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I’m taking Camy Tang’s characterization class right now. I figured, for $30, it would be a great way to get to know this new character I’m trying to flesh out. It’s been super helpful so far.

Her last lesson was about character likability.

As I worked through this lesson, a pattern emerged. Because I write romance, I have two main characters, the hero and the heroine. I realized that I usually write novels with one character who is very likable and the other who’s more difficult to like. This character might be interesting, but not so much likable. At least not in the beginning. In the beginning, this character tends to be a little (or a lot) hardened.

See, I have no problem writing flawed characters. Maybe that’s because I don’t like reading books where the character is June Cleaver. I like my characters flawed. Wounded. Hurt. And acting in destructive ways because of this wound.

That’s what I have with my character, Ivy. She’s definitely wounded. And she’s definitely acting destructively because of this wound.

But on the flip side, there has to be something likable about her. It’s not enough that she’s a fighter/survivor, which is admirable. I need something that is actually likable. I’m working on choosing a characteristic that is likable enough, but still true to her character.

So I have a lot of questions for you today, and I’d really love to read your thoughts on the matter. These questions are for writers and readers. Especially readers. So please chime in, whichever you are.

Questions to Ponder: As a reader, what makes you root for a particular character throughout a story? What makes a character “likable” to you? What specific qualities do you admire in a character? As a writer, how do you go about ensuring you have both a flawed and likable character?removetweetmeme

Cares:
Waiting…..

I’ve turned twitchy. My phone rings and my muscles spaz out. I check my email and I squeeze my eyelids shut, hoping not to see an email from my agent. Normally, I love getting emails from her. But an email could be a rejection from the publisher, and I’d really prefer not to get one of those.

To maintain my sanity, I’ve adopted a mantra: God is in control. If it’s His plan for me to get a book deal from this publishing house, then it’s going to happen. If that’s not His plan, then it’s not going to happen. Agonizing over it won’t change a thing. Only He can see the big picture. Only He can unfold the story of my life and make sense of it. My job is to do the best I can with what’s in my control and let Him take the rest.

In case you’re interested in how this whole publishing process works (from proposal to contract), literary agent Chip MacGregor has an amusing post about it here and my agent, Rachelle Gardner, has an informative post about it here. Both posts really helped me better understand all the steps involved.

Concerns:
Getting to know my new character is proving to be a very long, drawn-out process. It doesn’t help that she keeps changing her backstory on me.

Celebrations:
It’s Friday – the end of a very hectic, busy week at school.

Jeff Stone, middle grade author of the Five Ancestor series, is coming to visit our school today for the annual author visit.

Question to Ponder: What are your cares, concerns, and celebrations today?removetweetmeme

My brother is a fighter. I don’t mean he goes to bars and gets into brawls. I mean he’s a professional. He gets paid to fight. He was the International Fight League champion a few years ago and after he won, he praised Jesus on national television. See, my brother is a Christian, and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Oh, and he’s an engineer for the government too. He doesn’t exactly fit the fighting stereotype, does he? This may sound weird, but the way my brother fights in the ring is very reflective of who he is as a person. He’s humble, and he’s respectful. You can tell by the way he treats and talks about his opponent. He never gets tired (he’s known for his stamina) and he fights intelligently. You can almost see his mind working as he circles the ring.

So what does all this have to do with writing?

A lot, actually. Fighting is important to writers. Or at least it should be. We might not have knock out punches in our novels, but we should all strive to have at least one good argument.

Why?

Because arguments not only epitomize the essence of great conflict, they add dimesion to our characters. You see, fighting is highly individualistic. No two people fight the same. Just watch a fight on television. This makes fighting an excellent way to build characterization.

Right now, I’m reading Characters, Emotion, and Viewpoint by Nancy Kress and in her chapter on fighting, Nancy says, “People express deep layers of their personalities in how often they fight, with whom, how fairly, and how intensely.”

Let’s dissect each of these components, shall we?

How often does your character fight?
The character who takes offense to everything is much different from the character who shrugs everything off. The character who thrives on conflict is much different from the character who desperately wants to maintain peace. So who is your character? Where on this continuum does he or she lie?

Who will your character fight with?
Might your character extend grace to strangers, but argue with everything his mother has to say? Or maybe it’s the other way around. What about the character who treats her subordinates with kindness, but is criticial of her superiors? Nancy Kress gives the example of a grandmother who is gracious to her heirs and her cleaning lady, but argumentative with doctors and police officers. Who your character chooses to argue with says a lot about him or her as an individual.

Does your character fight fair?
Is she underhanded? Does she name-call, manipulate, threaten? Does she use tears? Or does she stick to the issue at hand and support her arguments logically? As you can see, these two characters are very different. How fair is your character when it comes to fighting?

How intensely does your character fight?
In the midst of an argument, what drives your character? Passion? Logic? Something else? Does your character stay calm? Do they raise their voice? Do they shout? Do they get violent? Are they passive-aggressive? In real life, we all react differently when offended. An insult may lead one person to murder and another to laughter. How intensely a character fights says a lot about who they are.

But before you settle on the intensity, consider these three factors:
1. The character’s personality. The quick-tempered character will not fight with the same intensity as the soft-spoken one.

2. The nature of the specific fight. Can you think of a circumstance that might make your soft-spoken, peace-loving character to fly off the handle with rage? Most everyone has a sensitive spot. Have you given your character one?

3. Culture. Even a quick-tempered character knows better than to backhand somebody in church. Where are your arguments occurring? Fights are more restrained in public places than they are in private ones. How interesting to force your characters to fight about something important in a highly public area, where they must whisper and smile.

My brother may fight intensely in the ring, but he’s done as soon as the referee blows the whistle. He morphs back into Mr. Nice Guy Engineer. The guy with the quick smile and the easy laugh. He’s a fighter in the ring and a lover in life. This makes for an interesting character, don’t you think?

Questions to Ponder: So how about you? Have you considered these aspects of fighting in regards to your characters? Which one do you find the most useful? And what about real life? What kind of fighter are you?removetweetmeme