Would a love interest make my comic better/ more likeable

FlutterbyBubbles 2017-09-16 11:13:26 UTC #1

So, I'm working on a new comic, and while it's still only in the early stages of development, I want to have some main story points ready before I start getting into the details, and I want to know if putting a love interest into the story makes it potentially better, or more likeable? I just want to know what most people would think, as I want to make the story the best I can, and while I know I can't please everyone, I want to know what other people think about this. I see a lot of stories have love interests, and I just need opinions.

Also, if it is better to have a love interest, do people prefer same- or opposite-sex relationships?

Tes 2017-09-16 11:34:54 UTC #2

From what I've seen, people really like love interests. They like to ship everyone with anyone and if that ship becomes canon then great, now they're more invested than before. Having a love interest brings another layer of suspense to your story (a sort of will-they-won't-they kind of thing) and I'm sure an argument could be made on how love-triangles are even more effective than just a single love interest.

Does that mean your story has to have romance? Not at all, I say just do whatever comes naturally to you. As for same vs opposite relationships, I believe same-sex is more popular in Tapas while opposite-sex is more popular in Webtoons.

Heliox14 2017-09-16 11:59:35 UTC #3

It all depends on how to play it.
To me, the masses' preferences don't matter, because they'd love ANY type of romance, whether straight, yaoi, yuri, or Apache helicopter/unicorn (I haven't seen this type, but I'm pretty sure the Internet has.).
Here's a few tips.
1. Set the atmosphere. It all depends on how you want the two characters to interact. It can be as normal as an accidental collision while getting popcorn, or even as weird as meeting in front of an Otacon wearing their cosplays...just make sure the readers will be entertained. It's not a story if the reader isn't entertained. It becomes a textbook (jkjkjkjk).
2. Don't make the characters too perfect. I've seen WAY too many stories in FF.net and/or Wattpad use Gary Stus or Mary Sues (read: overly perfect people), and it kills me. Really, characters are human, and they should be imperfect, like the rest of us humans. Not even other life-forms are safe. Remember Murphy's Law, people.
3. Carry it on. Don't just insert the second party in to the primary character's life like a long lost jigsaw piece. Loving takes time, and the characters also should. In blunt, don't rush it. Personally, I think a slow burn romance is better. Up to you if you want a slow burn romance or a whirlwind romance.
Now, like said in the previous post, it depends entirely up to you. If you think you need it, then go.
Good luck on your comic!
Send us the link when it's posted, please. I'd really like to read it.
-Helioxiv

Vanesalisa 2017-09-16 12:04:01 UTC #4

yes everybody needs a loves interest it can also be another key on their past or present you can use it like a character will mention their dead or alive love interest plus you can ship it's fun

juyunseen 2017-09-16 12:40:58 UTC #5

It would be helpful if you shared some info about the story you want to tell. What's the central idea? What are your world's mechanics? Is it an adventure told across many locations, or is it all set in one location like a YMCA or something?

A love interest being present shouldn't come before your story, and the love interest must be a relevant character with a distinct worldview and feelings long before they are a love interest. Adding one just to have one is a fast way to include a flat, uninteresting character with no real plot relevance.

Once you know your story's arc and conceit, then you can decide if a love interest makes sense and is interesting in your story.

TheThoughtfulBoxful 2017-09-16 12:46:48 UTC #6

(This ended up being longer than expected oh dear.)

I don't know, would it?

"Write for yourself first, your audience second."

If you feel that a love interest would make the story more interesting or likable to YOU, than by all means, write one in. But if you're just feeding on people's wonky fetishes (yes, I think shipping is a fetish. Have you read what people say when they ship??) and trying to figure out the best way to get folks to like you and your work right off the bat, then write what you think the people want. I doubt you'll be happy with the results, but that's just my opinion.

Now, something a little more positive, a story can be fantastic without a real love interest. Sure it's cute, fun to watch grow and all that, but it's not necessary. Also, I think "love interest" can branch into other forms beside romance, depending on how you word it. There are close friendships, sibling relationships, and I suppose the love that keeps a family together.

So I guess I'm saying to be afraid to throw in some feels if you think it'll make your story better (which is most likely unavoidable because you can't tell a story without character driven emotions and feelings). But don't write for the crowd. Write what's in your heart. You'll tell a better story that way.

punkarsenic 2017-09-16 13:02:36 UTC #7

adding a subplot to a story can add to the complexity and interest, and give the readers more to latch onto, whatever that subplot is. however it has to be done right.

i dont think stories without love interests are lacking in any way - look at moana, look at brave, look at, idk, ghostbusters? they can in fact be a refreshing change from the status quo of shoehorning a (typically heterosexual) romantic subplot into a story where it has insufficient development and often involves sexist tropes.

on the other hand, if you do it right, and you do it because you want to, and think its right for the characters it can add to the personal connection with the characters, raise the stakes, provide relief from intense mainplot, and be a lot of fun to write.

typically, i find, gay people prefer same sex relationships and straight people prefer opposite. which... makes sense. theres also like 'fujoshis' and that but being straight and obsessing over gay relationships is a liiiiil weird so lets ignore them

as a lesbian, i know that i roll my eyes and lose interest oftentimes with heterosexual relationships in media, and id get very excited if a story had a gay or lesbian couple. however, theres lots of m/f romances in media i really like, because theyre charming characters and the romance has been well executed.

i also know a lot of feminist women - regardless of sexuality - can be suspicious of the introduction of a heterosexual love interest because of aforementioned sexist tropes. but thats just a case of doing your romantic subplot properly, and being original.

shazzbaa 2017-09-16 13:31:53 UTC #8

As others have said, if a love interest feels tacked on, like someone just added a love interest because they think there's supposed to be one there, it generally ends up feeling kind of bad and forced?

If a story has a romance that grows naturally out of the characters, though, it's great and a lot of fun!

Testaccount 2017-09-16 15:04:42 UTC #9

Most readers like a romantic subplot, but I wouldn't say it's needed.

NickRowler 2017-09-16 18:19:40 UTC #10

I don't have a preference of straight, gay, lesbian, etc.

I think instead you should focus on making sure the love interest has a personally and a purpose. The most stereotypical one is when the MC has to save the love interest. But you could also have something where they have to work together, or she/he is related to someone who is close to the MC.

Be careful of the "nice guy" trope. Your MC should have flaws and their flaws should be addressed. And if the MC acts creepy, address that behavior as bad, not "misunderstood" or whatever.

As a personal preference, avoid angelic perfect female love interests. She should have flaws too.

375 2017-09-17 06:13:23 UTC #11

If you want it to? I use to write stories without a love interest and it worked fine XD

joannekwan 2017-09-17 06:35:23 UTC #12

It really depends on your characters and how well you write them.
Sure a love interest can get your protagonist to show a different side of themselves, but if the LI is bland, boring and just there to inspire the MC to succeed (even if it's a muse story) then it won't add much.

Speaking of forced love interests, look at most Robin Williams movies where he has one. They always seem to shoe-horn in a girl for him when he could do just fine on his own or with his supporting cast.

PaulDevers 2017-09-17 14:00:40 UTC #13

I don't think you need one per-se, it more depends on the story your telling and the characters you have. If it doesn't feel organic, then there really isn't a point to it altogether. That, and if it ends up overtaking the comic when it's genre/plot was something completely different. I've read tons of young-adult books that suddenly skipped onto full-romance partway and ignored the main plots. I don't want to suddenly have the story's pacing grind to halt so that the main characters can go on a dinner date when we still have the evil Lord Galbatorix eating babies two houses over to worry about.

TheThoughtfulBoxful 2017-09-17 14:16:41 UTC #14

PaulDevers 2017-09-18 14:47:06 UTC #15

Okay context: First off, Eragon is a terrible book series, and it's big bad is the cartoonshily named King Galbatorix. He's hilariously evil. So I use his name whenever I need a filler name for a villain!
Second: I also needed context for something evil for him to do. And everyone thinks eating babies is bad! So it seemed to make sense for me!

69Michi 2017-09-18 15:30:43 UTC #16

Entirely depend on you. Personally I don't think it's needed to force a love interest into your story. My story personally has little to no romance whatsoever but people still seem to find a way to ship and have fun with their ships. As long as you have more than 1 character in the story, there will always be a way to ship them depending on their interaction and relationship development. Is it REALLY needed to plainly declare someone as the romantic love interest of another? Can't you just do you, focus on the usual relationship development among your characters? Don't bend to your reader's will at the smallest thing!

lilydusk 2017-09-20 14:43:06 UTC #17

It really depends. A plotline involving platonic relationships can be just as poignant and heartwarming as a romance, sometimes even more so. This coming from a diehard romantic

mpiradarada 2017-09-20 15:50:45 UTC #18

Like others have said, properly handling a romance subplot is complicated. In fact, I can't think of a single story I liked that completely nailed it.

So instead of a direct answer, here are some ways adding a love interest could make your comic not-better:

*If the love interest stands out as "the love interest". If the character can be identified as such the moment they're introduced, that's usually not a good sign and they'll risk looking more like a gimmick or a trophy than an actual character. Work on fleshing out the character first and giving them a personal identity and agenda, outside of all things romance. Introduce them as their own person first and then, as the story progresses, built the romance organically.

*If the love interest is only brought out for the love bits. Again, don't create a love interest just for the sake of being a love interest. If the character's only relevant scenes are them mooing the protagonist, they won't feel real. Give them their own moments and subplot outside of the romance one.

*If the interactions with love interest create no growth. Relationships and interactions should be used to flesh out characters and make them grow; and significant expectations are placed on something as intimate as a romantic relationship. If it's a positive and healthy one, the romance should also be a vehicle for both characters to go on their own personal journey of self-discovery and self-improvement.

There, I hope it helps!

Instacore 2017-09-24 13:56:40 UTC #19

I think it won't make too big of a difference if you write a love interest. But if you do, it is absolutely important that you integrate that relationship with the character's personality. To make your character's love interest stand out, you must make it unique and realistic. Maybe you could write about how a young person who has extremely conservative values, and looks down upon others with a relationship, however he/she suddenly have a strong interest in someone one day, and that could result in a personal conflict and potential character development. The point is, don't see a relationship as something you stick on randomly on a character, but mix it in. How does the persona's behaviour, character, backstory, and views affect the relationship?

Putting in a relationship does not necessarily make a character and story better. If it just stands there with no relevance to the character's decisions and goals, it might just stand in the way of a good story. Love and relationships are complex- they change people, they mould who we are, and if you reflect that in your story, then you are going to create something a lot more compelling.

Hope that helps.