There's a sorceress character in
Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters series who has the Glamour. Simply put, she's able to subtly alter her appearance to fool everyone around her into thinking she's younger and more beautiful than she really is. In
Child of the Prophecy, her granddaughter inherits that ability and Marillier uses that tactic as a plot point in several ways. (BTW, if you're into magical realism, I highly recommend that series. I love them so much I own every book!)
We all want a little bit of glamour in our MS, whether it's the supernatural/trickery kind or the expensive clothes/manicure/transformation scene that so many novels have. There's something so alluring about subjecting an MC to a harsh adventure which results in split ends, ground-in dirt and torn clothes, only to rescue them and surround them with silky opulence. This transformation is used in many ways - think
Pretty Woman vs.
Wizard of Oz vs.
The Hunger Games - but is so common, it requires a little thinking and skill to avoid the cliche.
In my WIP, THE TALISMAN, I go the reverse route. My MC is wealthy, beautiful and used to things going her way. She's a bit insulated from the real world and part of her transformation includes an intense experience with harsh conditions, grime, hunger and lack of water. She's kind of a reverse Cinderella - her personal growth can't happen until she's out of her comfort zone.
Whether your plot includes rags-to-riches or richest-to-rags, how do you manipulate your readers' inner desire for the richness, safety and comfort that money can bring? How could you use glamour to strengthen your plot?
