Hey everyone and happy almost Valentines Day! This post is all above the love. Shipping, loving fictional characters, and my favorite lovey dovey songs for writing romantic scenes. (Minor spoilers for The Vampire Diaries and Percy Jackson books).
But first! A writing update! I have to mention Weapon Icean, my superhero fiction story I'm currently editing... There are still a few kinks that needs figuring out but I am confidant that I'll get my characters sorted and figured out (as long as they're in a cooperative mood). I wanted it to be ready by the middle or end of February but I'm not sure if that's going to happen now. I determined though to get it published sometime soon, the release date is still very sketchy. Also, I am working on the synopsis. I am awful at synopsis' and what it to be the best so I'm taking my time.
The second book is also in the works along with a sci-fi book featuring Powered characters that like to boss me around and tell me what to do and what world they should be and overall be complete nuisances. Now that you're updated on my writerly life and Weapon Icean (my baby) here is a post that your going to loveI hope.
First off I just have to say that the first fictional character I ever fell completely in love with was Percy Jackson.
(Yes I hated the movie too but here is a Percy gif anyways because look at those eyes.)
Don't lie, we all fell in love with him the minute we opened the book. That and Nico... and Luke. But I mostly lovedand still love Percy. He started my crazy love for books and fictional characters and I will forever be thankful to Rick Riordan for creating him. Also I ship Percabeth so hard though to tell the truth I think the first characters I ever shipped was Ron and Kim from Kim Possible and that was before shipping was a thing.
But really, how does a writer go about getting readers to ship their characters? Is it a science or something that just happens? I think it's both.
One thing that works wonders is having the two characters be friends first and drag them and the readers through hell before they even start dating or seeing each other in a romantic way. That worked wonders for Damon and Elena on The Vampire Diaries. The instant those two characters met I was like yep, you two are meant to be together. But the writers made you wait and wait and wait and when they finally got together it was like the best thing that ever happened because you've been waiting for that for so long!
I think -- whether it was intentional or not -- Rick Riordan did something similar with Annabeth and Percy. At first they weren't the best of friends, then they became friends, then super close friends and they go through so much together and when they start to see each other in a romantic way it's the best. Tense scenes, being friends first and a huge amount of patience is key to getting anyone to ship two characters. Especially when they know that they are supposed to be together or should be together no matter what.
With my book Weapon Icean Delphi, the main character, doesn't actually have a real love interest. At least no yet. She's too busy with the fact that a secret organization of villains are after her and her friends. Plus my characters are too bossy for me to intentionally put a love interest in there. If she wants to fall in love she'll tell me. Even still there is still that one character that I ship her with (a certain roguish criminal with black angel wings named Eros mmmhmmm, he's the best).
But the best way to get people to ship is suspense. Give them a tense romantic little scene here and there where the character's are leaning toward each other but then bam! They separate and have to deal with something else or someone else shows up and catches one of their attentions and then by the end of the book or second book or... the end of the series they finally realize that they love each other and there's the scene that the readers have been waiting for.
That's my two cents on getting readers to ship like crazy and now before I go here are some songs that are perfect for valentines day and for characters that are head over heals in love:
What do you think about shipping? What's get the readers to love your characters together? Who's your OTP?
But first! A writing update! I have to mention Weapon Icean, my superhero fiction story I'm currently editing... There are still a few kinks that needs figuring out but I am confidant that I'll get my characters sorted and figured out (as long as they're in a cooperative mood). I wanted it to be ready by the middle or end of February but I'm not sure if that's going to happen now. I determined though to get it published sometime soon, the release date is still very sketchy. Also, I am working on the synopsis. I am awful at synopsis' and what it to be the best so I'm taking my time.
The second book is also in the works along with a sci-fi book featuring Powered characters that like to boss me around and tell me what to do and what world they should be and overall be complete nuisances. Now that you're updated on my writerly life and Weapon Icean (my baby) here is a post that your going to love
First off I just have to say that the first fictional character I ever fell completely in love with was Percy Jackson.
Don't lie, we all fell in love with him the minute we opened the book. That and Nico... and Luke. But I mostly loved
But really, how does a writer go about getting readers to ship their characters? Is it a science or something that just happens? I think it's both.
I think -- whether it was intentional or not -- Rick Riordan did something similar with Annabeth and Percy. At first they weren't the best of friends, then they became friends, then super close friends and they go through so much together and when they start to see each other in a romantic way it's the best. Tense scenes, being friends first and a huge amount of patience is key to getting anyone to ship two characters. Especially when they know that they are supposed to be together or should be together no matter what.
With my book Weapon Icean Delphi, the main character, doesn't actually have a real love interest. At least no yet. She's too busy with the fact that a secret organization of villains are after her and her friends. Plus my characters are too bossy for me to intentionally put a love interest in there. If she wants to fall in love she'll tell me. Even still there is still that one character that I ship her with (a certain roguish criminal with black angel wings named Eros mmmhmmm, he's the best).
But the best way to get people to ship is suspense. Give them a tense romantic little scene here and there where the character's are leaning toward each other but then bam! They separate and have to deal with something else or someone else shows up and catches one of their attentions and then by the end of the book or second book or... the end of the series they finally realize that they love each other and there's the scene that the readers have been waiting for.
That's my two cents on getting readers to ship like crazy and now before I go here are some songs that are perfect for valentines day and for characters that are head over heals in love:
- Heart by Heart by Demi Lovato (from The Mortal Instruments movie)
- Hunger by Ross Copperman
- A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope
- Devotion by Hurts
- Holding on and Letting Go by Ross Copperman
- Can't Live Without Your Loveby Ross Copperman
- Somebody to Die For by Hurts
- Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
- Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran
- Perfect by One Direction
- Maps by Caleb and Kelsey
What do you think about shipping? What's get the readers to love your characters together? Who's your OTP?
Right now I'm busy making my readers (read: friends who are so bored that they will read my half-finished chapters without me having to push too much) ship these two characters that are so awesome together. Like the way a cherry belongs on a cake, and the way toast needs butter.
ReplyDeleteMaking them friends first is a really good way to turn two characters that initially hated each other into the perfect ship. From tension, to friendship, to friend zoning, and then there's the moment when something happens and everyone is like 'just kiss', but they stay friends, and a few of those moments later, there's a couple. It's horrible for your readers. I love it. *evil laugh*
Awesome Gerjanne! That's a great romance format for characters and it's so agonizing cuz your like just get together already! But by the end when it finally happens it is so satisfying :b
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