According to Wikipedia, there are 6 words for love in the Greek language. Each of them deserves to be looked at as we, that being western authors, often find our perceptions of love colored by the different categories outlined by these six words.

Part 2: Eros

Eros is where we get our word “Erotic”. The word describes a passion, usually of the sexual variety. That celebrity crush you have, it is probably a love of an Eros origin. When you are physically attracted to someone, that particular brand of love is called erotic love. Gross words, I know, but this is part of love, and love is part of literature, so bear with me, okay? Okay.

Oftentimes, in literature, this love will present itself in the classic dilemma many heroes have, “What do they need, versus, what do they want?” In many Romantic dramas, this takes shape in the lover’s triangle. The heroine is torn between the smoking hot rack of abs that she wants and the down-to-earth small town boy whom she needs. Life is full of these struggles. Do you want another cookie? Maybe. But you also need (aka what would be best for you) to put the cookie back in the jar. This can also appear in romantic subplots for fantasy novels. Take Rand, for example, when he starts his adventure in The Wheel of Time, he wants to be with Egwene, his hometown love interest. When he progresses and begins becoming what he was always meant to be (which I won’t spoil), he realizes he needs someone like a Daughter Heir (or princess) who can teach him how to be a ruler and empathize with him as he struggles to come into his full powers both politically and magically.

Physical attraction, speaking from a man’s perspective, can be a powerful motivational tool, but it is also not all there is to love. In my fantasy story, the main character, Nail, begins to fall head over heels for a girl he has only just met and, in a striking bout of maturity for a 10-year-old boy, realizes what he is feeling is merely infatuation. He wants her, but needs to learn how to develop a friendship, or Philia, first, which we will talk about next time.

When writing this kind of love, unless you write some… more gross stories, it is important not to overplay it. It is also important, however, to not underplay it either. Wanting to save a princess from a dragon because she is pretty and might kiss him on the cheek was good enough motivation for an Italian plumber, so it might be good enough for your character, too.

How have you used Eros in your stories? Let me know in the comments below or @ me on X @ABTimothyAuthor