08-04-2010, 09:00 AM
I find it interesting, Penfeather, that you see a heroine's self-deprecating comments as false modesty. I've always believed them. Since, so often, they're writing in first person, I feel that they are duty-bound to be honest with me ( I make an exception for the ones you call TSTL, they seem incapable of being honest with themselves!).
There are cases in which you are probably right, but I've found that most women are far more critical of their appearance than you might believe, even the pretty ones.
To change course a bit, I think that the way in which a gothic heroine comes to perceive her danger, as things begin to happen in the story, has to be adroitly handled by the writer. It can so easily ring a false note if her awareness of the intrigue and menace is rushed. It should dawn upon her gradually, but believably, with mounting horror and suspense!
There are cases in which you are probably right, but I've found that most women are far more critical of their appearance than you might believe, even the pretty ones.
To change course a bit, I think that the way in which a gothic heroine comes to perceive her danger, as things begin to happen in the story, has to be adroitly handled by the writer. It can so easily ring a false note if her awareness of the intrigue and menace is rushed. It should dawn upon her gradually, but believably, with mounting horror and suspense!