You Know Whats Fun To Write? Healthy Relationships.

You know what’s fun to write? Healthy relationships. 

I don’t mean in the sense that healthy relationships are important to portray in fiction–no, I mean, they’re actually enjoyable to scribble down. Think of these examples:

A and B kicking ass together 👍

A and B believing in and listening to each other 👍

A and B communicating their problems (doubles as good scene-setting to further explore the characters’ reactions to stress) 👍

Makeout sessions 👍

Quick kisses that makes one/both smile 👍

One swearing to protect the other and then doing it 👍

A and B both contributing to the other’s character development in sweet and positive ways 👍

One recognizing the other’s faults but not letting the knowledge overshadow why they love their partner 👍

One doing something nice for the other, even if it’s in the middle of a battle for the fate of the world 👍

A and B overcoming all the torture you throw at them but never losing their friendship and sense of peace when they’re together 👍

and more

There’s something to writing unhealthy relationships, in the sense of drama and conflict, but there’s no reason a healthy one can’t have drama and conflict while the characters still work to make their partner happy. There’s also something to not throwing unneeded drama and conflict at them, allowing them to interact with themselves and the story in positive ways. Honestly, it’s refreshing and puts a smile on your face (or, at least it puts one on mine). It shows everyone else what the characters prioritize: a healthy dynamic with the person they care about most. It doesn’t have to be boring.

(Also applies to non-monogamous and platonic relationships.)

A collection of notes I’ve made whilst studying Norwegian 🇳🇴

Some nifty programs on NRK available outside of Norway:

• 113 - follows the ambulance service in Tromsø

• Hva Feiler Det Deg - Game show where a group of regular people with the power of the internet compete with doctors to guess a diagnosis

• Da vi styrte landet - 6 Norwegian Prime ministers (both former and current) discuss their time as prime minister

• Dagsrevyen - News

• Debatten - Debate program

• Sånn er Norge - Discusses topics about Norway

• Side om Side - Comedy series about 3 families living in the same neighborhood

• Nytt på Nytt - Panel show where teams have to answer questions about the last week's events

Full list of all TV shows available outside of Norway.

Writing Healthy Relationships

By thecaffeinebookwarrior, in How to Write a (Healthy) Relationship: An Illustrated Guide

So ask yourself these questions:

Do your characters have any shared interests or hobbies?

Do they actively take interest in their partners’ hobbies?

Do they crack each other up, tell each other jokes?  Exchange playful jibes that aren’t pointed or hurtful?

Do they do the above more than they fight and bicker?

Would both your characters feel comfortable with their partner seeing them at their most comfortable (e.g. stuffing their faces with Nutella and watching bad reality shows)?

If so, would they join in?

If one partner feels hurt, neglected, or insecure, will the other partner take notice and attempt to comfort and reassure them?

Can they confide in each other?

Do they share the same goals, desires, and core values?

I want to try this one.

I have the screenshot!

Wait, wait, wait. What exactly does Woljif say about Lann/FemMC romance??? I've romanced Lann and I've never seen those comments. I'M BEGGING YOU, QUENCH THIS THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

I don’t have the screenshot on hand, but Woljif’s talking to Daeran iirc and saying that he sees how the Commander could fall for someone as muscular as Lann, and lamenting that he doesn’t know how anyone could fall for someone as scrawny as him. Daeran tells him that he should consider himself lithe or slender instead of scrawny, because more people find that attractive (Daeran even says that when he describes Woljif as lithe he’s immediately more attracted to him). Basically, it’s Woljif talking about how hot Lann is, under the guise of saying he himself is unattractive.