Comments on: Ask an Editor: How do I make an editor like my characters?

By: Writer’s Resources for October 16th through October 21st « Waiting For Fairies

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:49:40 +0000

[...] Ask an Editor: How do I make an editor like my characters? | Romance University – [...]

By: Althea Hayden

Althea Hayden — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:16:25 +0000

Woops – that should have read ‘main characters’, not ‘characteristics’. Am I a writer? x_x

By: Althea Hayden

Althea Hayden — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:11:43 +0000

Wow Theresa, thanks for this post! I immediately started putting my main characteristics through this test, and I know now what I need to do to them.

By: Genella deGrey

Genella deGrey — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:42:17 +0000

Insightful post as always, Theresa!

“The lazy sky-high meander, followed by the plunge and soak.”
Awesome metaphor.

G.

By: Theresa Stevens

Theresa Stevens — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:46:39 +0000

Hi, Tracey,

Honestly, I can’t say I’ve ever noticed a pattern, but then again, I haven’t been looking for one. But good old-fashioned common sense makes me think that there are two possibilities:

1. The people who behave the same in the amusement park will make a strong couple because of their similar characteristics.

2. The people who try the other’s approach to the amusement park will make a strong couple because they help each other open up to new approaches. I’m talking about something more than a “go along to get along” attitude. I’m talking about people who help each other grow and find ways to work through their differences.

If your hero wants *only* to ride the Bungee Cord of Death, and your heroine wants *only* to watch the Leiderhosen A Cappella Choir, they might not be such a great match. He’s a thrill-seeker, and she’s safe and wholesome, and if they can’t find a common meeting place — say, the log ride, with its lazy sky-high meander, followed by the plunge and soak — then they might not be able to get together in other ways, either.

By: Theresa Stevens

Theresa Stevens — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:42:38 +0000

Carrie, that’s a great question. I think sometimes what happens is we rely on strong type characteristics to create secondary characters, and we don’t use the same technique for our main characters (but try to make them deep and complex and so forth). We have more freedom in secondary characters, too. These two tendencies together can make a secondary really pop off the page.

The cure is not to weaken your secondary, but to strengthen your main characters. Your hero and heroine should be the most interesting characters in the scene! Find their strong traits and exploit them. You won’t regret it.

By: Edie

Edie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:57:07 +0000

Great post! I’m going to remember that “amusement park” question.

By: carrie

carrie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:07:19 +0000

Morning Theresa!

What a great article…I agree about the amusement park – great idea!

I find when writing, sometimes my secondary characters overcome the main characters. Is that all right for the short bursts that they are “on screen”? Or do the secondary characters need to really be more in the background?

carrie

By: Lucie J. Charles

Lucie J. Charles — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:46:22 +0000

Great post. I started putting my characters in amusement parks immediately and interestingly found that they go in different directions…an excellent way to track characterization.
Thanks,
Lucie j.

By: Tracey Devlyn

Tracey Devlyn — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:20:10 +0000

Thanks, Theresa!

Fabulous post. Can’t wait to employ the amusement park test. Out of the six or so questions, have you found certain answers for the heroine tend to connect better with certain answers for the hero? Almost like a matching game.

Does that make sense? I’m not sure – it’s early. LOL