The Schemes of an Edwardian Coquette: Planning Your Main Female Character

Rita Stella Galieh

Planning your main female character

It’s always a good idea to know your protagonist’s strengths and weaknesses, both male and female. I have always planned likeable characters. Of course they have flaws and make stupid mistakes, but just enough to make the reader cheer them through difficult situations.

This time I thought I’d like the challenge of writing a novel about a character very much like Scarlett O’Hara, the Southern Belle lead from Gone With The Wind. The girl is a selfish, hardhearted schemer through and through. But she is INTERESTING! And she keeps you waiting to see what her comeuppance will be. And that’s right throughout the story.

If you’re writing a Christian Romance, a HEA (happy ever after) ending is expected. Now with such an unlikable girl, that presents a major challenge. Regency author, Carolyn Miller has such a flawed secondary character in one novel then follows up with the same girl being the lead in her next. This is a clever way of tackling the problem.

Just for a fun exercise I’ve written the following cameo (which I won’t be using) with some questions to see what some of you romance writers might come up with.

The Schemes of an Edwardian Coquette.

According to my Papa I am spoiled. He doesn’t understand. Just because I attended an elite college for young ladies and have my own personal maid, he expects gratitude. But he’s so wealthy it’s likely it doesn’t even a cause dent in his bank account.

I know I am like Mama. When I accompany her shopping, I always end up with one new outfit to her three. That is, including all the accessories Ladies must set themselves apart from commoners by their wardrobes and I agree. I shouldn’t ever like to look like a maid or a shop girl. Though some do have a flair in making the best of their wages. No one could ever believe our clothes are shop bought. Our designer, Pierre, has a special knack with fresh creations. I mean just imagine coming across another lady wearing the same apparel!

Tomorrow I am to join a house party and meet our crowd at the Beaumont’s. Their grounds are large enough for a full sized croquet court. Their lawns are so smooth and even the balls go straight for the hoops when hit with our mallets. I adore this game as I always attract help from young gentlemen showing me how to correctly hit the ball. It’s rather exciting to have young men in such proximity, I can catch a whiff of their shaving cream. And I know this irritates the other girls as I never fail to garner attention from Rupert, Edwin, Alasdair and Albert. Of course none of them quite meet my expectations as Mama says I must catch a wealthy man if I am to continue living the way in which I am accustomed. But I will never marry a domineering man like Papa. I shall only choose one who adores the ground I walk on and shall allow me everything my heart desires. Most of all he should possess his own flashy new roadster and be able to drive it himself. I should love the see the looks on my friends’ faces as we drive by with my scarf trailing in the breeze.

I am quite accomplished. I play pianoforte, I am told I possess a nice soprano voice, I employ pathos and humour in my recitations, and I can converse with ease no matter the gender So when I am presented before our new Queen Alexandra next year, I shall be a great success. Mama says it will be here that I should find my future husband as this is where fine society gentlemen eye all the possibilities. I have practised my eyelash flutters and thanks to Mama’s advice, I can sum up an immediate blush by thinking of my dance partner in his pyjamas. Of course I practise my fan signals of which most young men are familiar. Oh yes, I will be very well prepared for my Coming Out.

QUESTIONS:

• If you were writing this, how would you plan to change this little egotist’s outlook, ie. to change her from an unlikable to a nice girl?

• Maybe something happens to shake up her comfortable life?

• Maybe she comes across an attractive man who will question her outlook?

There are many possibilities and I’d be interested to see what you come up with in a sentence or two. And if this gets your muse working, you may very well begin your own Romance whether it be historical or contemporary.

Indie Publisher, Rita Stella Galieh, has written a trilogy of historical romance novels & has also contributed to several US anthologies. She is now completing a second Historical Romance series set in the Edwardian Era. She can be found on Facebook and www.ritastellagalieh.com  

Rita studied art at the National Art School then joined the family ceramics studio. After their marriage, she and her husband attended Emmaus Bible College, and lived in the US for two years. She has co-presented Vantage Point, an Australia-wide five minute Christian FM radio program. She enjoys giving her fun-filled presentations of Etiquette of the Victorian Era in costume but if her next series gets published she’ll need to change her presentation.

Everything can change in a heartbeat...

Victoriana Series: Signed Sealed Delivered; The Tie That Binds; A Parcel of Promises.

TEMPTATION BELONGS in OUR STORIES

It hits every one of us. From Lucifer wanting to be like the Most High, to Jesus, the Son of God.

How to describe it and where does it come from?
It has many definitions like; being enticed to do something on the promise of pleasure or gain; the act of being lured to do evil.

It is age old and it is powerful.

It might come from outside, but soon settles itself within our souls if we allow it. It stirs our imaginations to such an extent we see visions of what we most desire. It can even capture the greatest saint. Sadly it plays on those who want to do the right thing. Who doesn't it bother? Those who go ahead and give in to its promises; perhaps even savouring the experience. But only for a while. Consequences always follow. Oh yes, it's a powerful emotion. Who hasn't ever felt its grip? Not I.

Our characters must face conflict in our novels. That's real life. However I believe the greatest conflict is within their very souls. Think long and hard when you were resisting temptation and wrestling against giving in to its promises. Write this into your character's lives. The three greatest temptations of life are these. Money. Sex. And Power. Understanding this will help you write a compelling story with your reader immediately identifying with your protagonist ... or even your antagonist. Write it so your reader can feel the intensity of it in their own heart.

Besides the hook, 'Everything can change in a heartbeat', I have used this theme in my novel, The Tie That Binds. I ached with understanding as I wrote of both Marcus' and Charlotte's pain. But we have a loving God who understands our frailty and gives us an amazing promise.

We have a faithful, loving God who will not let us

be tempted more than we can bear. For when we are tempted and find it hard to resist, He always provides a way of escape for us, so that we can withstand it.
I Corinthians 10: 13

As believers it's a great privilege to share our hope with our readers. Not by giving them the uncomfortable impression we are preaching, but through the struggles of our characters. Jesus 's parables are wonderful examples.

Rita Stella Press is now Indy!

Her passion is historical romances, revealing her characters' struggles. Two have been published.
Signed Sealed Delivered is Book I of a trilogy.

Rita's novel, The Tie That Binds, Book II, is also
a stand-alone story.

Now at the printers, it should be available in the next week or so.


For those interested in pre-ordering in Australia, she will send the book postage free.
She can be contacted at:  ritagal at optusnet dot com dot au

Weekly blog: www.inspirationalromance.blogspot.com  Facebook and Twitter #RitaSGalieh