The YA Dictionary: Swoonworthy (n.)

The YA dictionary is a new feature where I'll define words you usually see around the blogoshpere.  Before you go on here are two things you need to know: 1.There are entirely my opinions, 2. My opinions are always, always right.

P.S: Consider this as the most useless dictionary you've ever came across   


Swoonworthy: (adj.) : A guy worthy of us reader's drooling swooning. Although not necessarily,  a swoonworthy guy usually has the looks. This is usually emphasized, but it's not his only trait. A swoonworthy guy must show wittiness, intelligence, and a cracking sense of humour. He also has to be brave, while showing us his sensitive side, thus making us swoon.


And you wonder why there aren't enough swoonworthy guys in real life, huh? I like to think of that type of guys as the modern prince charming. While there are a lot of similarities between the two, the swoon dude isn't limited to being on the "good" side, unlike a prince. Lately the main love interests  often have a dangerous side, and while that might classify with some people as jailworthy, others beg to differ.

I don't know if you guys know that yet, but 99% of my blog viewers are infact, fictional characters. Fictional characters and I go way, way, back. They entertain me, and in exchange, I give them valuable pieces of advice every now and then. This week's advice is ..


How to be a likeable swoon master: 

First of all, you need to know that not all readers can agree on the same guy. They work for some and not the others. The key here, however, is to avoid being the pretty boy. You see, some confuse the swoon guy with the pretty boy, but trust me , you do not want to be the latter. In order to understand what a pretty boy means, I need you to close your eyes and visualize Ken. You know, the guy from Barbie. What do you see? A good looking guy in some good looking clothes and shiny shoes. While that might have worked for me when I was 9 years old, now it simply doesn't. The same goes for pretty boy. His only redeeming character is that he is good looking. There will be huuuuge emphasis on his abs, arms, hair and eyes. The protagonist might spend chapters and chapters dissecting the awesomeness that the pretty boys bestows upon her. While that might seem a bright idea; having a fictional character swoon over you, it does not mean that we, as readers, will too. IMO, I like to think back to what a character contributed to the story, because these are the things that matter. I'd have an easier time remembering when the guy did an honorable deed, than that time he flipped his hair and a line of girls fell to the ground.


Also, you need to know how to play the dangerous card right. It's no big secrets that we girls like the dangerous, mysterious fella. There's a fine line, however, between being mysterious, and being so creepy, that I fear for my own safety when I'm with you. Same goes for being protective. It's nice at first to see you a little jealous, but breaking my car so I wouldn't meet my guy friend? Hmm, no.


For references, here is a personal list of swoonworthy characters:


- Finnick Odair and Peeta Mellark  from the Hunger Games Trilogy.

-Prince Kai from Cinder. (Look at that. Prince charming AND swoonworthy. The world is kind.)

-Isaiah from Pushing The Limits. (The good kind of dangerous.)

-Akiva from Daughter of Smoke and Bone (The one and only swoon master.)



What's your personal list of swoonworthy guys? How would you even define the word? Let me know!