This week’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™ dives into the nuanced art of writing characters who protect others but not themselves—and why they leave such an indelible impact on readers.

This isn’t about romance alone (though it often is). It’s about belonging. About safety. About seeing and being seen. When a character finds that safe space in someone else, we as readers feel it. We crave it. And we remember it. Let’s explore how to write characters who find home—not in a house or city—but in another soul.

As a writer, your goal is to not just tell a story—but to deliver moments so emotionally potent, so immersive, that readers can’t help but go back. They reread not just because it was beautifully written, but because it touched something true inside them. These scenes aren’t about showing off your skill with words—they’re about tapping into the core of human experience and creating a shared emotional space between your characters and your readers.

Today’s post is a deep dive into not just understanding character motivation, but mastering it. Whether you're a novelist, screenwriter, comic creator, or storyteller of any kind—this is the heartbeat of your story.