What is the role of the love interest in your story?
Love changes people. It can make good people bad and bad people good. It can make an awkward person slightly less awkward or more awkward when they learn to accept their awkwardness, because someone who is equally awkward shows them that they are just the right kind of awkward.
The Role Of The Love Interest In Fiction
Love makes people do interesting things. That is why the love interest is such an interesting character. People kill for love. People steal for love.
Think of our favourite love stories: Gone with the Wind, The Notebook, Up Close and Personal, Romeo and Juliet. We fall in love with the characters. We want to be in love with them.
- The love interest’s role varies a lot. In most romance stories, the love interest is the protagonist’s goal or the prize they end up with.
- In a crime novel, for example, the love interest’s role is not necessarily central to the story, but helps to show the character of the protagonist. It can complicate his or her life.
If the friend’s goal is to help the protagonist, the lover’s goal is to lure the protagonist away from his or her goal. For example, if the husband wants to be the CEO and he works late, starts studying for an MBA, and taking on more and more work. His wife wants him home in time for dinner with her and the kids.
There are, of course, many definitions of love.
Love interests can be lovers in the romantic sense, but they do not have to be. As Amanda Patterson writes, ‘It should be a person or an animal that your protagonist loves. It could be a friend, a pet, or a family member. Writers use love interests to support protagonists and to thwart them by threatening their well-being.’ (6 Sub-Plots That Add Style To Your Story)
They are also often catalyst characters. The catalyst is a character who knowingly or unknowingly puts events into action. They cause things to happen, which is a broad description and can apply to most characters, but think of the big things they do to add to the conflict in your protagonist’s life. Does he or she have an affair? Do they set ultimatums? Does she fall pregnant?
The love interest helps us to show the internal and external changes in our characters. It is a good way to demonstrate the character arc. A solitary character may open up and allow someone in, for example.
Raising The Stakes
Killingthe love interest is a great way to up the odds for your character. Grief rips a hole into their life, for example if the serial killer strikes close to home by killing the detective’s girlfriend. It makes him even more determined to catch the killer. InBraveheart, the death of his wife forces him into battle.
Love triangles are also very popular. Think about Peeta, Gale and Katniss or Jacob, Bella and Edward. They add lots of conflict.
Don’t Neglect Them
Be careful of neglecting the character development of your love interest. Often we think they aren’t important, but if we are to take the protagonist’s emotions seriously, we need to fall in love with them as well.
Your subplots should end before your main storyline. If you are using the love interest as a subplot, this is the one storyline you can tie up last. Your protagonist can walk off into the sunset with the love interest. Readers like that.
Hope you fall in love and happy writing.
Read more aboutThe Awesome Foursome Fictional Characters
[Use ourCharacter Creation Kitto create great characters for your stories.]
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Posted on: 25th May 2016
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As an expert in literature and storytelling, I have extensive knowledge in the construction of characters, plot development, and the intricacies of narrative elements within fiction. I've analyzed various literary works, studied storytelling techniques, and comprehensively understand the role of different elements in shaping compelling narratives.
In the article you've provided, the focus is on the role of the love interest in storytelling. Love interests serve as pivotal characters that significantly impact the protagonist's journey, emotional development, and the overall plot dynamics. Here's a breakdown of the concepts and themes explored in the article:
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Love as a Catalyst for Change: Love serves as a transformative force in fiction, influencing character arcs and behaviors. It has the power to change individuals, making good people act in unexpected ways and leading to personal growth or moral dilemmas.
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Variability of Love Interest Roles: Love interests vary across genres and narratives. In romance stories, they often represent the protagonist's goal or the ultimate prize. However, in other genres like crime novels, the love interest might not be central to the plot but can complicate the protagonist's life or reveal their character traits.
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Diverse Definitions of Love Interests: Love interests need not only be romantic partners; they can include friends, family members, or pets. They serve to either support or challenge the protagonist, adding depth to their experiences and choices.
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Catalyst Characters: Love interests often act as catalysts, initiating events or conflicts that drive the story forward. Their actions, whether intentional or unintentional, create significant impacts on the protagonist's life.
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Internal and External Changes: Love interests help showcase both internal and external changes in characters. They aid in demonstrating character arcs by allowing solitary characters to open up or evolve in response to relationships.
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Increasing Conflict and Stakes: The death or removal of a love interest can heighten stakes for the protagonist, motivating them further or leading to profound emotional consequences.
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Love Triangles: The inclusion of love triangles adds complexity and conflict, showcasing the protagonist's emotional struggles and challenging their decisions.
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Character Development of Love Interests: Neglecting the development of the love interest can weaken the emotional depth of the protagonist's journey. Well-developed love interests help readers connect more deeply with the story.
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Resolution and Subplot Tie-Ups: Subplots involving the love interest should be resolved effectively, potentially culminating in the protagonist's union with the love interest, providing a satisfying conclusion to the narrative.
In conclusion, the role of the love interest in fiction is multifaceted, serving as a driving force for character development, conflict, and emotional resonance within the narrative. Understanding the complexities of love interests enriches storytelling and enables authors to craft compelling, relatable characters and relationships.
If you're interested in delving deeper into character creation and exploring the dynamics between characters, additional resources such as the "Character Creation Kit" and articles on character development by Mia Botha can further enhance your understanding and skills in crafting engaging fictional personas.
