Character Empathy: Displaying a Valued Trait
Welcome to Character Empathy month! During the month of September we've decided to dedicate the blog to creating more empathy in our characters and we're going to share some of our ideas with you along the way.
Up first is the idea of giving your character a highly valued trait such as loyalty, love or courage.
I think it's always important to remember that our characters aren't all good or all bad, they are a combination of many traits that form a well-rounded character readers can relate to. It's especially important to show a desired trait to create that empathy before you have that character make a bad or a questionable choice – it helps the reader relate and adds to the conflict!
Showing your character in a positive light can be achieved in a few ways:
Have your character showing kindness to a stranger, to a loved one or even being kind to a pet.
Another great way to show your characters valued trait is to present it through the eyes of a secondary character – a friend coming to them for help, two friends talking about your character, etc.
When you start out creating your character on the page, don't just start by giving him/her a name and few quirky characteristics. Chewing gum, cracking their knuckles or twirling their fingers in their hair does not a character make! You want the reader to connect and feel something for your character – you want to make them believe that during the next 200 pages the decisions they make (good or bad) happen for a reason. You've got to delve deep into your hero or heroine's psyche and give the reader something to latch onto.
Your character needs a dream, a deeply help belief or a loyalty that might be tested. This is something you, the writer, will be building on as the story progresses, so when your hero must make that choice that goes completely against his grain – it's a big moment and the reader understands WHY that choice was made.
Always remember that empathy is about the understanding of the character, because from understanding comes caring and isn't that what it's all about? If we can get the reader to "get" our characters motivation and cheer for them on the road toward their goals, we've got the reader hooked. If they care about the hero or heroine, they will keep reading!
See you next time for another post on Character Empathy! Have some tips you'd like to share? We'd love to hear them!
Great things to keep in mind, Deb!
I'm reading a book now about a father with a sick child. He's very likeable because the author is doing a good job showing the reader to what lengths this guy will go thru to make sure his daughter gets the best treatment. I can't resist a hero who is a good father.
Jennifer Shirk(Quote) (Reply)
Definitely! Your reader has to root for your characters. I've read some books where I couldn't connect with a character and lost interest quickly. I know characters have to grow, and we focus in romance on the relationship, but I want to like the main characters.
Chelle Sandell(Quote) (Reply)
Impressive posts. I really love the information here on your website.
speedy(Quote) (Reply)