This week I’ve had a bit of an epiphany. I’ve been writing a story with a double heroine and been struggling to create empathy for one of them. No matter what I do, one of my characters seems to be more likable than the other. This week however, I think I’ve broken through a barrier.
The answer to making a character more likable, more intriguing, more interesting is always in their back story. A great character has to believe certain things about themselves that in turn drives every single thing they do in your plot. In order to empathize with a character the reader needs to be able to understand why they are making certain decisions. However, it’s not good enough to just say, Alison wants five apples to make apple pie. No, it has to be Alison wants five apples to make apple pie because she believes apple pie will lift her never ending depression. It’s the dish she always used to share with her best friend after a break up. That’s not a very good example but you get the picture.
Everything in your story can’t be in the present, it has to be in the past as well. Even though, you are giving the reader a slice of your characters life, you have to draw on their whole life to really deepen empathy. Of course, now that I’ve figured this out, I have a stack of revisions to do. Wish me luck!

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