So, character relationships. Due to it being February and the month of luv (sometimes twue luv bwings us together to-day), we're going to focus on relationships. Bonus points to anyone who gets the reference in the parenthesis above. So the questions are as follows:
- How hard is it for you to create character relationships?
- Do you pre-plan them or do you end up letting them develop as the novel goes on?
- Have your characters betrayed you and paired up with someone you didn't expect?
- Give us the story of how your favorite written characters got together and what makes their relationship strongest.
It is not hard for me to create character relationships. I like having characters interact with each other, even on a platonic or romantic level, because it just makes the plot go easier. I think there is nothing that I've written where there wasn't a romantic undertone, which is kind of scary, but I think that goes hand in hand with how much romance is wanted in stories. It is extremely hard to pick up a novel where there isn't some sort of romantic subplot and I should know because I've searched for such a thing. And then I'm a hypocrite because I don't write what I would read. Oops. :) But it's also fun in the end because, sometimes, as I'll explain with the favorite written characters, the plot builds up around the relationship.
I pre-plan my relationships because I like to plan everything. I need to know what is going to happen with all the characters or nothing really makes sense. Well, it will make sense, but it's too chaotic in the end. Like the time that I wrote Power without too big of a plan and romance snuck in between the female main character and the rogue of the story. That wasn't supposed to happen, as I was trying to write fantasy without any romance, but eh. It happened and I'll probably keep the relationship whenever I get around to the second draft of that story. Don't ask me when because I really don't know, honestly. That's on a back burner so far away it's in the next zip code. I think that also covers the third question as well, so woot woot. Didn't think I would do that.
So, story time. My favorite written characters, at the moment, are Justinian and Kate. They're from Mystery of the Dark and seem to bring out the snark in each other. It's fun to write them when they first get together because they're not sure how to work - he just wants to be together and she's all "but you're the enemy" - but they get together in the end. She gets used against him and he gets used against her and it's a lot of fun. What makes their relationship strong is that, no matter what, they accept that they might never be on the same side but still love each other. And he's very much of the mind set that she will kill him one day. But there's nobody else who he would let kill him, so it's all good in the end. Yes, he's insane, don't mind him. They're still my favorites of the moment, until I get into Watchers, but I haven't started that yet.
Bam, February done. Now onto March and that post. I'll try to actually write April in April too. :)
