From the dictionary
Swoon : To enter a state of hysterical rapture or ecstasy.
About sums it up, right? It's that warm, squishy feeling you get when you come across something that makes you swoon. There are a million things that could do it. A beautiful picture. A rare bird. A pretty face.
Cheese…
*ahem*
But today I’m talking about swoonage in relation to fictional characters. Every once in awhile we come across a character that makes us go totally cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. A character—male or female (see the serious girl-crush I have on Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson)—that we can’t stop thinking about. We want to quote them, hang out with them, hell, even be them.
Different things do it for different people.
There's the rough exterior that hides a soft, squishy center. You know the kind of character I mean. The abrasive, sometimes seemingly mean guy (or girl) that has a heart of mush. They might act like they doen't care, but every now and then, they slip up and we get to see the goodness they've try so hard to hide. Aww moments ensue, and everyone falls in love.
What about the kick-ass attitude and never-say-die mentality? Determination is a biggie for me. I’m a sucker for characters that take things into their own hands instead of waiting around for someone else to swoop in and save the day. Sometimes they're a little rash, charging into the fray without a plan or backup, but be lets honest... That only makes us love them even more.
How about the romantic type? The characters willing risk life and limb for the ones they love? I have a special kind of swoon reserved for them. Hell, even bad guys make us swoon sometimes. Give me a villain with a troubled and complicated past that has ultimately forced them to be the bad guy and I’m a happy puppy.
Now it's your turn to share. What's the recipe for your swoon?
