We all know some ways in which relationships are forged in the real world. What about in our stories?
A Huge/Traumatic/Life-altering Experience
Maybe your characters become best friends after battling a troll in the dungeon. Or perhaps one character helps another bust her brother out of prison and they develop romantic feelings for each other. Don't underestimate the power of two--or three, or five--people going through something significant together!
Battling Side-by-Side
Whether your characters unite against the forces of darkness or the school bully, there is something to be said for "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." All that time together is sure to develop their relationship, whether they understand each other better, become friends, become romantically linked, or just realize how much they despise one another.
Stuck in the Same Situation
Everyone has bonded at a job or in a class that they didn't enjoy, and so can your characters! They might discover that they're the only two who agree that Mr. Dinkleburg is the worst boss around, or that Bio I is the only good class on campus.
Similar Philosophies
Similar philosophies can build relationships in tons of different ways. When they first meet, your characters can find that they agree on so much, they can't help but be friends. Alternatively, they could hate each other and think they are polar opposites, but find that there's actually an outlook on life that they agreed on all along.
Sworn Protection/Hired Gun
Perhaps one of your characters works in a parent/parent-like/caregiver capacity for another. Or one of your characters has hired the other with his father's money to save his life and protect him. Spending so much time together might lead to some feelings of camaraderie, kinship, friendship, or even love between them.
So there are just five possible ways to build character relationships. How do you build relationships in your own stories?
A Huge/Traumatic/Life-altering Experience
Maybe your characters become best friends after battling a troll in the dungeon. Or perhaps one character helps another bust her brother out of prison and they develop romantic feelings for each other. Don't underestimate the power of two--or three, or five--people going through something significant together!
Battling Side-by-Side
Whether your characters unite against the forces of darkness or the school bully, there is something to be said for "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." All that time together is sure to develop their relationship, whether they understand each other better, become friends, become romantically linked, or just realize how much they despise one another.
Stuck in the Same Situation
Everyone has bonded at a job or in a class that they didn't enjoy, and so can your characters! They might discover that they're the only two who agree that Mr. Dinkleburg is the worst boss around, or that Bio I is the only good class on campus.
Similar Philosophies
Similar philosophies can build relationships in tons of different ways. When they first meet, your characters can find that they agree on so much, they can't help but be friends. Alternatively, they could hate each other and think they are polar opposites, but find that there's actually an outlook on life that they agreed on all along.
Sworn Protection/Hired Gun
Perhaps one of your characters works in a parent/parent-like/caregiver capacity for another. Or one of your characters has hired the other with his father's money to save his life and protect him. Spending so much time together might lead to some feelings of camaraderie, kinship, friendship, or even love between them.
So there are just five possible ways to build character relationships. How do you build relationships in your own stories?