One of my favorite things in the editing phase is character analysis. Most people do this before they start writing and then forget about it once complete. I started it before, add to it during and review it in the editing stages to ensure the character I see in my mind is that character coming out on the page. One of those items that is so important for reader connecting and general depth are the silly inane things that make us unique as individuals. One of these is, of course, the crush.
Crushes are something teenage girls have on movie stars, the local football jock, or the boy she sits next to in history with the dreamy smile. The almighty crush is something of legend and by the time we age and become adults the crush shouldn’t be a word in our vocab right? When we think of a crush, it is defined as unrequited feelings for another. In the world of adults it takes on a different tone, I believe Ross Geller from Friends called it his top five. It is perfectly normal for all of us, single or committed to be attracted in one form or another to other people. We are in fact human. It is also healthy to share these ‘crushes’ with your partner as they probably have them as well.
So here is my question, who does my character have a crush on. Who makes her giggle or him smile wide and bright. It is not necessarily a sexual crush, there are all kinds of crushes. Personally I have several.
Physical – Their body makes your body…uh huh… you are happy to have the movie on mute is just to see the rippling abs.
Romantic - Not necessarily hot bodies but definitely dreamy, these crushes are more romantic fantasy than physical hotness.
Intellectual – Their brains get you riled up and you are just in love with their brilliance!
Same Sex – Someone of the same gender that we just drool over because they are so amazing.
As we all have these types of admiration for people so should our characters. I discovered that my heroine has an intellectual crush on Anderson Cooper. I have an intellectual crush on Seth MacFarlane, Physical crush on Mark Walberg and Romantic crushes on Daniel Craig, and George Clooney. My Female crush is on Ellen DeGeneres, I am just so enamored by her spirit. If you look at my choices and think about them you can probably discover a lot about me.
So who are your crushes? Too many to name? Spread them around a bit, share with your characters and weave it into what makes them unique! This is also another way to make your characters relateable, grounded and more real. You think this might be a wasted detail but you never know how something so buried could pop up in the end.
*And yes, I did this topic just so I could look up fabulous pictures of hot guys!! LOL!
Amy Romine
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THE FRIDAY ARTICLE: The Almighty Crush by Amy Romine
Reviewed by Amy J Romine
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Reviewed by Amy J Romine
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8:11 am
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Thanks for another great article, Amy! @AmyJRomine I do love your ideas of how to make your characters relateable, grounded and more real. And Daniel Craig is not bad too... LOL
ReplyDeleteHey, Daniel is mine...and Russell, Gerard, Enrique, Darren, Rafa........
ReplyDeleteWell, who's a greedy lass? lol I have to bagsy Daniel though, as he lives closer to me than you. (Last I heard LOL) @twitter-110455908:disqus @CorfuViv:disqus
ReplyDelete