What connects you to a character? Looks? Personality?
When I start a story, the character walks into my thoughts as if a person walking into a room. They have distinct looks, as if real people. In "Riley's Pond," Riley is sandy haired, athletic build, but not rockstar gorgeous. He's normal - good looking, of course, but his personality is what "painted" Riley in my head. He's sarcastic, a hopeless romantic beneath a lust-crazed exterior, and the perfect boyfriend. Taylor is blond, essential to the scene that inspired the story (the chapter titled "The Pond") and pretty, but again, her mannerisms and voice molded her. She's guarded, suffered tragedy on a very personal level, but loves Riley with every cell in her body.
Now "Designer Genes" is a different. Marli, my heroine, has chestnut dark hair, long, with bright sapphire blue eyes. She's petite (fits under Jordan's chin), but her self esteem issues put the shades in her description. Jordan and Jesse, however, are melt-your-bones yummy. Their physical descriptions were so vivid in my imagination I think I actually crushed bad on them both. Twins, but not identical, Jordan has thick bronze hair - not blond or brown. His eyes were the inspiration of his character. Hazel - chameleon eyes that change with his surroundings. Jesse, his equally sexy twin brother, has dark blond hair, long, usually tethered back, with eyes the color of rich chocolate. Both tall, muscular, and fill a room with their presence when they walk in. Jordan is controlling, and Marli's stubborn personality drives him nuts. Jesse is carefree, flirty and the essence of forbidden.
"Twilight" the characters were based on physical attraction. In "The Hunger Games" the characters were personality driven.
So, when you become attached to a hero or heroine in a story, how do you describe them? Physically - by their looks, or by their personality?
Now "Designer Genes" is a different. Marli, my heroine, has chestnut dark hair, long, with bright sapphire blue eyes. She's petite (fits under Jordan's chin), but her self esteem issues put the shades in her description. Jordan and Jesse, however, are melt-your-bones yummy. Their physical descriptions were so vivid in my imagination I think I actually crushed bad on them both. Twins, but not identical, Jordan has thick bronze hair - not blond or brown. His eyes were the inspiration of his character. Hazel - chameleon eyes that change with his surroundings. Jesse, his equally sexy twin brother, has dark blond hair, long, usually tethered back, with eyes the color of rich chocolate. Both tall, muscular, and fill a room with their presence when they walk in. Jordan is controlling, and Marli's stubborn personality drives him nuts. Jesse is carefree, flirty and the essence of forbidden.
"Twilight" the characters were based on physical attraction. In "The Hunger Games" the characters were personality driven.
So, when you become attached to a hero or heroine in a story, how do you describe them? Physically - by their looks, or by their personality?