RELATIONSHIP THESAURUS

FLING PARTICIPANTS



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HELPFUL TIP:

Relationships are part of the very fabric of your character’s life. How well or poorly they get along with others oftentimes comes down to personality, so carefully consider the positive traits and negative traits of your story’s cast. Another factor that can pull characters together or create friction is motivation, so keep each individual’s goal—both at the scene and story level—in mind as you write.
DESCRIPTION:
A fling is a casual sexual relationship between two people. Unlike one-night stands, a fling is more than one encounter but it wouldn't be considered an affair because it lacks emotional attachment. Flings generally happen between two people who want something fun and 'in the moment' rather than investing in each other with the intent of building something more.

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 relationship based upon physical attraction and sexual desires
Choosing a partner who is fun in bed but not "marriage material"
Enjoying casual sexual encounters with no expectation of other involvement
Getting together only when the timing works out (often at the last minute)
Keeping the conversation superficial to avoid getting too personal
Not discussing the future, just enjoying the present
Minimal contact between encounters
Making no commitments or demands
Not probing for information, even when a partner seems interesting
Separating once the sex is finished
Enjoying teasing and innuendo
Knowing deep down it's time to break things off but finding excuses not to
The parties pretending the fling is casual but doing things that are considered intimate (cooking a romantic dinner, getting personal, asking for advice, etc.)
A relationship where one person is emotionally invested while the other is not

CHALLENGES THAT COULD THREATEN THE STATUS QUO:
One person revealing a struggle or challenge, opening them both up to vulnerability and increased intimacy
One party reading into the other's actions and seeing intimacy (whether it's real or not)
One party becoming jealous or protective of the other person
Either party wanting to end the relationship
A change in circumstances that forces the two people together more often (having to take a work trip together, their kids becoming friends, etc.)
A private fling being made public
Someone finding out who wouldn't approve (a spouse, employer, sibling, etc.)
Either party having a crisis of conscience and experiencing guilt over their interactions
Either person experiencing sexual dysfunction
Someone getting pregnant
One party becoming threatening when their partner tries to end things

WOUNDS THAT COULD FACTOR INTO THE RELATIONSHIP:
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POSSIBLE CONFLICT SCENARIOS:
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CONFLICTING DESIRES THAT CAN IMPAIR THE RELATIONSHIP:
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CLASHING PERSONALITY TRAIT COMBINATIONS:
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NEGATIVE OUTCOMES OF FRICTION:
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FICTIONAL SCENARIOS THAT COULD TURN THESE CHARACTERS INTO ALLIES:
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WAYS THIS RELATIONSHIP MAY LEAD TO POSITIVE GROWTH:
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THEMES AND SYMBOLS THAT CAN BE EXPLORED THROUGH THIS RELATIONSHIP:
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