Successful stories are driven by authentic and interesting characters, so it’s important to craft them carefully. But characters don’t usually exist in a vacuum; throughout the course of your story, they’ll live, work, play, and fight with other cast members. Some of those relationships are positive and supportive, pushing the protagonist to positive growth and helping them achieve their goals. Other relationships do exactly the opposite—derailing your character’s confidence and self-worth—or they cause friction and conflict that leads to fallout and disruption. Many relationships hover somewhere in the middle. A balanced story will require a mix of these dynamics.
The purpose of this thesaurus is to encourage you to explore the kinds of relationships that might be good for your story and figure out what each might look like. Think about what a character needs (good and bad), and build a network of connections for him or her that will challenge them, showcase their innermost qualities, and bind readers to their relationship trials and triumphs.
The following is just a sample of the content available for this relationship. To see it in its entirety (along with 45+ additional relationship entries), check out our Description Thesaurus Collection at One Stop For Writers.
Professional and Client
Description: A professional is hired by a client who is in need of their expertise and services, either for a particular project or in perpetuity. This relationship is based on trust and mutual respect. The client depends on the skill and guidance of the professional, while the professional depends on the client’s clear vision and expectations. Examples of this kind of relationship include a lawyer and client, doctor and patient, and a graphic designer and client.
Relationship Dynamics
Below are a wide range of dynamics that may accompany this relationship. Use the ideas that suit your story and work best for your characters to bring about and/or resolve the necessary conflict.
A purely professional relationship where both parties reach a satisfied outcome
A professional who listens to a client’s needs and understands their objective
A client who is clear about what they want and engaged in the professional’s process
A client who makes demands that are beyond the professional’s scope of work
A professional who agrees to provide a product or service that’s beyond their capability
Challenges That Could Threaten The Status Quo
A professional requesting more money than the original agreement
A client changing their objective after the work has already started
Either party overstepping the terms of the agreement
A professional missing deadlines or failing to check-in with the client
Wounds That Could Factor into the Relationship
An abuse of power, Being fired or laid off, Being forced to keep a dark secret, Being humiliated by others, Being let down by a trusted organization or social system, Being rejected by one’s peers, Cracking under pressure…
Clashing Personality Trait Combinations
Discreet and Gossipy, Independent and Needy, Controlling and Weak-Willed, Persuasive and Gullible, Efficient and Scatterbrained, Generous and Greedy, Judgmental and Oversensitive, Inflexible and Spontaneous
Negative Outcomes of Friction
The client providing poor professional reviews for the professional
One party losing the trust or respect of the other
Either party terminating the agreement, resulting in lost resources
Ways This Relationship May Lead to Positive Change
The client receiving advice that changes the course of their life
Bringing a client’s vision to life and helping them meet their goals
The client referring an influential friend or business associate to the professional
Themes and Symbols That Can Be Explored through This Relationship
A quest for knowledge, Beauty, Beginnings, Betrayal, Crossroads, Deception, Depression, Disorder, Endings, Freedom, Friendship, Greed, Health, Hope, Inflexibility, Isolation, Journeys, Knowledge, Loss, Love, Mystery, Obstacles, Order, Peace, Perseverance, Pride, Recognition, Religion, Sacrifice, Stagnation, Suffering, Superstitions: bad luck, Superstitions: good luck, Teamwork, Transformation, Unity, Vulnerability, Wealth
Other Relationship Thesaurus entries can be found here.
Need More Descriptive Help?
The content you’ve just read is a sample of one entry found in our Relationship Thesaurus at One Stop for Writers. To access the complete entry and the other collections in this powerful show-don’t-tell Thesaurus Database (18 unique thesauri and growing!), give our free trial a spin.
Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.