I know I may be one of the few, but thumb rings do NOT turn me on.
So when the smoking hot male lead in the latest romance book I’m into has one, I’m not quivering in my seat with anticipation of how said thumb ring may come into play (Use your imagination. Ding Ding Ding. You’re right)
We’ve talked about this at book club and in posts in the past, but sometimes an author’s version of “hot guy” is not the version of mine or, really, anyone outside of a trailer park in a town 2-3 hours outside of the 3rd largest city in a midwestern state.
Why must every male lead in a fantasy book have long flowing hair? Look at how not-hot long hair makes these hot guys:
And Why why why must he have a diamond stud in his ear? Diamond studs are not hot. Ever:
I get that, as an author, you want to describe your characters so that your audience can envision along with you this perfect man you’re creating, but “spiked hair frosted with golden tips, glowing like the sun” was only hot in ’96, for like 2 weeks.
And just because neck tattoos, spiked jewelry and JNCOs still turn YOU on, you’re really pigeon-holing your target reading audience into “People who were probably outcasts in High School.”
Can I suggest then unless the descriptors are timeless (“short hair,” “black suit,” “wears watch”), maybe keep the describing to a minimum? You’ll want your book to be read in late 1997 and ALSO in 2017, right? If there’s one way to date a book, it’s to describe your lead character looking like this:
You don’t need to see the shoes to know they’re square-toed. 2005 Men’s Fashion
But, but, but,”
you say!
I need to describe SOMETHING. How else will you as readers envision him?”
It’s okay. We will do JUST fine… Especially if you focus on descriptors that we can ALL agree are hot like:
So, trust me: A little less “He showed up flowers in hand at the door promptly at 7 in a tight-fitted striped button down with a beige 3 clasp sweater over a pair of loose-fitting dark brown corduroys and white Nike sneakers, his neck surrounded by a loose leather band, featuring the charm passed down from his great grandfather that he told me about on our first date.” And a little more of, “He showed up right on time at 7, looking freshly showered and effortlessly casual, peonies in hand- white and pink- just like I told him on our first date reminded me of my grandmother.” Swap peonies out for your favorite flower. We promise not to judge you if you say “daisies.”
Love,
Bekah
Watch this awesome video about how fashion has changed over the last 100 years:
