E is for Energy – Alphabet Challenge

woman energetic 9466351_sE: Energy

What makes a character sparky? I’ve thought of this many times while I write out character profiles. In spanking romances, sparkiness is often exhibited by brattiness and rebellious behavior in females. In more traditional romance, a woman might be a “kick ass” girl, or she might buck the tide of her era’s customs.

Men are sometimes seen as more energetic when they do some physical activity, or use a keen intelligence to solve a thorny problem. Their spirited defense of the heroine is always a symptom of energy.

Words that come to mind when thinking about energy in characters are: rebel, outcast, bluestocking, fighter, termagant, brat, angry, pugnacious, and ruthless. These word associations produce a nearly visceral reaction in readers, making them hyperaware of what might come next in the story: is a conflict eminent?

What makes you think of energy in a book? Are there words that you link with a sparky character?

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