LOVE TRIANGLE
CHARACTERISTICS:
- one of the heroes is attracted by two people and cannot choose
- or two people rival for the love of the same person
- well-develop each of the three characters (what make them tick, their dreams, their past, their goals, etc.)
- the main love interest has a secret past or something he or she is hiding
- make the triangle as unpredictable as possible
- do not make the love triangle the main theme of the story and develop the plot well
- try to keep the reader guessing who will end up together
- show that both suitors are worthy of being loved and stand equal chances
- describe how it feels to be with the two love interests and what they have to offer emotionally
- justify the choice and make the choice obvious half-way in the novel
- do not add a love triangle randomly; it needs to have a purpose
- do not portray any of the three as perfect or dreamy; all characters have flaws
- each character must have a role in the main plot other than being part of the love triangle
- do not portray any of the three as the slave of another, but give them their proper motivation
- instant love or crush does not work; give a good reason for the MC to fall in love
- love triangles work better when each lover represents a different choice. The choice must be hard to make and have some consequences. (Maybe one lover represents having a lifetime of unexpected adventures while the other represents having a routine security. The first boyfriend might represent nobility and a way to secure the family's future and the other boyfriend represents being banned by one's family and live abroad in exotic and dangerous lands. The choice is tough and ends up proving what the MC values most: passion or stability.)
EXAMPLES:
FICTION:
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. (the main hero is torn between the lovely woman he is going to marry and her extravagant cousin)
Wings of the Dove by Henry James. (a poor couple plots to get the girl married to a rich American, kill him and inherit his fortune, but fate chooses a different ending)
Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence. (Connie has married an impotent men. She has an adventure with a rugged gamer and must choose between security and passion)
A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore. (a husband presumed dead reappears many years later
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. (A woman snitches her best friend's lover)
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (two sisters want the love of the king)
Matched by Ally Condie. (The teen girl is matched with her future husband but instead falls for someone else)
The IRON FEY series by Julie Kagawa. (Meghan loves Ash but Puck is still in love with her)
The Selection by Kiera Cass. (12 beauties must fight for the love of a prince)
RIVER OF TIME series by Lisa T. Bergren. (two sisters travel in time to medieval Italy and fall in love with knights)
TIGER'S QUEST series by Colleen Houck (two brothers fight for the love of one woman. They are both perfect for her and they both need her to break the curse placed on them)
Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs. (a mermaid is in love with a human boy, but her neighbor is in love with her)
Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. (Clary loves two boys Simon and Jace, but she learns along the way that Jace is her brother which nips the relationship at the base)
FILMS:
"The Hunger Games."
"Twilight."
"The Vampire Diaries."
RESOURCES:
Brenner, Jamie. "(Not So) Bizarre Love Triangle: The Timeless Thrill of the Love Triangle." Heroes and Heartbreakers.com. Feb 12, 2013. <http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2013/02/timeless-thrill-of-the-love-triangle>
Lauren. "How do you define a love triangle?" Love is Not a Triangle. Jan. 27, 2014. <http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/2014/01/how-do-you-define-love-triangle.html>
CHARACTERISTICS:
- one of the heroes is attracted by two people and cannot choose
- or two people rival for the love of the same person
- well-develop each of the three characters (what make them tick, their dreams, their past, their goals, etc.)
- the main love interest has a secret past or something he or she is hiding
- make the triangle as unpredictable as possible
- do not make the love triangle the main theme of the story and develop the plot well
- try to keep the reader guessing who will end up together
- show that both suitors are worthy of being loved and stand equal chances
- describe how it feels to be with the two love interests and what they have to offer emotionally
- justify the choice and make the choice obvious half-way in the novel
- do not add a love triangle randomly; it needs to have a purpose
- do not portray any of the three as perfect or dreamy; all characters have flaws
- each character must have a role in the main plot other than being part of the love triangle
- do not portray any of the three as the slave of another, but give them their proper motivation
- instant love or crush does not work; give a good reason for the MC to fall in love
- love triangles work better when each lover represents a different choice. The choice must be hard to make and have some consequences. (Maybe one lover represents having a lifetime of unexpected adventures while the other represents having a routine security. The first boyfriend might represent nobility and a way to secure the family's future and the other boyfriend represents being banned by one's family and live abroad in exotic and dangerous lands. The choice is tough and ends up proving what the MC values most: passion or stability.)
EXAMPLES:
FICTION:
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. (the main hero is torn between the lovely woman he is going to marry and her extravagant cousin)
Wings of the Dove by Henry James. (a poor couple plots to get the girl married to a rich American, kill him and inherit his fortune, but fate chooses a different ending)
Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence. (Connie has married an impotent men. She has an adventure with a rugged gamer and must choose between security and passion)
A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore. (a husband presumed dead reappears many years later
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. (A woman snitches her best friend's lover)
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (two sisters want the love of the king)
Matched by Ally Condie. (The teen girl is matched with her future husband but instead falls for someone else)
The IRON FEY series by Julie Kagawa. (Meghan loves Ash but Puck is still in love with her)
The Selection by Kiera Cass. (12 beauties must fight for the love of a prince)
RIVER OF TIME series by Lisa T. Bergren. (two sisters travel in time to medieval Italy and fall in love with knights)
TIGER'S QUEST series by Colleen Houck (two brothers fight for the love of one woman. They are both perfect for her and they both need her to break the curse placed on them)
Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs. (a mermaid is in love with a human boy, but her neighbor is in love with her)
Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. (Clary loves two boys Simon and Jace, but she learns along the way that Jace is her brother which nips the relationship at the base)
FILMS:
"The Hunger Games."
"Twilight."
"The Vampire Diaries."
RESOURCES:
Brenner, Jamie. "(Not So) Bizarre Love Triangle: The Timeless Thrill of the Love Triangle." Heroes and Heartbreakers.com. Feb 12, 2013. <http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2013/02/timeless-thrill-of-the-love-triangle>
Lauren. "How do you define a love triangle?" Love is Not a Triangle. Jan. 27, 2014. <http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/2014/01/how-do-you-define-love-triangle.html>