Writing NON-ROMANTIC Character Relationships (Friendships, Parent-Child, Etc.) 

For me in the entire lotr trilogy there was nothing more epic, including all fantastic creatures and ride of rohirims, than the moment when Sam said “Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you… but I can carry you!”

Non romantic relationships are my favourite in fiction. Especially between siblings!

That’s true. Just because two characters are good friends doesn’t mean they’re a romantic couple no matter which gender. This is a problem I had with (most) shippers, as these people only choose two random characters to become a couple and outright forces their romantic relationship to canon and praising it if the writers do it for the sake of fan pandering. You can ship a character however you like, but forcing a ship in canon is where I draw the line.

Buzz and Woody (Toy Story Franchise) Aladdin and Genie and/or Magic Carpet Bad boys Franchise Dr. Strange and his cloak (his cloak saved him so many times)(Dr. Strange) Mike and Sully (Monster's, Inc.)

I’ve bought Bad Parts and I’m about a quarter done. I gotta say, I really like the narration and dialogue so far! It all feels authentic and handled with care! I look forward to finishing it!

You just can’t beat Frodo and Sam! It’s not possible!

You might wanna make a video about predatory publishing sites where they take full control on someone's works . to warn them

this isnt my favorite non romantic relationship from a movie but its a great example from: "crash" - a racist white police officer risks his life to save the life of a black woman he had harrassed days earlier who was trapped in a burning car. when their eyes meet in that moment. thats cinema. thats story telling.

“The Terror” Season had great characters learning and respecting each other that didn’t feel forced. It was hard one and developed.

Thelma in Louise is my favorite all time movie. Nailed it!

I need a video on writing romantic characters more then non-romantic ones. That's the hard part for me.

Alucard and Trevor Belmont

Vince vaughn and Owen Wilson in anything... they break some of these rules.. but their wit and charm save the day.

What's your favorite non-romantic relationship from a movie? Let us know!

Your videos are always a joy, Brandon. Always

Fitz and Night Eyes from the Assassin books by Robin Hobb, Royce and Hadrian from the Riyria Revelations by Michael Sullivan and Joron Twiner and Lucky Meas from the Tide Child trilogy by RJ Barker.

Brandon, I see a copy of Uzumaki on your book shelf. Awesome read

Another amazingly helpful video, Brandon! You actually have a knack for releasing these videos with a specific topic that me and a friend of mine happen to be talking about around the time LOL. My favorite platonic relationship has to be Gon and Killua's and HunterxHunter. Its the most realistic friendship I've seen between two teenage boys in fiction. I've recently purchased your Entry Wounds book, I can't wait to start reading it!

That's an incredibly useful video in my opinion. Thank you for everything that you've taught me so far. Can you also touch on how an initially strong relationship (e.g., between two life long friends) slowly falls apart over time? I guess you can say it's the opposite of this video. I'm writing a story about two friends where jealousy enters one of their lives and how that connection slowly falls apart. Do you have any tips for that kind of story?

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid / Raymond & Charles Babbitt / Driss & Phillipe / Captain Murrell & Kapitän zur See von Stolberg / Paul Edgecomb & John Coffey / Virgil Tibbs & Bill Gillespie.....oh so many. Thanks for your videos - we are busily trying to create our first book 🤞🤞🤞

Last night I watched Planes Trains and Automobiles, I don't know if it's my favorite but John Candy & Steve Martin... need I say more?

Cullen and Joker from the classic movie The Defiant Ones.

Sonny and Lorenzo relationship to Cologero in Bronx Tale is the most realistic ever put to screen

Cheers from Brazil, your videos are great! 🙂

05:20 didn't know you could sacrifice your life multiple times. I take note

just don't have them flirt with each other and talk like buddies. when there is flirting have it be in a jokin manner or with some kind of context

Something I was wondering about is the relationship between a hero and a villain. Any tips as to how this might work, because I’ve got an instance where I have a friend to the hero, who is much less than a friend than he lets on and eventually ends up disconnected from the hero and is the story’s villain.

I think Power rangers 2017 movie is a good example of that

Jack Burton and Wang Chi.

Rocky and Mickey from the Rocky movies.

There's a lot of stuff I love about Breaking Bad, but what I love most, is the complex relationship between Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.

What is the age group of your books?

I am not sure what non-romantic relationship might be a favorite, but I am pretty sure it will not be one where the characters start out distrusting each other or one where it is forced to wait for late in Act III to show the sacrifice. I agree with everything else. And yes, it is true that USUALLY the characters mistrust each other at first, and USUALLY a sacrifice comes late in Act III, but it's the USUALLY part of that which turns that into nothing more than a formulaic cliché. Writing a Buddy Salvation plot or subplot well does not need either the 'early mistrust' scene or a late proof of love scene, nor does a romantic plot or subplot actually need that. And I don't think they should have that, precisely because it smells of cliché. Having characters bond early on is UN-USUAL, and having the sacrifice (proof of love scene) come earlier than late in Act III is UN-USUAL, and that is exactly what makes those NOT clichés. Both concepts have been overdone to death, which is the exact, and only reason doing it differently is UN-USUAL in the first place. Not because it won't work, otherwise. Write the plot or subplot well, and it works just fine, regardless. There is nothing wrong with characters bonding early. Maybe have them be a bit wary of each other until they get to know each other a bit, and yes, them sometimes in conflict or sparring is probably necessary, but I tune out when that 'early mistrust' scene comes floating down Broadway as if a crutch to shore up the story. Especially if it's written well-enough to not need that. Looking for crutches is a sure sign of the wrong-headed process of a poor writer. Once they are spotted, the story always ends up being mediocre at best. There is also nothing really to be lost from having the altruistic nature of a sacrifice or proof of love scene happen anywhere at all OTHER than late in Act III. Use that tool, it's a good one. But that can work anywhere in the story, just as effectively, and even more effectively if you want to avoid that being a cliché, as it can be when expressed late in Act III. Story structure is of ultimate importance, but formulae and recipes should be felony offenses. These two things are not part of fulfilling reader expectations, and they are in no way obligatory moments (a proof of love scene is, but where it appears, isn't). Avoiding the 'early mistrust' scene and avoiding placing the 'proof of love' scene where the reader can set their watch by it can actually be better than succumbing to the siren call of sameness and cliché. No book ever really sold bc the author did their damndest to constantly mimic what everyone else might have done, simply bc 'that's how they did it'. That's the blind leading the blind.