Few months ago, Jaeff | KBtW of the Free Folk run a blogging activity over at "Blog Harbor from The Talent Pond" . And, since the challenge was based on media, each week we had a different theme to talk about. So, the first week was reserved for television, the second week was all about the movies, third had a spotlight on the music, and the last week we talked about the books. As a lover of all sort of media, I gladly participated. Also, by doing so, I got to discover a harmless obsession called Outlander which is the best thing that came out of this, a month-long, activity.

Yes, I know I'm a little bit late at the party but I guess it's better late than never? Diana Gabaldon published the first novel from the series in 1991. Mark me, I was only six years old back then so you can't really blame me for obsessing over it 27 years later. Anyway, I came for the history, fantasy, and science fiction but discovered the most popular romance story nowadays. The romance between past and future, the romance between Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Randall Fraser and James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser that is. Now, if you think it is pointless for your characters to have more than one name, you're wrong in this case. There are very good reasons for it as they were an essential part of the story. For the future references though, I'll have them called simple, Claire and Jamie.

Jamie is described as a tall, muscled lad, with thick, wavy red hair and dark blue eyes— a beautiful, God-like creature all around when we take into consideration the physical look. He speaks a few different languages and has strongly developed social intelligence. He is strong, heroic, born to be a leader. If someone asked me to describe his character, using only one word, I'd probably say he is perfect...ly unrealistic. That's alright of course, he's just a character from the fictional novel we try to bring to life to make readers forget about every day's real-life frustrations. You know this is the true power of writing art. So, as nothing in this world is perfect, not even in a fictional writing, Jamie's character needed layers of imperfections as well. As a matter of fact, according to my short but deep observation, his imperfections are the reason why he is being called The King of Men.

To give him flaws and make his appearance less attractive— because he is a man of flesh and bone after all, not some God— Gabaldon marked him with scars, some of which are very hard to look at. Perhaps the most shocking one is a scar that covers his whole back, inflicted by whipping. The others are not so extremely noticeable but they play an equally important role in the creation of his character. Each of these scars tells a different story of survival which becomes a crucial part of the plot of Outlander novel.

Before they said their marriage vows, they only got to know each other briefly. Up until that moment, Claire saw Jamie as any other ruthless Scottish lad— rough and dirty look would make anyone think the same. They knew absolutely nothing about each other except that she was... err... IS married. But, the moment before they both agreed to the arranged marriage, we got to learn that Jamie really isn't what she first thought he is.

                   I had one last try. "Does it bother you that I'm not a virgin?"
                   He hesitated a moment before answering.
                   "Well, no," he said slowly, "so long as it doesna bother you that I am." He grinned at my drop-jawed expression,
                    and backed toward the door.
                   "Reckon one of us should know what they're doing," he said. The door closed softly behind him; clearly,
                   the courtship was over.”

I bet you didn't expect this confession either. You probably think like Claire, like I do— wait, what? Let me play rewind. In the meantime, excuse me while I put my jaw back in the place. Okay, here we go. Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ! How is it possible that this 18th-century Highlander never held a woman in his embrace? This is contradictory to everything you are used to knowing about lead male roles. And yes, this is the very first moment we got attracted to his character, the very first moment Gabaldon told us she's not like any other writer out there. It didn't take some extra effort really. The words that slipped from his mouth simply felt unusual and straightforwardly honest. Most of us got intrigued, wanting to know more about him and what will happen on their first wedding night. The rest of us probably discharged his character right away because it's so "girly" of him to say that. I'm looking at you, my dear men.

Honesty. It's so rare nowadays that it is considered as unrealistic characteristic in some cases. In other, however, it portrays vulnerability. So what happened? He was entering that safe place in your heart, a place that is reserved only for one of a kind. He talked about his family to her and just about ordinary things you learn about people you meet for the first time. There were no hidden intentions, just a normal conversation and after that, well, you know. And oh, what a wedding night that was. This was the immediate hook to a book.

When creating a male protagonist in romantic novels, we protect ourselves with a common sense which means we write about something that is well known and, like that, already accepted by the wider audience. The pattern of thoughts usually circles around the similar ideas— having a handsome, perhaps rich man who meets a 'girl next door' that falls for his mysteriously handsome appearance because the mystery is good, right? Eventually, we put them together, then we make them fight as a part of the climax of the story, then back together again to ensure a happy ending. Admit that you like to play on a safe side most of the time. But sometimes common sense means... boring. Yes, it's so repetitive that it becomes boring and predictable. Girl next door usually doesn't expect a virgin or, in other words, a man who doesn't know what he's doing. Stories about male virgins usually fall under the comedy genre and men finish as an object of social bullying when they reach a certain age. But we don't want readers to laugh at our characters when our intention is to make them loveable. The truth is that all men through the centuries were virgins before as well and there's absolutely nothing funny about it once you realize this. That's the life process of everything that is living. Some people get to it sooner, some people get to it later. There is no universal rule about the appropriate age when men need to lose their virginity. So we just don't decide to make them one because in the back of our head is this idea of creating a perfect man who won't be the main theme for a good laughter— a leader of the baseball team, a handsome and mysterious neighbor who invites us for the glass of wine, a cowboy with exceptional tan and talent for flirting, a superhero who saves the day, or whatever perfect means to you because men were patriarch since ancient times. It is in their nature to be gender in charge. Now this statement requires longer discussion or a newsletter on its own, either Outlander related or not, but since this one is already lengthy I'll save it for some other time.

Throughout the books, Jamie really saves Claire numerous times prooving his bravery and the exceptional sense of morality which is, honestly, just another note on the Things I love about Jamie Fraser list. On their wedding night he promised to protect her with his own body if necessary, which he eventually did because, when she became his wife, he had a duty and responsibility toward the fragility of the opposite gender. Knowing Claire is strong and smart enough to be on her own, he still doesn't stop himself from doing what he promised. He is playing by the book. His wedding vows are sanctity as they should be if you dare to write and proclaim them in front of your future spouse. He suffered both, physically and mentally, in order to keep her safe. He wasn't a laughable character at all despite his boy-ish curiosity when they used to find themselves alone at night sometimes. Of course, Jamie grew old through the books and with it his experience but he never stopped showing that innocently soft, straightforwardly honest side of him despite his rough look and that is what separates him from other men. He carved himself into my heart where he'll stay as one of the most loveable characters of all time just because of his innocent features and exceptional self-awareness. He deserves The King of Men title since he could be both— a ruthless warrior and a soft-spoken lad— at the same time.

So don't be afraid to give your male characters a layer of marks on the top of their perfection. Whether it's the ugly scar, broken bones, stubbornness, virginity or even all of it. It will make them look more intriguing and more appealing. And the best of all, they won't be boring and predictive with all that (in)experience.

Until next time, don't forget to tell the bees about me .

~Minja~