Quick Exercise for Building Character Relationship Dynamics

Quick Exercise for Building Character Relationship Dynamics

Check out the link at the end of this post for a free downloadable spreadsheet where you can complete this exercise with your own characters.

@writersofrohan

ROMANCE WRITERS, save this video and use it next time you are plotting a story or run into a roadblock! #writertok #romancewriter #writingtips #writingadvice #howtowriteabook #writersofrohan

♬ original sound – Emily Krempholtz
Use this quick exercise next time you’re plotting out the relationships between your characters!
@writersofrohan

Replying to @chefbunnina yes! here’s an example of the chart in action using Sally Thorne’s book The Hating Game #writertok

♬ original sound – Emily Krempholtz
An example of the chart in action using popular romance novel, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.
@writersofrohan

Replying to @authorshannonelliot POLYAM ROMANCE WRITERS, I GOTCHU! #writertok

♬ original sound – Emily Krempholtz
How to use the chart to establish relationships between larger groups.

The great thing about this exercise is that it works for any characters whose relationship is central to your story. Are you having trouble with your protagonist and antagonist? Use the chart! Working on how to plot the dynamics between a large family or a group of friends? Use the poly version to get your head on straight when it comes to their unique relationships with one another.

For the purposes of the video, I labeled this exercise “Lies & False Beliefs,” but you can also use the charts outlined above to lay out the thoughts that each of the characters have about themselves and each other. Remember, your mileage may vary, and that’s great, because every story is unique.

You can build your own graph super easily with a sheet of paper and a pen, but if you’d rather complete the exercise digitally, here’s a link to a Google Sheets version. Download the spreadsheet or copy it to your own Drive account, and get plotting!

Interested in more templates, charts, and exercises to help build strong characters and relationships between them? Check out my shop for some downloadable PDFs!