Romantically leading questions to ask your characters
In the July issue of Romance Writers Report (RWR is the magazine of the Romance Writers of America), which if you write romance, I strongly suggest that you join. (The link above will take you to their site.) You don't have to be published, just serious about your craft and working toward getting published. And there are local chapters that you can join to network and make friends with and have the support of other romance writers. I'm a member of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers. A great bunch of ladies (and gentlemen). Okay, commercial over.
In this month's issue of RWR is an article called "Isn't It Romantic: Developing the Romance in Your Romance Novel" by acclaimed romance novelist Virginia Kantra (she's also a member of Heart of Carolina Romance Writers). The entire article is great, but one section in particular I thought could be helpful to those of you who have even a smidgen of romance in your books. It's a fill-in-the-blank exercise on how to create emotional intimacy between romantically involved characters. Give it a try with your hero and then your heroine (the following is quoted directly from Virginia's article):
My hero admires my heroine's _______. (List an obvious virtue; and no, "ass" is not an appropriate answer for this exercise.)
He uncovers/appreciates her ________. (Something less obvious. Her true self.)
He's challenged by her _________. (What does she have or know that he lacks or must learn? Think Jerry Maguire: "You complete me.")
Virginia suggests that by doing this exercise for both your hero and heroine, it'll help you get at the heart of why they are attracted to and eventually fall in love with each other. I'm making very good use of this exercise in my Raine/Mychael/Tam romantic knot. ; )
What I'm reading now: To help with the edits of The Trouble With Demons and prepare me for writing Bewitched & Betrayed, I'm re-reading Magic Lost, Trouble Found and Armed & Magical. I haven't read MLTF in nearly two years. Damn, but these are good books if I do say so myself. ; )
As I said yesterday, since tomorrow is the 4th of July holiday here in the U.S., I'm taking off from blogging Friday and Saturday to work on the edits for TTWD. I'll be back on Monday with a reader question from Joshua on doing research -- how much is too much? And in editing TTWD, I'm finding that some of the things I'm fixing might help those of you working on your own books. So next week I'll blog on how much backstory to include in a series novel, and character introductions -- in a series book, what's the right balance between needed information and too much information?
And if you haven't seen it yet, scroll down to my blog yesterday for the actors I've chosen to play my five main characters if Peter Jackson or Joss Whedon should come calling. And speaking of Joss, if you haven't seen it yet, check out the trailer for his new online project: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog staring Neil Patrick Harris, and Felicia Day (a big fan of my books and my choice to play Raine).
Have a great weekend everyone!
Lisa
In this month's issue of RWR is an article called "Isn't It Romantic: Developing the Romance in Your Romance Novel" by acclaimed romance novelist Virginia Kantra (she's also a member of Heart of Carolina Romance Writers). The entire article is great, but one section in particular I thought could be helpful to those of you who have even a smidgen of romance in your books. It's a fill-in-the-blank exercise on how to create emotional intimacy between romantically involved characters. Give it a try with your hero and then your heroine (the following is quoted directly from Virginia's article):
My hero admires my heroine's _______. (List an obvious virtue; and no, "ass" is not an appropriate answer for this exercise.)
He uncovers/appreciates her ________. (Something less obvious. Her true self.)
He's challenged by her _________. (What does she have or know that he lacks or must learn? Think Jerry Maguire: "You complete me.")
Virginia suggests that by doing this exercise for both your hero and heroine, it'll help you get at the heart of why they are attracted to and eventually fall in love with each other. I'm making very good use of this exercise in my Raine/Mychael/Tam romantic knot. ; )
What I'm reading now: To help with the edits of The Trouble With Demons and prepare me for writing Bewitched & Betrayed, I'm re-reading Magic Lost, Trouble Found and Armed & Magical. I haven't read MLTF in nearly two years. Damn, but these are good books if I do say so myself. ; )
As I said yesterday, since tomorrow is the 4th of July holiday here in the U.S., I'm taking off from blogging Friday and Saturday to work on the edits for TTWD. I'll be back on Monday with a reader question from Joshua on doing research -- how much is too much? And in editing TTWD, I'm finding that some of the things I'm fixing might help those of you working on your own books. So next week I'll blog on how much backstory to include in a series novel, and character introductions -- in a series book, what's the right balance between needed information and too much information?
And if you haven't seen it yet, scroll down to my blog yesterday for the actors I've chosen to play my five main characters if Peter Jackson or Joss Whedon should come calling. And speaking of Joss, if you haven't seen it yet, check out the trailer for his new online project: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog staring Neil Patrick Harris, and Felicia Day (a big fan of my books and my choice to play Raine).
Have a great weekend everyone!
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
8:21 AM
3 Comments:
Lol I think I blushed seeing my name on one of your blogs. I'm really looking forward to your next blog. I'll keep my research going till then.
(chuckle) What can I say? It's fun to make a man blush. ; )
Lol I'm just glad I'm in a hotel room and no one saw it. I'd never live it down.
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