Writing relationships that evolve from...dislike? (enemies to lovers, enemies to friends etc.)

Leyelle 2024-07-09 17:16:26 UTC #21

i don't really have any enemies to lovers, just butting heads or not starting off on the best foot to friends or lovers lol

kittymaine 2024-07-09 22:43:15 UTC #22

The few times I've written, I usually start it off with some kind of misunderstanding. I think that's the easiest way to do it.
Like, if Character A thinks that Character B stole their parking space. So, the next time Character A sees Character B, they act like a jerk to them. Then, Character B is like "whoah, I didn't do anything to them! What's their problem!"

And then yknow. You can keep building the misunderstandings from there or eventually have someone do something that doesn't match with what they think they know about the other person, so then they get curious. And then they start mending bridges.

skidiggy 2024-07-10 01:37:00 UTC #23

I have an "enemies-to-???" thing going for one of the relationships in Apparent Secrets, but haven't resolved whether they'll be friends or lovers just yet. Their first impression was terrible and didn't get better for a long time. One of them tormented a mutual friend of the other's for ages and got their just desserts when everything came to light. Is there enough redemption in the world for them to forgive each other for the mounting pile of slights and misunderstandings? [intrigue intensifies]

As for writing them, I like to give both parties a reason to dislike each other, instead of "one is an a-hole and the other is blameless." I find this helps with the push and pull of the relationship as it grows, instead of being a one-sided endeavor. Also, I'm a big fan of a gradual path to closeness. No "grand gestures" here; if they both put in the work necessary, they can grow past the initial yuck (hopefully). Ultimately, whether an enemies-to-??? happens or not, both parties in my stories need to be true to their authentic selves, which ultimately helps guide whether they have a future together as honest equals.

Leyelle 2024-07-10 13:38:13 UTC #24

i agree.

and yeah, I don't like to have one side just be a jerk and the other side blameless either, in most relationships where their are conflict, though I currently don't have an enemies to lovers, more of a one-sided prejudice to lovers. The prejudice becomes mutual when a bad impression on one person's side, spawns a bad impression on the other side and so on.

Leyelle 2024-07-31 14:31:27 UTC #25

Assuming I get to a season two/second arc of "A Dozen Morning Glories" we are going to have a little closer to an enemies to friends situation. But it's too spoilery to give much detail on now. Let's just say Honey doesn't take very kindly to one of the relevant characters because she suspects them of trying to hurt one of her little siblings. She's a very mamma-bear sort of older sister.

Leyelle 2024-08-25 13:32:12 UTC #26

Kattar and Alicia's relationship did not start with dislike, but as the story progresses, more and more things they dislike about each other begin to show themselves, so it's been interesting to watch the process of them working through these road blocks. Even when you think you're in love with someone from day one, you will likely discover they are not completely whatever idealized version of them you saw in your head, and sometimes they do some really awful or painful things.

This is the first new friend I’ve made in as long as I can remember, and I’m here tricking her for the sake of a secret…

I find…

I hate myself a little more every day, thanks to you.

JoshRaed 2024-08-25 16:18:32 UTC #27

Leyelle 2024-09-14 15:09:28 UTC #28

Well, Mora doesn't quite dislike Judith, but she has very mixed feelings about her. It sort of ebbs back and forth honestly, because sometimes she can see Judith for who she is, and sometimes she just sees her for the not-so-nice things she does for a living.

Leyelle 2024-10-07 15:40:03 UTC #29

At the part of Crystal Blue where we are currently, Mora has given Christopher a very endearing nickname (in her head)

Bird brain.

Not because she thinks he's stupid, but because she finds his mannerisms unnerving and bird like.