  Drama
This week: Me and You, Him and Her, Us and Them Edited by: zwisis
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In the real world our relationships are multi-faceted and diverse. They’re a vital and integral part of all our lifestyles, from the brief encounter with the teller at the local supermarket to our connections with our closest friends... from the lives we share with our spouse and our children to the interactions with our parents and our siblings. Human beings are not the only relationships we develop – some children have imaginary friends or consider their toys to be living, breathing beings capable of the same emotions as we feel. Animal lovers share a very deep relationship with their pets, while those of us who love wildlife feel a great affinity for seals, elephant, rhino, tigers... and don’t forget those of us who love gardening and speak to our plants! |
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Whether the relationship is a good or bad one, readers want to feel for one or both the people/animals/beings/things in the relationship. Whether the relationship is destined to succeed against all odds or fail in the most spectacular way imaginable, whether it is formed for the sole purpose of self gratification or fated to end in tragedy... all writers need to pull their readers into the story in the same way – the use of suspense.
When I think about suspense in writing I automatically think of thrillers. But there’s a good deal more to suspense than simply scaring your reader. Suspense is also tension, apprehension, anticipation, trepidation and expectation. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a personal memoir, a romance, a comedy or drama – there is always an opportunity to create suspense in any relationship.
Knowing your characters. Once you’ve developed your characters you will need to spend some time developing their relationship, and this should include information you won’t be using in the story. How does your protagonist feel about his best friend, his wife, his sister/brother, employer, neighbour or pet? Why does he feel this way? The reasons may not make it into your story, but they’ll help give you the writer a better understanding of the characters, and help develop they way they react with others in specific ways or situations. This will also translate into more believable and realistic characters for your readers.
Use background information. Every one of us has reasons for behaving the way we do or reacting to people or circumstances in a specific way. Think about a character’s background and how that has affected the way they interact with others. If your character is suspicious, loving, considerate, compassionate or distant then why? There is a potential drawback to delving into a character’s past, because a writer risks overusing the past and allowing it to detract from the actual story. Remember to only use enough information to develop your characters’ relationships – by doing this you will leave some things to your reader’s imagination and so retain his interest in your story.
Select relevant details to develop the links between characters. The details need not be glaringly obvious; in fact, it’s often better if they’re subtle because just the smallest detail can create anticipation and surprise when a reader least expects it. Example: in Jeffrey Archer’s “Kane and Abel” a silver bracelet given to Abel by Baron Rosnovski as his Polish lands fall to German forces in World War I is proof that Abel is his son. William Kane notices the bracelet when Abel serves him at a New York restaurant. The banker Kane sees the bracelet again during his dealings with his client Abel. The two men become enemies, with Abel plotting to take over Kane’s bank and ruin him. The bracelet appears again when Kane saves Abel’s life in France during World War II. Despite the sightings of the bracelet Kane cannot place the memory it evokes whenever he sees it, and the two men unknowingly meet several times throughout the novel without recognising one another.
Draw on personal experiences. As a writer you are free to borrow generously from your own life and experiences. Your friendships, conversations, conflicts, challenges, successes and failures can easily be transformed for fiction. As writers we’re always being told to “write what you know” and “truth is stranger than fiction” – you’ll find much of your own life experiences will be a source of inspiration for writing.
Ring the changes. As our own personalities and characters change throughout our lives so do our relationships. A static, never-changing relationship is boring to read about. The relationship will start in the story, but it needs to grow and evolve to be interesting. Outside influences and conflicts should change the way the characters interact. Your characters should be in conflict with one another, but this doesn’t mean they need to fight and argue all the time – that can also be very tiresome for a reader. They don’t even have to be opposites; all you need is some aspects of your characters that causes conflict between them. The relationship may be tested, and perhaps it changes. This applies to characters who start out as adversaries - they may meet and work together somewhere in the story and wind up as friends... or they remain adversaries after being forced to work together.
In conclusion, here’s a few “dos and don’t” for developing relationships from writer Nicholas Sparks. These points don’t just apply to romantic relationships between characters; they are great guidelines for any character:
 Have instant physical/mental attraction/connection
Have your characters get to know each other
Show the progression of the relationship
Mention other characters in your story
Make the relationship realistic
Have arguments and disagreements (no relationship is perfect)
Have things about the other person that annoys them
 Have them love/trust/respect/dislike/hate each other instantly. It takes time to develop any relationship.
Have instant trust (this may work for some, but it’s not realistic.)
Make the relationship perfect
Forget the other characters
Only focus on the physical attraction (unless it’s not about love)
Be sickly with their love
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I felt sick as I stared at the result of my terrible sin. The bike's handlebars were bent into awkward shapes, pointing at me in accusation. They were right to do so. I had failed “Big Red.”
Kneeling down she wiped Lindy’s tears, and hugging her grand-daughter tightly said, ”This is the best present anyone has ever given me
“If you can forgive me for being so jealous and mean to you. I’m sorry Janie. I’d be happy to have you as my friend."
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Three weeks earlier, I found Kovu, lying in the road, covered with yellow jackets. So far, I had successfully harbored him undiscovered.
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Just as I was about to leave, I heard it: a dog speaking, "Home. Home. Sorry. Sorry."
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We have developed a close friendship, sharing a common love for the same woman, though his is one of companionship and romance, whereas mine is a love born of knowledge, caring and a quarter century of shared ups and downs.
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What on earth are you doing? Put that photo of Ashley down. Why are you thinking of him when everything is perfect
“I hoped you would like it.” He said as he looked over to her. “I know it’s not the most romantic setting, but will you-“.
“Look out.” Mena yelled.
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Quick-Quill 
Response to last post-Hunger Games-Read #1& part of 2 and lost interest. The first book was all I needed, the others were just tagalongs and didn't hold my interest. BUT this NL on Characters is great. I am writing a novel about an Islamic Fundamentalist who hates Western culture and all it stands for. Yet when faced with the opposition there is a crack in the wall. I hope my readers will come to root for him not hate him because he does try to do the right thing.
I admit I found the second Hunger Games book a bit too similar to the first, but the third book absolutely blew me away! The unexpected twist was just brilliant! Your plot sounds intriguing, and I think it’s something that’s going to really challenge you because religion is such a topical subject right now. I recently watched a film called “Unthinkable”, which deals with similar issues to your book idea – it certainly gave me a lot of food for thought! I wish you well in this endeavour – you’re a brave writer!
shaara
This theme of this newsletter's article is so true! I have tried to read books where the character is one I didn't like. I've tried to read books where the main character is a wimp and a weakling. It does not work.
Character is the key. Good newsletter.
Thank you for your kind words! I totally agree about the likeability of characters. I’ve just finished a book by Alice Peterson called “You, Me and Him”, which features a child with ADHD. I found myself gritting my teeth every time the child character misbehaved and upset those around him, and wondering why his mother didn’t try harder to get him to behave. I finished the book, but hurried through it because the child annoyed me so much. It’s a shame – I’ve enjoyed two other books written by her.
blunderbuss
Thank you, Sarah. It is such a comprehensive and clear list that I am saving it to file. It's got me thinking already!
You’re welcome!
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Drama: September 11, 2013 Issue [#5878]
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