Main characters need help!

romancewriter · Apr 3, 2008

Well, I suppose there's no easy way to say this. So I guess I'll just say it. My characters have no chemistry. None. Zilch. Nada. I knew when I wrote the synopsis that I wasn't feeling much of a connection with the two main characters. I liked the premise, and since the synopsis earned me a request evidently the editor saw something in it as well.

But I'm a romance writer. I mean, duh, that's why I write romance. I want the rush of falling in love. I want to feel what the characters are feeling. And this story, nope, ain't doing it. I've read stories when it seems all the two main chacters have is what the author is telling me they have. The author is trying to project that these characters have this really intense, sexually gratifying relationship but I don't get the sense of that at all from the characters themselves.

I don't want a write a - these characters have great sex because I'm the author and I'm telling you that how it is - story. I tweaked the plot a bit hoping to raise the emotional stakes between these two characters, and it did help some, but I still ain't feeling it.

I'm barely into the first draft stage so maybe I'm panicking too soon. Thoughts? Anyone?

girlyswot · Apr 3, 2008

What do you love about the characters? Spend some time thinking about the manifold attractions of your hero. Fall in love with him so that you start to drool whenever you write about him. Then get into his head and start thinking about the heroine. Why does he notice her? What are the things that attract him to her? Why does he feel he can't do without her? And if he's still not attracted to her, have him look around and see who he really wants. You might end up writing a different story, but it'll be a better one.

DeleyanLee · Apr 3, 2008

The big thing for me as a reader of Romance is the question of what makes this couple completely perfect for each other, but absolutely wrong for each other at the same time.

Sounds to me like you might have the "absolutely wrong" part down--that's where conflict comes in, after all. But where is the "completely perfect" part coming in?

Look at the people you've got there and see where the two of them together form something strong and powerful whereas solo they might be good but not great. Where do they need each other (especially where they won't admit it)? What physical attribute about the other just catches their senses and won't shake loose from their memory? What's the one thing that they do that almost makes them crack a smile at the wrong moment?

Those are the kinds of things I look at when I'm going for attraction between characters--but it only counts if they're on the page, not just in my head. Drawing from real life helps a lot--what has made me feel these things, and making sure those kind of feelings wound up on the page too.

Good luck.

Gillhoughly · Apr 3, 2008

Here's a trick I learned from another pro:

Imagine two favorite actors playing the roles of your MCs. Say Bogart & Bacall--who had amazing chemistry!

Buffy and Spike--now there was a killer combo!

Abby and McGee from NCIS--an odd couple, but they clearly like each other.

Mr and Mrs Smith (the movie) --they were just scary.

So think who would be perfect to play your hero, and who's best as your heroine. You've got all of Hollywood from any era to choose from, any combination, and it's okay to think outside the box.

I know of one fav author who had to have "cast" Sean Connery and Kate Hepburn as her MCs for a series of historical mystery-adventures that just keep getting better with every book.

One of my friends put Michael Shanks together with Sandra Bullock and O-M-G that was serious sparkage!

DeleyanLee · Apr 3, 2008

Gillhoughly said:
Here's a trick I learned from another pro:

Imagine two favorite actors playing the roles of your MCs.

There is one caveat to add to this, though:

Make the characters on the page your own, not just the actors translated there.

As hot as you might think Buffy and Angel were, there are probably just as many people who think they suck. If you do something that's distinctively THAT actor and it's recognized by someone who can't stand that actor, it can easily ruin the entire book for the reader.

I remember a friend of mine reading one Romance novel and totally enjoying it until the hero made a particular move which is purely Keeanu Reeves. My friend would rather kiss warm cow pies than Keeanu Reeves--but she'd been enjoying the book prior to that point so she pressed on even though the intimate scenes were no longer so appealing to her. Then it struck her that the heroine was based on some 40's actress I don't remember that she detested. Totally ruined the book--and the author. She won't trust that author not to gross her out during a love scene again.

Inspiration is good--but what you put on the page has to be your own.

Lady Cat · Apr 3, 2008

I had this same problem. The story was pretty good (if I do say so myself) but my main couple lacked sizzle. Eventually I set it aside and started working on a sequel. Now these two characters sparked!

The further into the sequel I go, the more I learn about what's wrong with the first one. Hopefully, by the time I'm done I'll have two awesome books instead of one!

One of the things I found was that the first two characters were kind of boring. Even though the situation they found themselves in was out of the ordinary, they weren't. They were also too much alike - very white bread (if you'll excuse the expression). I've been making a lot of changes to them and the story is much better for it.

romancewriter · Apr 3, 2008

Thanks for all the advice. I'd been thinking part of the problem was my characters were too well adjusted. I had to give them a few more issues to overcome. And also as a few of you have mentioned I had no clue why they were attracted to one another. Just saying they're attracted to one another doesn't make it so.

So I believe I worked out an angle that solves both problems and still fits with the premise I originally pitched. Of course now I have to start over . . . again. But again thanks so much everyone for the advice. Finally I feel I have something interesting to work with.

Gillhoughly · Apr 4, 2008

I've had fun with the casting thing, and no one's caught onto it unless I flat out told them, even when I was very specific on descriptions.

In all cases I only wrote how I thought the actors would play the characters. That's what makes the difference. I don't clone a role or mannerisms they've done in a film, but imagine my own film with them in the parts. In my books most get to stretch their craft.

I'm working on a new one featuring a very versatile Brit who's played everything from a psycho rapist to a kindly teacher to an intellect-heavy playboy, and I am having a ball writing his "script" and "directing" him.

Only two people know the casting on this one and I doubt anybody else will figure it out once I'm done--including the actor!

I physically based another successful character on a friend of mine. She knows all about it and finds it amusing that I have her tossing explosives, shooting people, and generally running amok. Certainly in real life she doesn't speak or act that way, but it's a big kick to her.

Anyway, it's a fun shortcut device, but not one I use all the time. Now and then a character will spring out fully formed and runs with the bit. Heh--doncha just love improv?

romancewriter · Apr 4, 2008

Okay, so it's probably a bit early to make an assumption, but this story now feels a lot more like what I'm used to working with. My mind is now focusing more on the romance and less on the external plot, which is how I like it. I sort had to get a bit soap opera-ish with one of the characters conflicts, not my fave thing to do, but I don't think I went too far with it.

Sorry. Rambling I know.

Well on to the next crisis

Main characters need help!

romancewriter

girlyswot

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

Lady Cat

romancewriter

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

romancewriter