 Drama: June 16, 2021 Issue [#10745] |
This week: Relationships Edited by: Lilli  
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| Character relationships are, in many ways, the glue that holds a story together. Rarely can a character sustain a story on their own; they need others: friends, family, mentors, lovers, enemies, strangers, pets, ...something/someone. |
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Your character’s relationships will seem more realistic to your readers if they mimic real-life. The pattern of one’s actions often has a greater effect on relationships than the intent behind each individual action. To help you in building relationships and issues between characters, draw on your own life experiences, give your characters unique traits, etc.
For example:
Let’s say Zach and Louis are out at a bar. They met at school, both are members of the college tennis team and quickly became best friends. It’s the night before a huge tournament, and Zach starts drinking more than he should. Louis tells him to stop or he’ll be hungover for his matches. Sounds reasonable, right? But Zach gets angry and tells him to stop smothering him, which leads to an argument.
Here’s why...
Louis was trying to look out for his friend but the problem is that he frequently criticizes Zach’s choices and behaviors; from the way he studies, eats, practices tennis, etc. The pattern of criticism has repeatedly made Zach feel incompetent, lazy, and childish; stoking his frustration and making him feel increasingly sensitive to any criticism he receives from Louis.
The result is that Zach finally blew up. Louis meant well but well, but the pattern of his actions has had a damaging effect on their friendship. Does this mean that Louis should have just let Zach keep drinking? No, not necessarily. But, even a good action can become a landmine if it fits into a damaging pattern.
The two people I mentioned above have a history together and therefore developed patterns in the way they interact. Keep this in mind when writing characters into your stories. It will help set them up as realistic and believable characters.
While you are building the layers of your character relationships, remember that these little details need to play a part in the overall story. Just like with dialogue, it should move the story forward while keeping the reader engaged.
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Comments from "Drama Newsletter (May 19, 2021)" , "Writer's Block"
From Elfycia Lee ☮  :
"How did you know? I'm hiding in this little wormhole where my muse and thoughts cannot catch me. I'm making them all go away! Freewriting or brainstorming is powerful. I admit it. Still hiding..."
From Bikerider  :
I enjoyed reading your May 19th newsletter. What writer hasn't experienced writer's block? A few years ago I took an informal writing critique class and one of the subjects was writer's block. The instructor believed that if you are experiencing writer's block just sit at your computer, or writing tablet, and write the first sentence of an idea, any idea, and the rest of the story will evolve. I've used that technique before and found it successful more often than not. |
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