Writing believable friendships is a difficult task for many writers. From the first interactions between characters to the dialogues that bring them closer, it's important for you to capture the nuances of friendship. This article will provide advice on how to write believable friendships, from making them realistic to readers to giving them personal and fun inside jokes. Through the advice provided, you can create authentic stories that include meaningful friendships.
Don't Make Them Perfect
No story would be complete without characters that the audience can relate to. While it is important for the friendships in your story to be interesting and believable, they shouldn't be perfect. In fact, having friendships that are too perfect can make them seem unrelatable. When a friendship is too perfect, it often lacks flaws that make it human and give it depth. This can lead readers to lose interest in the story, because they are unable to connect with the characters. It is okay for characters to be likable, but it is important that they are not perfect. Giving friendships real flaws and problems that the characters must face makes them more interesting and adds to the story. Plus, it allows readers to connect with the characters and makes them more memorable. Instead of making them perfect, you should strive to create relatable friendships that feel real and that readers can identify with.
Make Sure They Have Their Own Lives
Creating characters with separate lives from their friends is key to crafting interesting and engaging stories. When characters in a story are only connected to one another through their friends, it can make their relationship feel shallow and forced. When a character has their own individual life and interests, it allows the reader to better connect with them and understand the motivations behind their actions. Also, having characters with separate lives from their friends can create interesting dynamics that can lead to conflict or resolution. It can also add tension to a story, as characters may clash due to different beliefs or opinions. Giving characters separate lives from their friends adds depth and realism to a story, and makes it more enjoyable for readers. For tips on writing secondary characters, click on the button below.
Give Them Something in Common
The characters in your story should have things in common with their friends, in order to create powerful relationships between them. It can help build strong connections between characters and make it easier for readers to invest in the relationships they form. Plus, having characters with shared interests and experiences can make them more relatable and create an emotional bond between them. Having characters who are similar can also create an interesting dynamic between them, as the characters can challenge each other and help each other grow. Also, it can also bring out different aspects of a character’s personality, as they might be more open and honest with someone who they have more in common with. Giving characters things in common with their friends can also be a good way to develop the plot of the story, as it can help characters form stronger relationships and work together to achieve a common goal.
Include Inside Jokes
Every good friendship is full of inside jokes, so your character's friendships should be, too. Inside jokes are kind of like secrets, in the way that they are personal and confidential. Inside jokes are built on memories and past experiences and they are perfect for showing the history of your characters. Giving characters inside jokes with their friends can help to make the characters and their relationships feel more realistic and authentic. It can also make the story more interesting and entertaining for readers as it gives them a glimpse into the character's lives and relationships beyond the main storyline. Inside jokes can also be used to develop the characters further and give them more depth. By having characters share inside jokes, it adds a layer of understanding and connection between them that can make them more endearing and relatable to readers. Listed below are some common things friends have inside jokes about:
Past Experiences
Embarrashing Moments
Nicknames/Names
Pets
Movies
Consider the Story Arc
The story arc of your story is crucial when writing a friendship because it helps to give the characters depth and complexity. A story arc also allows you to create a strong emotional connection between the characters, as they work together and experience different challenges and obstacles. This connection can help to make the friendship between the characters more meaningful and real for the readers. Finally, the story arc allows you to create a satisfying resolution to the friendship story, which can leave readers feeling satisfied that the friendship has gone through a positive transformation!
Readers want to be engrossed in your story and really get to know your characters, which is why the friendships in your story should be realistic and believable. Creating believable friendships will help draw in readers and make your story more authentic. Althought crafting real friendships in writing is difficult it isn't impossible. With these 5 tips you are guaranteed to write friendships that readers believe in and are rooting for, so get writing!
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