The sibling relationship is unique and special because you often love and despite your siblings at the same time. Sibling relationships are widely mixed and diverse, and they rely on many things, including age ranges, personalities, and family dynamics. As a result, there isn’t necessarily a wrong way to write siblings, however, there are some known tips for writing sibling dynamics. Writing about siblings can be a daunting task for most writers, though it isn't impossible. If you are looking to write well-rounded and engaging siblings, continue reading for five important tips for writing characters who are siblings.
Build out Their Past
It is crucial to evaluate the backstory of your sibling characters. The term "sibling" can be broad and even within the relationship of "sibling," there are many different types of relationships. For example, some siblings may have been separated at birth and then reunited. Or siblings could be half-siblings or adopted. Before writing about the siblings, consider their past. The first fact to decide on is the birth order. Who is the older sibling? Who is the younger sibling? Birth order doesn't determine the personality of a character, but it may contribute to it. When building the backstory you also need to look at how they were/are raised. A person's upbringing has a substantial impact on someone's character, and it can also define the relationships between siblings. Deciding on the ages, genders, birth order, and the pasts of your sibling characters is essential and will ensure that your story flows coherently.
Give Each Sibling Their own Personality
When writing about siblings, each sibling in the family should have their own personality. Siblings, including twins, don't share the same personality with each other. Each person has their own unique set of fears, quirks, and desires. Before you consider the sibling relationship, it is essential that you have characters that are individually interesting. Every character in your novel should be engaging by themselves and shouldn't need a sibling to be interesting. Your characters should have personalities, outside of being siblings. The siblings should have unique traits and hobbies that differ from the other characters. The siblings in your story may have similar appearances, and looks, however, it’s important to make them their own person. No two people are identical in every way, and characters shouldn't be either. Giving each sibling unique personalities, goals and traits will help deepen your story. It’s essential to your novel that you understand all parts of your character so that they appear realistic. When you write a novel with siblings, it is important that your characters don't have personalities tied to their siblings.
Avoid Clichés
There are many clichés centering around siblings and these are important to avoid. Clichés run rampant in literature, but they can kill the story. Clichés are tropes or expressions that have lost their originality due to overuse. When you write it is important that you don't bulge your novel with clichés, because clichés demonstrate a lack of creativity or original thought. When writing about siblings, you may feel tempted to include clichés, but it is best to create your own characters and be descriptive. Also, though clichés are common, they may not translate to other languages, which will create language barriers for international readers. Continue below for common clichés about siblings:
Oldest Sibling
Middle Sibling
Youngest Sibling
Incorporate Conflict
The sibling relationship is nuanced and complex. Though siblings care deeply for each other, they also bicker and fight often. Most of the time, siblings only fight to get attention or a reaction from the other siblings; it isn't meant to be hurtful. In order to write realistic siblings, consider incorporating conflict and disagreement. The siblings you write about may fight over small things like the television remote, but they fight about large and more pressing issues. For example, who is the favorite sibling? Whether the siblings bicker about trivial or significant issues, adding conflict to your novel will ensure your story has realism. If you do include sibling conflict and disagreement in your story, make sure to consider how each sibling responds to the conflict. People react to conflict differently and your characters should too! While including the conflict in your plot, think about how each sibling reacts. Ask yourself these questions while adding tension to your story: Does this character show their anger through the silent treatment? (Choosing not to talk for a long period of time) Do they become physical? Do they instantly become guilty? Inserting conflict in your story is a great way to intrigue readers, while also humanizing your characters! If you are unsure about what siblings often quarrel about, listed below are five common things siblings fight about.
Who gets to sit in the front seat of the car?
Who gets to use the T.V. remote?
Who ate all the desserts/sweets?
Who gets to use the bathroom first?
Whose turn is it to do chores?
Don't say "sis" or "bro"
When writing about siblings, don't have the siblings call each other "sis" or "bro." In the media, it is very common for siblings to refer to each other using these terms, however, this is very rare in real life. Including a casual greeting like that is fine, but overusing these terms only sounds strange. If you are including siblings in your story, steer away from saying "bro" and "sis." Having your characters say these words will make your novel seem unnatural and it may irk readers. In place of these tags, the siblings will probably call each other by their names or made-up nicknames.
The sibling dynamic is a special and unique one, which is why it is so intriguing to writers. Writing about siblings can create many entertaining and interesting moments for writers and readers alike! Though writing about siblings is difficult, especially if you don't have experience with them, it is possible. Following the 5 steps listed above will guarantee that your siblings appear realistic and natural to readers!
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