Naughty . . . or Nice?
If you ask my mother-in-law, she would say evil. If you ask certain friends of mine, they will tell you a dash of naughty. After all, I'm the one to talk people into a game of poker or a party when we really all should be getting some work done. If you ask my kids . . . they'll say "Usually nice, but occasionally crabby." And as for anyone else . . . odd, eccentric . . . and, all right, nice. Oh, if you ask my best friend in the whole, big, huge, widest world, she will say, "Winsome." (Hi, Pam!)
We're all a mix of naughty and nice, which brings me to my post. Bad boys. Because, frankly, they are a fixture in women's romance--and other genres. And to my way of thinking, they ain't bad. They're naughty. Big difference. One goes to prison, the other Santa brings coal.
It's like my father, who grew up in a rough neighborhood in NYC, where his friends routinely ended up in the "joint" doing hard time says when he sees rich white boys wearing ghetto wear. Come on, you ain't so bad. You know what? My father's in his 70s and he could still take any one of them. And on THAT, I'd bet some money with my naughty-girl self.
See, there's a big difference. Bad boys in these romance books have no appeal for me. They are posers and pretenders, often with a chip on their shoulder. Arrogance in NOT an attractive trait. And you really wouldn't want a bad boy like that. Trust me, I was married to one once . . . too much baggage for my taste.
And a REAL bad man. Well, you really wouldn't want him either. Someone who could really kill without a thought, or who kicks his dog? Nope.
The men I tend to write about are witty with a dash of naughty. Santa might bring them coal, but they know the value of a little mischief in life. Like David in Spanish Disco. Or Michael in Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven, who pulls numerous pranks on Lily (okay, to be fair, he's not the love interest, but sort of--he's George's love interest).
In real life, bad boy-posers will mess up your life. I've seen it happen so many times it's gotten predictable. When I see my girlfriends falling for these messes in leather jackets, I want to scream.
Give me someone without baggage, mature, kind (won't kick his dog), and fearless in an emergency. Can change a diaper but also wield a .45 in a crisis (this is a novel, after all). A mix of naughty and nice.
So tell me, what is the appeal of the bad boy? And which list is Santa putting you on this year?
We're all a mix of naughty and nice, which brings me to my post. Bad boys. Because, frankly, they are a fixture in women's romance--and other genres. And to my way of thinking, they ain't bad. They're naughty. Big difference. One goes to prison, the other Santa brings coal.
It's like my father, who grew up in a rough neighborhood in NYC, where his friends routinely ended up in the "joint" doing hard time says when he sees rich white boys wearing ghetto wear. Come on, you ain't so bad. You know what? My father's in his 70s and he could still take any one of them. And on THAT, I'd bet some money with my naughty-girl self.
See, there's a big difference. Bad boys in these romance books have no appeal for me. They are posers and pretenders, often with a chip on their shoulder. Arrogance in NOT an attractive trait. And you really wouldn't want a bad boy like that. Trust me, I was married to one once . . . too much baggage for my taste.
And a REAL bad man. Well, you really wouldn't want him either. Someone who could really kill without a thought, or who kicks his dog? Nope.
The men I tend to write about are witty with a dash of naughty. Santa might bring them coal, but they know the value of a little mischief in life. Like David in Spanish Disco. Or Michael in Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven, who pulls numerous pranks on Lily (okay, to be fair, he's not the love interest, but sort of--he's George's love interest).
In real life, bad boy-posers will mess up your life. I've seen it happen so many times it's gotten predictable. When I see my girlfriends falling for these messes in leather jackets, I want to scream.
Give me someone without baggage, mature, kind (won't kick his dog), and fearless in an emergency. Can change a diaper but also wield a .45 in a crisis (this is a novel, after all). A mix of naughty and nice.
So tell me, what is the appeal of the bad boy? And which list is Santa putting you on this year?
posted by Erica Orloff at 7:02 AM
11 Comments:
I think the bad boy thing depends on so much. If bad = self centred and mean, then definitely not attractive. But if it's being a rebel and a bit wild then good :)
I've known a few 'bad boys' and at heart most of them end up being big whingers!
kathryn:
Ok, I am with you on the rebel thing. I guess it falls into the naughty category . . . a little naughtiness . . . is nice. :-)
E
Real bad boys have little appeal to me. I know of this baggage you speak.
For that matter I can't even write one. Naughty maybe, but bad...uh uh =)
Why did Fonzi always have a chick on each arm, when Richie would have made such a better husband?
The thing is, most of your "rebels" are also phonies. They're in love with an image, so they buy leather vests and Harleys, and all of a sudden they're Born to be Wild.
It's a joke.
Find a guy who drives the speed limit and wears his seat belt and takes his responsibilities seriously and makes you laugh.
Leave all the Hollywood "excitement" in Hollywood.
amie:
I make my most attractive male characters ones who have great emotional burdens--but are honest about them and then they're not baggage so much as scars.
E
Jude:
Well said. And frankly, I'd go for Richie. I like unbuttoning those buttoned-up types. ;-)
E
My good ol' boy is transforming into a bad boy...to evolve into a good ol' boy under the love and care of my heroine. In my dark paranormal romance novel.
In real life, bad boys that seek and gain redemption are few and far between.
When I re-evaluted my "criteria" or want list, I started meeting men with ingegrity, depth, compassion, intelligence, sense of humor, dependability, and honesty.
Apparently that was the type of man I had been seeking all along, When it came to bad bosy, I just had the misconception that all that was "in there" somewhere. "What, Kathy, did you think you could just add water, and those aspects would sprout?" Yeah, right.
I met an oh-so-naughty good guy who is now my hubby.
Like Jude said, I left behind the drama and found a wonderful, fun, appreciative life.
Kathy:
GREAT story!!! Love the thing about thinking it was "in there somewhere." I have a couple of girlfriends who need to hear that!! It is NOT "just add water." LOL!
E
And to my way of thinking, they ain't bad. They're naughty.
That's what I keep saying.
My perfect "bad boy" is Dean Winchester from Supernatural. He has no permanent home, and gets money he needs through credit card fraud and hustling poker and pool so he can spend all his time saving humanity from the things that go bump in the night. He's a bit rough, unrepentant (most of the time), and cocky, but he's the goodest of the good guys.
I have to assume there are SOME out there in real life, or we wouldn't have so many in fiction. :)
Natalie:
I totally hear you. I think "rogue" is a good description for the appeal of someone like that.
Ooh, yes, I like "rogue." :)
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