by Jennifer Chastain, @JenniferCwrites
Love is in the air during the month of February!
I don’t know about you, but I love a good contemporary romance. As a reader, why do we fall in love with some heroes and not others? What makes a hero unforgettable? Heroic? Loveable? Attractive to your readers?
If you notice, many times an author doesn’t give a full description of the hero in their novel. We might have a general description, such as dark eyes and hair, but that’s it. So, if it’s not the physical characteristics, then it must be their character traits and how they view their world.
Don’t misunderstand me, I definitely have an idea of what my character looks likes – eye color, hair color, height, weight, complexion, race, etc. I even copy and paste a picture of my hero into my Scrivener file.
So, how do you fall in love with your hero? Here are a few steps I’ve learned:
- Spend time with your hero. It’s the same principle as when you are dating. When my husband and I were dating, we’d talk for hours on the phone, discussing our day, what we liked, didn’t like. We would go for walks and talk some more. In those first few weeks and months of our relationship, I thought he was a nice guy. But the more time I spent with him, the more I got to know him, and his heart, the more attractive he became in my eyes. You must fully know and understand your hero.
- Delve into their past. What event or events shaped their life at a young age? This is their Dark Moment Story. A traumatic event doesn’t haven’t to end in death, but it is something that made a huge impact on your character. Sometimes, when you’re working on their character profile, it takes a lot longer to figure out what happened during your character’s childhood. It takes a lot of digging, and patience. Many times, my characters don’t want to “talk” to me.
- Listen to their dreams. Ask them what they want out of life. What do they desire most in the world? I know I keep saying “talk” to your characters, and it does sound odd, but the more you can verbalize and talk to your hero, you’ll be able to write a more well-rounded character.
- What is their occupation? Different personality types seem to gravitate toward certain occupations. I’ve started taking the Myers-Briggs Personality test and answering questions as my characters would. It’s eye-opening and has helped me as I write their stories.
- What makes your character heroic? Does he volunteer at the soup kitchen every week? Or perhaps he visits the nursing home once a month and brings the residents flowers. Or maybe he works for an animal rescue organization? He might just be the “go-to” guy that everyone in town asks for help on a project. Whatever it is, allow the reader to experience his heart.
- Your character must be flawed. He must show a progression of growth, either emotionally or spiritually. This growth also makes him not only relatable but more attractive to the reader.
I hope these few tips will help you fall deeper in love with your hero. Multiple times I’ve had to go back and read over my SEQ notes or brush up on my writing craft. Over the past couple of years, I’ve realized that the more I know, and like, about my characters, the easier it is to write their stories.
Here’s to falling in love!
He needs a wife. She needs money. Is their modern-day marriage an answer to their prayers or a disaster waiting to happen?
Confirmed bachelor, Nathan Rutledge shut his heart to romance when he was forced to break the heart of the only woman he ever truly loved. Now, with his father’s retirement from the family conglomerate, the torch has been passed to him. But there are two problems—first, he needs a wife in order to take over the family business. Second, someone has been embezzling company funds. With the pressure mounting, and time expiring to find both a wife he can trust and the thief, Nate needs a Christmas miracle.
Forensic Accountant, Meredith Mitchell’s life is in a shambles. Her mother needs a lifesaving transplant, Mom’s medical bills have bankrupted Meredith’s meager savings, and she’s sold everything of value, but it’s still not enough. To make matters worse, she’s now tasked with discovering accounting errors for a new client—none other than Nathan Rutledge—the same man who gave her a broken heart for Christmas eight years ago.
Meredith wants to run. Nate wants the chance to right his wrongs. So, naturally, when he proposes a modern-day marriage of convenience, she balks at the idea. But he desperately needs a wife, and she really needs the money he offers. Is this the answer to her prayers? Or will this mutually beneficial arrangement re-open old wounds that can’t be healed?
Jennifer Chastain is a member of ACFW, ACFW-NC, and My Book Therapy/Novel Academy. Several of her other stories were finalists in the Blue Ridge Mountains Foundations contest and she was also a finalist in the Touched by Love contest, sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. Her contemporary romance stories contain the themes of redemption, grace, and forgiveness. A hopeful romantic, Jennifer loves dark chocolate, Diet Coke, the Dallas Cowboys, a good book and romantic movies. On a side note, she will watch the occasional action movie with her husband. She and her husband have been married for over 25 years and they are permitted to co-exist with their black rescue cat. You can connect with Jennifer at: https://linktr.ee/CarolinaGirl94