BOOTCAMP LESSON 11: Relationships

Welcome to our monthly writing game!

    In honor of St-Valentine’s day, I decided to create a writing prompt which will help accentuate the importance of relationships within a plot line. The purpose of this exercise is to focus on how different Characters interact with one another, therefore adding depth to the story.

Relationship Triangles

Lesson 11: Character Relationships

Nothing adds more tension to a relationship than a third wheel!

The basics of a story is a plotline which follows the exploits of the main characters as they attempt to resolve a conflict while making their way to their intended goal. The characters are the writer's most important tool, as their interactions help describe everything from their inner thoughts, to the world around them .

The goal of today’s game will be to create Relationship Triangles. Taking three characters, you must create a relationship between them that is believable and sustainable, a task easier said than done.

Rules:

1. Below are eight different character roles, each with their own personality and motivations.
2. Below are three different scenarios, each with their own problematic situation.
3. Select THREE of the mentioned roles to work with.
4. Select ONE of the mentioned scenarios to work with.
5. Using the three selected roles, create a Relationship Triangle.
6. For all three characters, you must explain how they perceive and interact with the other in the scenario you have chosen.

Character Roles:

• Mr. Hero: Central character in a story, whom the reader usually wants/expects to win in the end.
• Personality: Courageous, resolute, honest and  strong willed.
• Motivation: To ensure balance or keep the peace.
• Dr. Villain:  Represents the obstacle or opposing force in a story that must be overcome in order to succeed.
• Personality: Wicked, untrustworthy, determined and back handed.
• Motivation: To take control of his surroundings.
• Ally Sidekick: A character that will always assist, either with actions or information, in order to help the plot progress.
• Personality: Loyal, reliable, helpful and lighthearted.
• Motivation: To support others in their noble acts.
• Goon McHenchman: A character who follows orders from a higher authority, usually on the side of evil.
• Personality: Uneducated, brutish, unwavering and devoted.
• Motivation: To follow the orders they were given.
• Master Mentor: To teach or represent the lesson that must learned within the story in order to achieve the goal.
• Personality: Insightful, wise, patient and selfless.
• Motivation: To share their knowledge with others.
• Rascal Scalawag: Rogue character that can play a role on either side of the moral spectrum, but is usually pursuing their own interest.
• Personality: Manipulative, vulgar, self-centered and lazy.
• Motivation: To achieve their own goal.
• Prof. Thinker: Character who is always rational and likes to give reasonable answers to complicated questions.
• Personality: Intelligent, aloof, eccentric and innovative.
• Motivation: The advancement of science.
• Ms. Romance: Love interest of one or more characters. Is usually seen as the goal in certain stories.
• Personality: Spirited, sensual, affectionate and vain.
• Motivation: Receiving the adoration of others.

Scenarios:

Scenario 1: Deserted Island.

    Being stranded on a deserted island, the characters must live off the land by finding food, water and shelter. Characters may also be forced to fight other survivors for resources if they cannot find a way to cooperate.

Scenario 2: Crime scene.

    Police, SWAT teams and Bomb Squads are all present at a crime scene. Detectives are attempting to uncover the culprit of a crime. How would the characters interact with each other in this situation.

Scenario 3: Space Station.

    The group of characters are stranded on a space station orbiting the Earth. They must work together as a team in order to find a way back home. Will all of them make it back, or will some need to be sacrificed in the endeavour?

If anyone is interested in sharing their entries, feel free to post them as a reply to this article, or send them to me privately. I may create a page for submissions in the future for those who are willing to have their work shared.

Hope you have fun giving this exercise a try. Until next time!

Cheers,

            Patrick Osborne