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| Photo credit: Boris SV |
When working on my last MS, I encountered an unexpected problem—at least, unexpected to me.
I was writing a dual-POV novel with romance-y bits, and in a scene where one character confessed having feelings for one of my POV characters, one of my critique partners wrote a note along the lines of: ok, but why does he like her?
I stared at that question for a while. She’s a POV character! I protested in my mind. Why wouldn’t he like her?
So I sat down and began writing a list of (oh-so obvious) reasons why said character likes my POV character. Or, I tried to write a list, but stared at the paper and realized, with no small amount of horror, that I had no idea.
You see, the love interest liked my POV character because that was what I’d planned. But somehow, I’d never really figured out why the love interest would like her to begin with, which, for romance purposes, is a tad bit important.
Without a legitimate reason for your love interests to have feelings for each other, you run the risk of writing the always evil insta-love. Romance without a reason for characters to be interested in each other to begin with is unbelievable, because while initial attraction is easy, a real relationship won’t get very far if the characters don’t know why they like each other.
This is something that I’m going to be paying special attention to from here on out, especially while revising, and it’s a question I recommend you ask yourselves while editing as well. Because if your characters don’t know why they like each other, I promise you your readers won’t know either.
Do you know why your love interests like each other?
Twitter-sized bites:
So your characters are falling for each other. But do you know why? (Click to tweet)
Do you know why your love interests like each other? Writer @Ava_Jae talks the importance of knowing the answer. (Click to tweet)
Oh my goodness! I'm guilty of having insta-love in my latest novel. I'd better think up some reasons for the love. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Tara! Insta-love is a common mistake, but the good news is it can be corrected and morphed into a much more powerful relationship with some revision. Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteI think I've got the whole instant attraction thing down, my problem is keeping the chemistry going and really making the reader believe that they like each other. My narrator says it but I think I need to show it better somehow.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point. We often stick rigidly to out plans and ideas even if it doesn't make natural sense. I guess it's just another aspect to consider.
ReplyDeleteThe best way is put them in conflict. Or put them together in a difficult situation.
ReplyDeleteIn both cases they are forced to interact and eventually see something interesting in each others.
In general there's no real reason why people like each others in real life, it's chemistry. Anyway if you make those characters been interesting (sometimes it can be a love/hate feeling) to the reader by using conflict in the story, they would see it natural that they get interested in each others.
A little showing can definitely go a long way. Good thing we don't have to get it right the first time around. :)
ReplyDeleteYup! Just one more thing to look out for while revising.
ReplyDeleteI think it was Mark Twain that said, "The only difference between reality and fiction is that fiction needs to be credible." You're right that in reality, there isn't necessarily a reason why people like each other, but unfortunately in fiction, most readers won't accept "I like you just because."
ReplyDeleteYou also make a great point about conflict—putting character together to work through a conflict can really help reveal a lot about the characters. Thanks for sharing, Carla!
This is an interesting point. I know when did charter sketches, my male pov liked my female pov because he saw himself in her , but I don't think I actually said it in the story. Thanks for the note.
ReplyDeleteWow. What an interesting thought. Thanks for sharing, Carnie. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Sydney! If you know the answer, you've won half the battle already. :)
ReplyDeleteCool post, something seemingly obvious but important to define :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Sometimes seemingly obvious things slip our notice while we're writing. Or at least my notice. :)
ReplyDeleteTrue, all true! I laughed very loudly over some of these; you've encapsulated very good writerly truths right in this list.
ReplyDeleteGlad I came across this one. I think this goes for non-romance as well, as I was writing away at my NaNoWriMo novel when I realized, "Why are these characters friends?" My MC is such a bad influence on another character, it's almost nonsensical for them to even associate with one another, with the exception that their writer god commands them to.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Caroline! So glad you enjoyed the post! ^_^
ReplyDeleteGreat point! This definitely can apply to relationships in general, whether romantic or not.
ReplyDelete