Crafting Characters You'll Fall For with EMPATHY
The Critical Element: Empathy
While a story can kick off in countless ways—whether it's a riveting prologue, a mid-action launch, or a nostalgic flashback—one thing remains indispensable: empathy. In the realm of romance, your first task should be to make your readers fall head-over-heels for your main characters.
Three Pathways to Readers' Hearts
Here are my top three tactics to make your readers instantly catch the feels:
Highlight Their Remarkable Traits
Showcase Their Normality in an Exceptional World
Let Them Save the (Metaphorical) Cat
Remarkable Traits
Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer—a petite powerhouse tackling monsters, beasts, and the undead. Or Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes, whose unmatched analytical skills let him solve crimes others can't. Then there’s Olivia Pope in "Scandal," a crisis manager who thrives on her razor-sharp intuition.
Exceptional Worlds
Sometimes, it’s the world that’s out-of-the-ordinary, not the individual. Consider Mark Watney in "The Martian," stranded alone on Mars. Or the quirkiness of Stars Hollow in "Gilmore Girls." How about the sleepy town of Forks, Washington, the epicenter of supernatural showdowns in "Twilight"?
The ‘Save the Cat’ Method
This term refers to a pivotal scene where the hero endears themselves to us. Buffy does this effortlessly in her pilot episode. Initially, she draws us in with her popularity—a universal desire. We soon find out about her 'Slayer' status, injecting a dose of extraordinary into her persona. However, when she befriends Willow, an outcast, instead of joining the popular clique, she seals the deal for us. She shows that her real superpowers are compassion and judgment.
The Triple Treat: Why Not All Three?
If you’re aiming for a romance novel that readers can't put down, consider employing all three tactics. Deck your characters with extraordinary qualities, place them in fascinating worlds, and show them doing deeds that warm the cockles of our hearts.
So, ready to write that irresistible romance? Start by downloading the Romance Roadmap at ineswrites.com/romancemap
And while you're at it, toss a cat up a tree for your hero to rescue!
