Relationship: FRENEMIES

FRENEMIES

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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.

Frenemies are friends or acquaintances who are also, on some level, rivals or adversaries. Maybe the two characters have to get along on a sports team or at work but they're vying for the same position. Perhaps insecurities accentuate the negative aspects of the relationship and stifle the positives. Personal politics may require them to maintain a veneer of friendliness, but at its core, the relationship is more about winning or exerting power. The frenemy relationship is a complex one that, if it fits your story, can add a ton of conflict and depth.

For information on other antagonistic relationships, see RIVALS and ENEMIES.

Athletic teammates cooperating to get a win but dedicating themselves personally to outdoing each other

One friend being reluctant to share information or cooperate with their frenemy coworker or teammate because they don't trust the other person's motives

Both parties putting on a friendly front when they're in public but secretly not wanting anything to do with the other

One party alternating from friendliness and respect to manipulation and snubbing, constantly putting the other person off-balance

A superficial and disingenuous relationship that's based on keeping friends close but enemies closer

Two parties not really liking each other but maintaining a civil relationship due to a long history together

Two people being fine one-on-one but turning into rivals when other friends or romantic interests enter the scene

One character constantly being sucked back into relationship with the frenemy despite a desire to steer clear

The characters being best friends one day and not speaking to each other the next (in a repeating, ongoing pattern)

One person never knowing where they stand with the other party

Being friends with someone who is super nice to the character's face but subtly undermines them behind the scenes

One party being so manipulated and gaslighted by the other person that they can't see their faults or true nature—even when real friends and loved ones point them out

One "friend" always competing with the other (usually in an underhanded fashion), trying to take what they have

One person developing a weakness or vulnerability that the other can exploit

Either of the parties achieving something significant

One person finding themselves on the outs with their shared social group

One party circulating negative information (true or false) about the other person

One party developing empathy for the other

A change that results in less time being spent together

Losing the one person or thing that keeps the two together

One party giving up and refusing to compete or fight with the other

FRENEMIES

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DESCRIPTION:

RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS:

CHALLENGES THAT COULD THREATEN THE STATUS QUO:

WOUNDS THAT COULD FACTOR INTO THE RELATIONSHIP:

POSSIBLE CONFLICT SCENARIOS:

CONFLICTING DESIRES THAT CAN IMPAIR THE RELATIONSHIP:

CLASHING PERSONALITY TRAIT COMBINATIONS:

NEGATIVE OUTCOMES OF FRICTION:

FICTIONAL SCENARIOS THAT COULD TURN THESE CHARACTERS INTO ALLIES:

WAYS THIS RELATIONSHIP MAY LEAD TO POSITIVE GROWTH:

THEMES AND SYMBOLS THAT CAN BE EXPLORED THROUGH THIS RELATIONSHIP: