December 31, 2007
Now I Know My ABC’s
Yes, I’m completely ignoring the fact that today is New Years Eve and another year is upon us. Honestly, I usually sleep through the New Year, though if I was smart, I’d be up writing at midnight–you know that old saying about what you’re doing at midnight is what you’ll do all year long….Yeah I so need to stop that.
So, anyway, it’s actually Saturday night–er Sunday morning and I’m up writing *coughnocommentfromthepeanutgallercough*
I shared a snippet with Shelli who said I so write betas. The thing is…I (usually) don’t consciously write Beta males. It just happens. The only time it was deliberate was probably when I wrote Once In A Blue Moon and that’s because the heroine is a total Alpha girl. In the first novella for Make U Sweat, the hero is definitely a beta, though he likes to take control in the bedroom, the second novella…probalby a Gamma though Raine might call his stoic stubborn ass an Alpha–what’s that one for Pirates? I think Cash might have been a pirate in his last life–he’s got the whole loner thing down real well.
In TCRA, Zack is definitely a Beta, in TBGG, Rowdy is so a Gamma and in um some other book whose name I can’t recall, Tim is a total Alpha–my first if you must know, but by and far Betas seem to be the rule of the day for me. Kink–D’Angelo is probably a Beta, Hands On, Gamma, Gamma and a possible Alpha disguesed as a Beta. Nailed–if you can have a hired thug be a Beta, then Wynn is deifnitely a Beta. Hey, even thugs can be nice guys!
In Get Your Move On (that’s in MUS) the hero is a nice guy. Not JUST a nice guy, he’s smart and funny and talented (a lawyer if you must know)–and not just likable but SENSITIVE! The heroine, well she’s immature and pretty much a bitch (which actually makes them a great pair). Josh tends to give Carla just enough rope to hang herself, but being the gentleman that he is, he never leaves her hanging (and he’s great in bed!) 
I guess you could say I like nice guys. So, what makes a great Beta? Hmmm well he has to be nice, mature, and well, sensitive. At least when it comes to my heroine. No crying at girly movies! And no leaving the toilet seat up. 
So what about you? Do you find yourself drawn to the same types of characters as a reader and/or a writer? And if so, what are they?
I tend to write betas, or like you, a few Gammas, although I have an Alpha in mind for one story, but he’ll probably morph into a Gamma. But as a reader, there has been quite a few Alphas that I lust over. Same thing in the movies - I like Alphas, I just don’t write them very well.
Happy New Years everyone!
Ames, you’re supposed to drop by my blog, don’t forget.
I have no clue . . . no coffee this morning yet so brain isn’t functioning
*kicks Dennie* you’re no help!
BAiley after reading Nailed last night I’m thinking Wynn’s a Gamma
I like SOME alphas (like Raine’s) but they have to be really well done. The whole caveman thing doesn’t work for me.
I think I tend to read and write all over the board, but yeah, most of my guys have been Alphas. But the Alphas I like have to have one of two things:
1) Be secure enough in their Alpha-hood that they don’t even feel the need to PROVE how macho they are, or
2) Have really sensitive spots/feelings about things that are important to them that show from time to time…
Agree with Ames, no neanderthal stuff for me either.
The hero in the upcoming Samhain release is beta with gamma tendencies (yes, I hate these freaking labels, lol).
And I think your heroes are primarily betas too, Amie. But you do them so well.
Plus, I think it’s tricky to do Alphas when you’re doing heroine’s first person pov. If you’re not in his head, it’s hard to justify the knuckles scraping the ground when he walks.
Okay, I just read as far as “I shared a snippet with Shelli who said I so write betas.”
And scrolled right down to the comment box to say, I agree 100%!! lol. Girl, Betas are your forte (at least of the stories I’ve read of yours.)
I love Alphas. Even the knuckle-dragging jerkosaurs that make everyone else’s heads explode. lol. I think I write and Alpha/Gamma mix., cause reality comes into play, and while I lurrve reading about the Recombinant DNA Alphas (heh), I don’t think I could write an ideal hero (one who would appeal to me in real life) and make an him overbearing ass. I’m just too independent, opinionated, stubborn for that to ever go over well.
But none of my heroes have ever been Betas (not even the second string best buddy of the H). And if they’re Gammas, they lean more towards being Alpha/Gamma, rather than Gamma/Beta ::shrug::
Cece,
I tend to write and read bad boys and alphas (the dark and brooding kind), however, I do have a hero named Josh (you read him in the evil twin story) that, although he’s angsty and brooding, he feels more Beta than Alpha.
If you’re not in his head, it’s hard to justify the knuckles scraping the ground when he walks.
Jaq I think that’s why I lean toward betas and gammas…the reality factor just doesn’t work for me, but you do the Alpha/Gamma thing so well–Tanya too!
Tanya they ARE brooding–perfect word–but they’re also intriguing and that’s what makes them work for me as a reader. I would have taken Josh for an Alpha but that’s probably BECAUSE of the evil twin thing.
Cece,
Josh is the Beta. His evil twin is the Alpha.
You do Betas very well, Ames.