Character Distress

[Rechan]

I've talked about the story I'm trying to write. But I've realized I have a significant problem.

 

So far, I have been focusing on the Main Character's problem. The story is about his issues, his ineptness with relationships. I have so far looked at the story as merely Him changing, getting better, and making the relationship work.

 

But I realized that's not how romance stories work. You need two people. Two people with their own issues and those problems clash, complicate the situation. Two people that change. Not one with problems and one who is static.

 

The second man has been utterly just a person who stands there and the main character bounces off of. I've tried to make a character that would compliment the Main Character and so far it has felt flat, unworkable.

 

Now I am left with the need to create the Romantic Interest, the Second Person, from scratch and I am drawing an absolute blank. I can't fill it in. It needs to be able to work with my MC and nothing feels right. I have zero inspiration.

[Emulated]

An interesting point you make there, however, I think you need to view this from another perspective.

 

But first, lets follow the link and look at this character you mention:

 

Let's call him Jacob. In his youth Jacob was very promiscuous. Sex was convenient, with many hookups and short term relationships that existed were built on sex. Twenty years later, Jacob is middle aged, and has not been able to rely on his looks to catch the young hot guys eyes for almost a decade. Because of the habits he ingrained so well, he never learned relationship skills because he fell into the same patterns. How to make a relationship, how to keep one, how to behave in one. And now Jacob can't take it. He's lonely, and wants something more of substance and long term, but he has no idea how to do it, and it's tearing him up.

It sounds to me like he was pretty self-centered. Always there for the physical moment and not being caught up in the emotion. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but this story is told from the 1st person perspective, no? If that's the case, I don't see anything wrong with focusing solely on his own issues.

 

He clearly still has some hang-ups from his past. What better way to display these than to have him appear to be self involved?

 

 

 

The story is about his issues, his ineptness with relationships. I have so far looked at the story as merely Him changing, getting better, and making the relationship work.

 

But I realized that's not how romance stories work.

Not all romance stories, and not always real life. It's natural that most of us would think of number one, and if in a crisis, perhaps that's all we'd think about. Jacob is definitely going through some sort of crisis right now. You do mention that the story is about his issues, well forget about everyone else and write about his issues. Something tells me that Jacob isn't one to really acknowledge the feelings of people around him.

 

Alternatively, if you feel that this is more of a writing issue, rather than a problem with the story, perhaps as part of Jacob changing you could have a scene where he finally looks at someone and asks them how they're feeling. This could be a potent scene if done right and really would make the story a masterpiece. This way, you've acknowledged that there is little mention of the other character's feelings, yet done so in a meaningful way. I personally think that this is the best way to go forward, if you want to concentrate on the other character's feelings.

 

This would also give you the opportunity to let the 2nd half of the story (or whatever), to concentrate on the other characters. Perhaps if a character is dealing with a divorce or something, you could make allusions throughout the story that he's having trouble, but not approach the subject until later on.

 

I think it's hard to go wrong with a story unless it's really badly written, and from the way you're reaching out for advice, it shows you want this to be a special piece, so I have no doubt that this will be anything less.

[Hylas]

While secondary characters who also change along with the story does make the story better, it's not a requirement when it comes to romance. I've read and enjoyed several where the romantic interest remains exactly the person he was in the beginning of the story. The only one who really needs to change is the main character (usually as a result of the primary conflict). Say, the main character starts off being a lazy ass bum. By the end of the story, as a result of the conflict, he'll realize that he has to stop being so damn lazy. The romantic interest in these kinds of stories function as a kind of pillar. An immovable source of support, and that works as well.

 

Note that the romance part is often secondary to the shift the main character goes through. The romance is simply the icing on the cake. So don't worry too much about making a dynamic romantic interest. You CAN get away with a static one, as long as he's interesting enough in the first place.

[Rechan]

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but this story is told from the 1st person perspective, no?

No, third person. The manner in which I am writing it, the way I am presenting the various scenes, I do not think that first person would serve it well.

 

Not all romance stories, and not always real life. It's natural that most of us would think of number one, and if in a crisis, perhaps that's all we'd think about. Jacob is definitely going through some sort of crisis right now. You do mention that the story is about his issues, well forget about everyone else and write about his issues.

First of all, when I expressed my problem on another forum I have been bitched at that it is indeed how romances work, that is my problem, it's too one sided. It seems to be the consensus there.

 

His issues don't exist in a vacuum. It has to do with a relationship. And you can't have a relationship by yourself. Since a second person is needed, I need a second person and I haev nothing.

 

Something tells me that Jacob isn't one to really acknowledge the feelings of people around him.

He does care about other people's feelings. He's a loyal and sympathetic friend.

 

Jacob's issue is ignorance of relationship skills, not a disregard. Not an inability, but his habits. It's like someone who has never lived with another person having to deal with all the nuances of personal space/privacy, of mitigating chores, of ensuring the other person pays their side of the rent. It's not a deficiency, a personal flaw in the individual. Just inexperience woefully too late in life.

 

as long as he's interesting enough in the first place.

 

I don't even have a second person, let alone an interesting one.

[Hylas]

These might help you:

 

Creating Great Heroes and Heroines

Conflict and Resolution in a Romance Novel

 

It's for heterosexual romance novels obviously but it can be adapted to fit your story. I don't really understand why it's so hard for you to create the secondary character though. If you can make the main character and make him interesting, you can make a secondary character.

 

A few ideas I can think of outright based on how you described the story in the original thread:

 

1) The secondary character is a younger man, doing exactly the same thing Jacob did when he was younger. Jacob knows what awaits the other guy so attempts to teach him to be more considerate to his 'tricks'. In the process he falls in love with him, and the other guy does too without realizing it. But how does Jacob show that he's serious when he relapses into old habits just as easily? And what if the young man is reluctant to let go of his promiscuity as well? Perhaps a conflict with a mutual friend dying of AIDS is good for this story, overshadowed perhaps by the loss of Jacob's good looks with each passing day.

 

2) The secondary character is the same age as Jacob, but was once hurt by a man like Jacob when he was younger and hence distrustful of him. But Jacob really likes him, so he has to change and show the other character that he has changed. The other character would also have to revise his views and take the plunge.

 

3) To make it even MORE interesting, let's say the other guy is Jacob's ex who really loved him and was hurt by him in their younger years. Jacob meets him again and tries to woo him back. But he didn't treat their relationship seriously back then, so why should the other guy trust Jacob now?

 

See how easy that was? Those are three potential secondary characters right there and each have the potential to develop into a solid plot as well. All of them would have to change along the course of the story with the main character in order for the romance to work.