by Michelle Sass Aleckson, @MchelleAleckson
Have you ever been asked this question: what’s more important in a story, the characters or the plot? Beware, writer! It’s a trick question. For a good story, both are vital ingredients. And yet in my binge reading lately I’ve noticed some stories are so plot driven that the main characters have had little to no development. As a reader it made the story seem flat and lifeless.
What a missed opportunity!
The power of a good story is that it changes us. But if our characters aren’t wrestling with their own issues throughout the plot how will the reader relate? Good characterization will enhance an intriguing plot and leave a lasting impression on the reader.
So where are we falling short on this whole characterization thing? When our characters don’t change or we don’t see them reacting to anything.
In the first case, I’ve read books where a main character is flawless from the beginning and thus doesn’t need to change. It’s annoying. There aren’t perfect people in the world. We shouldn’t have perfect characters. In the second case the character might not be perfect, but she looks the same at the end of the story as she did in the beginning. Because I didn’t see the character react to what was happening in the plot, I have no idea if she changed throughout the story or not. At that point, our heroine might as well be a passive narrator. We need breaks in the plot, even suspenseful ones, to get a taste of how our hero and heroine are handling everything. And hint hint, they shouldn’t be handling everything perfectly.
What does character development even look like? Most writers know about the story arc. We need a plot with increasing obstacles and stakes in a story that should come to a climax and then to some sort of conclusion. But we also need a character arc. As our hero faces these obstacles in the plot, we need to see him struggle. We need to see his emotional reactions. There is no growth without struggle, so let your hero wrestle. Let your heroine fail a little. And let them have a taste of victory too. Let the reader in on that. By the end of the story there should be a noticeable and lasting change. Maybe our heroine doesn’t have all the answers, but we want to see growth.
We are flawed people. Readers will be engaged when they can relate to our flawed characters and when they see the struggle, the emotions they face as they move through the story. Now add stakes and tension to your plot and you have hooked your audience.
The problem with being related to everyone in town is that there is no one left to date…until now…but will this outsider survive his family?
Former soldier Veronica “Ronnie” Morales isn’t going to let her kid brother, Tiago, get pulled into the gangs of Minneapolis, so, seeking safety and a fresh start, she heads to sleepy Deep Haven on the north shore of Minnesota. She’s hoping to put down roots as the paramedic for the new Crisis Response Team, but it’s not easy to be the town outsider.
Fire Chief Peter Dahlquist is a peacemaker—he has to be. After he’s related to both of the Deep Haven dynasties – the Zimmermans and the Dahlquists, Deep Haven’s version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. Worse, Peter is the holdout vote for a landmark project, which also makes him the loneliest guy in town when both sides demand that he pick sides. The only one who seems to understand his plight is the newcomer in town…his pretty, street-tough paramedic.
When Tiago finds himself caught up in small town shenanigans and the town blames Ronnie for tragedy, Peter is forced to pick sides. But will his choice cost him the home—and the woman—he loves?
Up for PREORDER now! Releases May 25, 2021
After growing up on both the east and west coasts, Michelle now loves living the country life in central Minnesota with her own hero and four children. She rocks out to 80’s music on a Saturday night, enjoys playing board games, and is a hopeless romantic. And if you’re wondering, yes, Sass is her maiden name.