Relationships are the most basic social building blocks for your character. The important people surrounding them will aid in their success or contribute to their downfall, and you’ll need some of each in your character’s life to craft a story with all the necessary ups-and-downs. Enter the Relationship Thesaurus, where we’ve examined the types of relationships that commonly exist and explored the numerous ways to make them healthy or dysfunctional, safe or toxic, supportive or full of conflict—whatever you need to take your story to the next level.
What is a Relationship Thesaurus?
Acquaintances
Adult Child and Elderly Parent
Benefactor and Recipient
Best Friends
Boss and Employee
Business Partners
Co-Volunteers
Co-Workers
Editor and Author
Enemies
Estranged Parent and Child
Exes
Fling Participants
Forced Marriage
Frenemies
Friends
Friends with Benefits
Giver and Taker
Godparent and Child
Grandparent and Child
Guard and Prisoner
Headmaster and Student
Host and Guest
Imaginary Friend and Child
In-laws
Landlord and Tenant
Master and Apprentice
Mentor and Protégé
Nanny and Child
Neighbors
One-Night Stand Lovers
Parent and Teen Child
Parent and Adult Child
People Who Are Dating
Police Officer and Confidential Informant
Principal and Teacher
Professional and Client
Protagonist and Crush
Rivals
Service Provider and Customer
Siblings (Youth)
Spouses and Partners
Stalker and Target (trigger warning)
Stepparent and Stepchild
Teacher and Student
Therapist and Patient
Twins
Wow, what a resource! Thank you for this.
Hello Becca,
Thank you for posting this thought-provoking tool. I’m working through my second draft and this Thesaurus is assisting me in further developing my character motivations and relationships.
I’ve purchased “The Emotional Thesaurus.” It’s become one of my go-to resources.
Many thanks!