How do you write characters who have good chemistry?

Great character chemistry can turn a good story into one that readers can’t forget. It’s a spark that makes your characters’ relationships seem real and exciting. Like real relationships, characters will have unique ways of showing they have chemistry with each other. They might share a unique interest that would be offputting to other people outside their relationship, or they might have a shared love language that makes them a perfect fit for one another.

Like all advice, the examples below come with the caveat of “whatever works for your story.” You know your characters and their personalities, so there isn’t going to be a one-size-fits-all approach. The examples below show ways your characters can interact with one another that you can use as a springboard for writing characters with good chemistry in a way that feels natural, but make sure that whatever you choose serves the type of story you want to tell and the kinds of people your characters are.

Behaviour

A lot of what people do is unconscious. People will often know when we have chemistry with someone because of subtle differences in the way we behave.

• Have characters unconsciously mirror each other’s actions.
• Include small acts of intimacy, like sharing inside jokes or personal anecdotes.
• Show characters prioritising each other’s needs or sacrificing their interests for the other.
• Develop unique habits that characters only exhibit around each other.
• Use consistent, unique actions or quirks that reveal a character’s feelings.
• Create scenarios where characters defend each other’s viewpoints or actions to outsiders.
• Allow characters to show vulnerability around each other.
• Have characters unintentionally adopt each other’s mannerisms or phrases over time.
• Have your characters make an effort to engage in activities they don’t typically enjoy, just to be with the other person.
• Show characters naturally falling into synchronised rhythms, like walking in step.

Interactions

A big part of how a character shows chemistry with another is how they interact with them. It’s all about how, when, and why they speak and is a good space to lace their interactions with additional meaning.

• Lace your dialogue with subtext.
• Have characters finish each other’s sentences or speak in unison without planning it.
• Include playful banter and light teasing.
• Allow for moments of comfortable silence that show a mutual understanding and connection.
• Conflicts can be heated, but should often end in mutual respect and a stronger bond.
• Write intimate conversations where characters share secrets or dreams.
• Develop scenes where characters work together seamlessly, anticipating each other’s moves.
• Write moments where one character can tell what the other is thinking just by looking at them.
• Have interactions where characters seek each other out for advice or comfort.
• Create situations where characters celebrate each other’s achievements genuinely and enthusiastically.

Body language

Much like behaviour, when characters have good chemistry with someone their body language will change. This body language can also run counter to ways they might normally be, like a shy person leaning close to someone they have good chemistry with, when usually they’d keep their distance. There are lots of subtle ways that body language can show how someone is feeling.

• Subtle touches like brushing hands or a gentle push that lingers just a moment too long.
• Leaning towards each other while talking, showing attraction or interest.
• Describe the way characters mirror each other.
• A character’s eyes lighting up or softening when they look at each other.
• Positioning themselves between their partner and a threat.
• Unintentional proximity, like standing or sitting closer than necessary.
• Nervous gestures that characters show only around each other, like fidgeting or playing with their hair.
• Warm, genuine smiles that are reserved for one another.
• Instinctively reaching out to comfort each other in times of distress.
• Relaxed posture in each other’s company.

Attitude

Attitude affects everything from behaviour to interaction. It is the underlying reasoning that influences all the others. It’s important to think about what attitudes and thoughts your character has as their norm, and then see whether their chemistry with another character means that they preserve that attitude, or if it turns it on its head. While the below are some examples, the list is certainly not exhaustive, so make sure that you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and both internal and external conflict to really get to grips with how their attitudes might affect their relationships.

• Show a respect for one another that they don’t show with others.
• Are consistently patient with one another’s flaws.
• Willingness to compromise or find middle ground.
• Giving each other the benefit of the doubt in misunderstandings.
• Unconditional support during difficult times.
• Take pride in each other’s accomplishments, without jealousy.
• Consistently have faith in each other’s abilities and decisions.
• Openly express admiration for one another’s talents or character traits.
• Maintain a positive outlook on the other’s intentions, even when they make mistakes.
• Show an understanding between characters that goes beyond words.

Positive story outcomes

Character chemistry often comes with personal growth or positive story outcomes that are explored through the relationship. Relationships often act as a microcosm of the plot, showing its development on a smaller scale. For this reason, knowing the type of story you want to tell will have a huge impact on whether you want your relationships to have positive story outcomes. Here are some examples of outcomes that would be positive influences on the story.

• Stronger alliances or partnerships.
• Romantic subplots that add depth and interest to the main story.
• Believable character development as they influence each other positively.
• Moments of triumph where their combined strengths overcome obstacles.
• Deep, meaningful friendships.
• Can easily resolve conflicts that seemed insurmountable.
• Celebration is more impactful due to their shared success.
• A fortified sense of trust that can be pivotal in critical story moments.
• Enhanced reader investment in the characters and their relationships.
• Openings for sequels or spin-offs based on popular characters dynamics.

Negatives story outcomes

Character chemistry and good relationships don’t always lead to positive outcomes. Sometimes a great relationship can mean that things don’t go to plan for the characters or they might have to give something up to maintain it. Below are some examples of negative outcomes that might arise from good character chemistry or strong relationships, because not every relationship has a happily ever after.

• Conflict arising from misunderstanding or jealousy.
• Unresolved tension between characters on the outside.
• Can lead to unnecessarily complex emotional entanglements
• Creates obstacles due to the characters’ strong connection being exploited by antagonists.
• Tragic outcomes when the chemistry between characters causes them to make irrational choices.
• Intense confrontations that threaten the relationship.
• Betrayals that are more impactful because of the depth of their relationship.
• Unforeseen sacrifices that characters make for each other.
• Heightened stakes when the wellbeing of one character is tied to the other.
• Unexpected changes in the character when relationships are cut short.