto said...

Good post, Cindy!

I prefer both (or all) hero/heroine POVs in erotic romance. By not having insight into everyone's emotions, I'm less engaged in the story. A single POV feels too much like first person, which I tend not to like.

I'm currently working on a series with slightly more emphasis on the heroes' POVs, mainly because the character arcs led me that direction. Pantser :D

I let the story guide whether one character gets more POV or not. They stop talking to me if I'm headed the wrong direction!

Foxx Miyamoto said...

Eliza, thanks for dropping by! Men can always be counted on to alarm us, huh? :)

Foxx Miyamoto said...

It's so funny how we're often in sync, Denyse! I can't wait to see what goodies you have in store for us next :)

Foxx Miyamoto said...

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only writer whose characters stop talking when I'm headed in the wrong direction. Oh and I very much enjoyed your post on self-editing, Mellanie.

Unknown said...

AB McKinley does it very well, but then he's a man. If I remember this right, one of the books in the Club Mephisto series was written from the hero's POV. I would definitely read a romance told from the hero's POV.

Foxx Miyamoto said...

Thanks for dropping by, Ekatarina! I'll have to check out that series.

Unknown said...

I'm planning to write my next book entirely from the hero's POV. Not just the hero... a billionaire hero.

Foxx Miyamoto said...

Gotta love the billionaire hero! I watched the first Iron Man movie for the hundredth time tonight and I have the biggest crush on Tony Stark.