H is for Helpless
It makes sense that if the reader can see and feel the helplessness and hopelessness in a character who learns and struggles to change or who finds hope, then there is the same possibilities for the reader. Readers want to read to discover and fall in love with a character, they want to care. But they also want to find the same hope and help for their own lives.
To keep your reader engaged in the story and in sequels about the character, the key is to develop a lovable character with flaws. Those flaws will render the character helpless in a situation, say lost in the woods face to face with a big brown bear. Through the fight to gain hope in a hopeless situation, the character develops personal growth and gains the readers admiration.
In your next story, try adding words that make the character helpless and hopeless. Develop a strong story around finding help and hope and you will have a story that readers will love.
Never thought about helpless that way, but it's true that having a character who at least thinks s/he is helpless could add lots of great tension.
ReplyDeleteSo true! Good post! It's good to be able to pull the reader into the situation and make him or her feel like he or she is there.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. It can be hard to fight the fairy tale impulse when writing (making everything end up happily ever after), but the characters I have loved most are my most flawed. It's a fine line, though, balancing despair with living.
ReplyDeleteHi, Julie!
ReplyDeleteHelpless and hopeless. Well, we at least want our characters to have a little bit of hope!
Hi, Yes, those are great suggestions! Hopefully, my characters often feel some helplessness, but always are aware of hope. :) Best regards to you, Ruby
ReplyDeleteGood post. Empathy is so very human. Geesh, I hate it when I invest time in a book and can't find a way to connect with the characters. Visiting from A to Z. Nice to "meet" you .
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