If you’ve been writing for a while, this will be old information. But, I think it’s worth repeating.
In each story, there should be a range of characters with different voices, traits, and personalities.
In YOU’RE BUSTING MY NUPTIALS,(due for release Sept. 1) I have three female friends with many scenes together, so each needed distinct differences, or they would all be just Texas-twang-talking girls.
They are all attractive. I have a hard time writing characters who aren’t. They are all the same age. Tizzy and Rayann are white. Synola is black.
In order to have a contrast between them, I wrote Synola as sassy, Rayann as a fraidy-cat, and Tizzy as the voice of reason.
For me, Synola is my favorite. I love her sassy mouth, especially when she talks to her semi-love interest, Jinx. Plus, with her I get to write a lot of Texas talk in her dialogue.
I admit I have trouble writing unlikable characters. I’d rather they be funny, silly, or a little dense. Of course, we shouldn’t be afraid to embrace characters with bad behavior or bad habits. Troubled people are more interesting than perfect individuals.
If you write thrillers, suspense, horror, or mysteries, it’s easier to make characters bad-to-the-bone and ugly. And, sometimes they will still be likeable. Think back on some movies you’ve seen.
Charles Bronson comes to mind. (Gee, that shows my age) He wasn’t good-looking and in many of his movies, he took the law into his own hands, yet fans couldn’t help but like him.
But in ROMANCE, readers want to fantasize about the main characters, so they need to be flawless. That’s the beauty of fiction. We can make our leading ladies beautiful, thin, rich and smart. Everything we’re not.
And of course, the men of romance will be handsome, sexy, buff, and just the most desirable men on the face of the earth.
Sigh.
Along the way, we need to give characters plenty of obstacles to overcome. Plus, we have to make them want whatever is beyond that roadblock—- and want it bad. They’ve got to be willing to risk everything to get it.
Unlike other genres, romance novels are predictable. We know how they will turn out, but it’s the journey along the way that keeps us hooked.
In the end, they must live happily-ever-after. We want the fairy tale ending we’ve read about since we were children. Funny how that never changes.
Do you write odd characters? I’d love to hear about them.
Great post, Ann. 🙂
I’m not sure about the characters needing to be flawless – that certainly used to be the rule, but I’m not sure it’s still a must.
I mean, when I wrote Paul’s character in Finding Sara, I wanted him to be someone most women wouldn’t give a second look – 5’4″, balding, doughy, and a little bit of a hoarder. Yet people love Paul and want one for themselves. The book isn’t technically a romance, but it is definitely a romance at its core. It just kinda takes some non-romance detours on the way to that happily ever after.
In your new book, Synola is my favorite character too. The way you bounce her off Jinx is priceless. I never know what’s gonna come out of her mouth, but I know it’s gonna make me laugh. 🙂
In true romances I think it’s still kinda the rule, but you’re right about Paul. I fell in love with him when I was reading your book.
Women, especially older women, don’t put as much emphasis on looks. I suppose it’s because they finally have enough experience in the field of love to know what really matters. And a hot, perfect, hunk ain’t it!! However, I do still enjoy looking at them!:+) It’s kinda like window shopping.
My books aren’t true romances either. As you know, I focus on the humor and less on the romance and mystery. However, I’m working to get better at that.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment.
Not certain if you would call my characters odd or not. But I seem to pick individuals that have characteristics that make them stand out.
In Til Death Do Us Part, all three sisters are unique individuals and the life choices reveal their individuality.
In Troubled Times I focused on a group of free blacks in Civil War times that struggle to achieve lives of peace and productivity despite the racial harassment they can’t seem to escape.
In Twist of Fate, my main character is a girl captured by Indians on the western frontier who faces adversity with a strong spirit.
I’ve discovered much of my writing is about ordinary people facing extraordinary experiences.
You’ve hit on a point that is exactly right. I suppose the word “odd” was the wrong choice for me to use. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things is something we all love to read about. When we can put ourselves in their place and say…hey, that could be me, then we will keep turning the page and root for the character.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Gay. I appreciate it.