I love him!
I once read that if you don’t love your characters neither will your readers. At first, I thought that was weird, but after having written so many books, I think I know what that writer meant. Sometimes when I am writing, my heart will get that little pitter-pat with an extra kick. And then maybe the next scene I will get the chills and maybe another will make me fan myself – but it’s that end all be all when I sit back and think, “Damn, where are men like this?” that make me really love my characters.
I have one particular hero that when all else fails, I will read certain passages and I am good. There is just something about that man . . . let’s set aside the fact that he is tailored after my favorite singer – (mmm-hmm). Let’s set aside the fact that he is buff and heart stopping gorgeous. But the thing that made me wish on every shooting star that he were flesh and blood was this scene: (excerpt from Second Chances)
“We look like a couple of drowned rats.” Zan pushed back the wet strands of hair that clung to her forehead. “Or at least I do. You have on a hat and a raincoat.”
Her thoughts that morning had been of Jacob, knowing he would be gone for the next two weeks. Absent-minded, and downright depressed, she neglected to check the weather. It took her several steps toward her car to realize it was raining and at that point, she decided she might as well keep going. But now with water pouring off her, she wished she had gone back in for her slicker.
Jacob eyed her for a minute then opened the truck door.
Zan frowned. “What’re you doing?”
He stepped out of the truck, tugged off his raincoat and hat then tossed them on the front seat.
“Jacob!”
He held his arms out and tipped his head back. The rain soaked and darkened the front of his denim shirt.
“You’re insane! Get back in here!” Zan laughed so hard tears ran down her face.
When he finally got back in the truck, water ran in streams off his hair. His eyes sparkled with mischief. “There. Now we’re even.” He leaned across the cab and captured her mouth.
Don’t know why that did it for me. Don’t know why I think of this one every time I need a boost – but it works EVERY time.
I wonder if other writers are like this. Do they too fall a little bit in love with their characters?
I often create men that I love, too.
What has happened to me a time or two is I think I’m madly in love with one of my main characters, and then a minor character does something so heartwarming that I find myself hopelessly in love with two men.
I would hope so. Otherwise, why would we want a heroine to end up with them? Don’t most of us put ourselves in the mind of the character and isn’t that how we are able, as readers, to experience the emotional pull and chemistry?
If a writer dislikes her characters I think it shows in the writing and the reader won’t like them either.
Nadia–that could be a problem–a good problem but who to choose????
Lynn–very good points! Oh and WHERE were you yesterday hmmmm………………..