Comments on: Love and the Anti-Social Hero http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/ The Hottest Gay Romance Authors Are Here... Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:42:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Zot http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/#comment-159 Zot Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:12:03 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/#comment-159 You've gotta have a hook of some sort, something that lets the reader identify with your total bastard^W^Wprotagonist. Giving them some sort of tragic background is traditional, but it always feels like a cop-out to me. But, then, I prefer the unrepentant reprobate to the snarling and tortured SOB. Bastardy does give you a good hook, though. Your protagonist can do (with some relish) the things that sane, pleasant human beings don't do. We've all got a bit of the bastard in us, and that bit is always tickled when people do the things we've always wanted to do but can't because we're not quite horrible enough. Injustice works too -- there are some things that shouldn't happen to anyone, scum or not, and when they do the resulting righteous indignation and the repercussions are always fun. (Tying in to the previous reason a bit as well) Having someone we do actually relate to have an attachment to the protagonist can work as well. Even if it's a secondary character, they can act as a gateway to the protagonist. Scissors Sisters' track "I can't decide" (Yes, I am a total geek, and get pointers to music from Doctor Who) kinda works as a soundtrack for some of the anti-heroes. Works for me, at least. You’ve gotta have a hook of some sort, something that lets the reader identify with your total bastard^W^Wprotagonist. Giving them some sort of tragic background is traditional, but it always feels like a cop-out to me. But, then, I prefer the unrepentant reprobate to the snarling and tortured SOB.

Bastardy does give you a good hook, though. Your protagonist can do (with some relish) the things that sane, pleasant human beings don’t do. We’ve all got a bit of the bastard in us, and that bit is always tickled when people do the things we’ve always wanted to do but can’t because we’re not quite horrible enough.

Injustice works too — there are some things that shouldn’t happen to anyone, scum or not, and when they do the resulting righteous indignation and the repercussions are always fun. (Tying in to the previous reason a bit as well)

Having someone we do actually relate to have an attachment to the protagonist can work as well. Even if it’s a secondary character, they can act as a gateway to the protagonist.

Scissors Sisters’ track “I can’t decide” (Yes, I am a total geek, and get pointers to music from Doctor Who) kinda works as a soundtrack for some of the anti-heroes. Works for me, at least.

]]> By: Ines http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/#comment-153 Ines Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:03:06 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/#comment-153 I agree with Kimber. For me it's the unexpected actions of the character that keep me reading. Those little things that you wouldn't expect him doing due to him being that type of person (antisocial or whatever). I agree with Kimber. For me it’s the unexpected actions of the character that keep me reading. Those little things that you wouldn’t expect him doing due to him being that type of person (antisocial or whatever).

]]> By: Kimber http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/#comment-144 Kimber Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:05:37 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/#comment-144 Quite often I think it's the vulnerability of the antisocial hero that makes me love him. Those flashes of humanity that I as the reader get to see even when there's no other characters for him to interact with. And come to think of it, being the antisocial type he would most likely rather die than show those vulnerabilities to anyone else, but because I have that special window into his soul I get to see the soft and sensitive aspects he hides from the rest of the world. And that's what really flips my switch and makes me cheer for him. Quite often I think it’s the vulnerability of the antisocial hero that makes me love him. Those flashes of humanity that I as the reader get to see even when there’s no other characters for him to interact with. And come to think of it, being the antisocial type he would most likely rather die than show those vulnerabilities to anyone else, but because I have that special window into his soul I get to see the soft and sensitive aspects he hides from the rest of the world. And that’s what really flips my switch and makes me cheer for him.

]]> By: L.M. Prieto http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/#comment-140 L.M. Prieto Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:06:26 +0000 http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2007/06/26/love-and-the-anti-social-hero/#comment-140 For me, it helps if I can relate to the character. Is he mourning a loved one? Did he lose something that meant the world to him? Is he falling in love for the second time in his life, and does that scare him? (possibly more than the first time did, since he knows that he can lose it) The character can be a total prick to other people, but as long as he shares everything with me (the reader), I'll follow him anywhere. For me, it helps if I can relate to the character. Is he mourning a loved one? Did he lose something that meant the world to him? Is he falling in love for the second time in his life, and does that scare him? (possibly more than the first time did, since he knows that he can lose it)

The character can be a total prick to other people, but as long as he shares everything with me (the reader), I’ll follow him anywhere.

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