this is a character developing concept I came up with for oracle bone. I think it would be particularly good for character-based narratives, especially ones where the different POV characters don't know each other beforehand. the basic concept of a singular relationship is to have characters have at least one unique person they have a relationship with. it is an opportunity to learn about their backstory and the different ways they socialize. Preferably someone they had a long lasting relationship with vs the guy down the street but if you had time you could get into that. most of these relationships are meant to be interpreted vaguely, eg the family roles don’t have to be blood related.
Reasons to Add Singular Relationships:
- They establish your character in a wider web of life
- They show backstory in an immersive, natural way
- They tell us about a character's habits: where they hang out, what they've done, what type of people they hang out with
- They build complexity; people interact differently with every person they know
- They show past or current changes in character
The singular relationship doesn't have to appear in the form of talking to this person. It could be a reflection, or it is brought up in a conversation with someone else. Think of the approach to this relationship:
- A current ongoing relationship
- A relationship that’s ended and is brought up either by the person involved or another character
- Something triggers a memory of a past relationship (try for something more interesting than finding a polaroid while cleaning house)
- They interact again after not talking for a long while
List of Examples
- a lover
- a family member
- a member of a shared institution (work, social, school, political, religious)
- someone who frequents the same places they do
- a coworker
- a pen pal/internet friend/someone they talk to without knowing irl
- an assistant or servant
- a mentor
- a rival or competitor
- a student
- a surrogate parent figure
- a sibling
- a bully/abuser
- a regular customer at their job
It doesn’t need to be limited to face-to-face relationships. Consider parasocial relationships like:
- someone who they wanted to form a relationship with but never got close to
- a celebrity
- a fictional character
- a distant role model, living or dead
- an ancestor
- an artist
- an internet community
- a religious figure
If I need to create a new character for these relationships, I find it helpful to take note of what relationships a character already has. I would want to find one that is different enough to show a new side of them or reveal unique information. The most flexible categories are "members of a shared institution" and "people who frequent the same places". I like beginning with these since I can think about where this character actually spends time and who they are likely to run into there.
Questions:
How did the relationship start? What was their first interaction, if either remember it?
Have there been shifts in the relationship since it started? Did they trigger a change in your main character or the other way around?
If the relationship is ongoing, think about how it has changed (as your character has certainly changed before the plot began). If it has ended, consider why it did, and also the lasting result on your character.
When they remember this relatonship, what do they remember? How do they reflect on themself at this time? Do they feel uncomfortable, or a sort of grief?