Wednesday, September 24, 2014

True heroes do not smirk!



This is a repost of a previous blog because I'm still seeing this word all over everywhere it ought not be.

Warning rant ahead.

Smirk: http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/smirk#smirk_4: to smile in an unpleasant way because something bad has happened to someone else, or because you think you have achieved an advantage over them

Now if you don’t believe me, please feel free to go to: http://onelook.com/?w=smirk&ls=a where 36 other dictionaries will all tell you a smirk is a cruel, unkind, nasty kind of smile.

Yet in every second romance novel I read, the hero smirks at the heroine. Often he smirks at her in almost every chapter of the book.
Ladies, read that definition of smirk.
Now, would any self respecting heroine want a hero like that?
I think not.
A true hero smiles.
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/smile#smile_4: to raise the corners of your mouth when you are happy, pleased, or being friendly, or when you think something is funny

If you need a synonym try grin, laugh, or even beam, or look amused. But please, save all that smirking for the villain.

Helen Woodall
helen.woodall@gmail.com
Helen is available to line edit and/ or content edit fiction and non-fiction. Rates on application.

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