Have you ever wonder how to a Scoundrel? Christy has been kind enough to share five tips on how to do this. Lets see what she has to say:
How to Write a
Scoundrel in Five Steps by Christy Carlyle
Make him a renegade.
Every scoundrel is, in some sense, a renegade. He does not conform to society’s
rules. Whether he’s a viscount or a valet, a scoundrel doesn’t give a fig what
others think of his outrageous behavior. In fact, he relishes his rebellion and
the effect he has on others. To shock a virginal debutante into a blush. To
send a society matron searching for her smelling salts. To make a rival livid
with disdain. Those are the moments a scoundrel lives for. Even if he’s meant
for ultimate redemption (and, of course, he is), a true scoundrel always starts
as a rule breaker.
Infuse him with magnetism.
A scoundrel must draw you, tantalize you, no matter how much of a rogue he is.
A scoundrel should wield a kind of magnetism that’s impossible to deny. A
magnetism based on more than his charm, handsome features, and appealing
physique, though it helps if he possesses those in spades. Yet even a scarred,
flawed scoundrel intrigues the most proper heroine, exuding a charisma that
makes her curious enough to look beyond his reputation and bad behavior. When I
think of the magnetic scoundrel, Lisa Kleypas’s Derek Craven from Dreaming of You comes to mind. From his
first appearance on the page, he exerted a magnetic pull on me, as a reader,
and on Sara, the story’s heroine.
Turn up the
confidence. Scoundrels rarely regret their sins. At least at first. To be a
true scoundrel, a man must revel in his naughtiness for a while. One of the
keys to being a successful scoundrel, after all, is acquiring a terrible
reputation, and it takes effort to convince everyone around you that you’re an
unprincipled man. Part of a scoundrel’s appeal lies in his confidence, whether
in his looks, his charm, or some skill that he performs particularly well. And,
no, I’m not only thinking of talents in the bedroom. Consider Han Solo, the Star Wars scoundrel we all love. Han may
have suspected Leia’s feelings for him, but he knew with absolute certainty
that he was one of the best pilots in the galaxy. Confidence is sexy, and
scoundrels have plenty.
Dig into his history.
He may be the life of the party. Embracing every sin. Indulging every impulse.
But the best scoundrels have a history that’s far less about pleasure than
their lifestyle would suggest. Often there’s a wound, a trauma, some deeply
buried regret that they seek to block out with hedonism and sensual
gratification. He can’t escape his past, of course, no matter how much he
carouses. My hero, Jasper Grey, in A
Study in Scoundrels has never quite gotten past the death of his brother. His
guilt is what drives him to overindulge and embrace his role as a scoundrel.
Give him a formidable
challenge. Every hero is presented with a challenge. Part of the appeal of
a scoundrel is that he usually faces provocation with gusto. Whether he schemes
to avoid marriage, or attempts to outwit a clever heroine, a scoundrel never
backs down from a dare. Challenge intrigues him, excites him. Probably because
his overconfidence convinces him he’ll always emerge the victor. Of course, a
challenge often alters the scoundrel in ways he doesn’t expect, especially if confrontation
comes in the form of a fierce, smart, determined heroine who strips away his
seductive veneer and digs deep enough to unearth the man inside.
A Study in
Scoundrels
Romancing the Rules #2
By: Christy Carlyle
Releasing April
11, 2017
Avon Impulse
Blurb
