Show me a little tenderness

Sometimes, all the elements of a novel you've been writing seem to be in place (voice (not just the characters' voices, but the novel's).check; character motivation.check; momentum and suspense.check; leitmotifs if you're into leitmotifs.check; etc.) and you say to yourself: There it is.

Then you look back and you realize that the novel's been lacking something that doesn't get taught, and perhaps isn't even always valued, but it matters a whole lot to you. I might use the word "tenderness" ...