For Writers: Rooting Interests

1) We care about characters we feel sorry for (empathy)

2) We like characters with humanistic traits

3) We like to admire the character

Most importantly, we like someone with a mix from all three of these categories.

Empathy:

undeserved mistreatment

undeserved misfortune (bad luck)

physical or mental handicap

frustration or humiliation (embarrassment)

a moment of weakness

abandoned

betrayal

telling the truth but not being believed

exclusion and rejection (not one of the group)

loneliness and neglect

feeling guilty when one’s mistake causes pain

represses pain

life endangerment

Humanistic traits:

lets down his defenses in a private moment

(bonus pts if someone invades his privacy and humiliates him)

helps less fortunate

relates to children

children like character

patting the dog & dog likes character

change of heart

comes to aid of a friend

risk life for another

sacrifices themself

cares for just cause (dies for a just cause)

ethical or moral & responsible

dependable, loyal

loves other people

generous, caring act, compassion, altruistic

Admiration traits:

Power and charisma

Self-confident

Courage (mental and physical)

Passionate

Attractive

Skilled (competent)

Thoughtful & wise

Witty & clever

Sense of humor

Playful

Physical and athletic

Wounded and continues on

Unique way of living

Underdog who tries hard

Active rather than passive

Surrounded by admirers

Novelists Inc. in Florida
10/04/2017

RWA Board Meeting in Denver, CO
11/09/2017

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