Successful stories are driven by authentic and interesting characters, so it’s important to craft them carefully. But characters don’t usually exist in a vacuum; throughout the course of your story, they’ll live, work, play, and fight with other cast members. Some of those relationships are positive and supportive, pushing the protagonist to positive growth and helping them achieve their goals. Other relationships do exactly the opposite—derailing your character’s confidence and self-worth—or they cause friction and conflict that leads to fallout and disruption. Many relationships hover somewhere in the middle. A balanced story will require a mix of these dynamics.
The purpose of this thesaurus is to encourage you to explore the kinds of relationships that might be good for your story and figure out what each might look like. Think about what a character needs (good and bad), and build a network of connections for him or her that will challenge them, showcase their innermost qualities, and bind readers to their relationship trials and triumphs.
The following is just a sample of the content available for this relationship. To see it in its entirety (along with 45+ additional relationship entries), check out our Description Thesaurus Collection at One Stop For Writers.
Co-Volunteers
Description
Volunteer work takes many forms. From visiting patients in hospitals to helping prepare materials for victims of natural disasters to teaching one’s native language to second-language learners, and more. Opportunities to give one’s time freely to help those in need are abundant. These opportunities may bring like-minded individuals together, whether by virtue of a shared interest or by sheer chance. But two people who have little in common and clashing personalities may also find themselves volunteering alongside each other. The dynamics of co-volunteers are ripe for character growth and development, as well tension and conflict.
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.
Two people having a passion for or interest in the same cause
A reluctant friend or family member being pressured to volunteer by a someone they know
Two people being forced to volunteer as part of a school or community-based requirement
Two volunteers working together to achieve a goal on behalf of an organization
Two people bringing their own unique set of skills to a joint task and learning from one another
Challenges That Could Threaten The Status Quo
A volunteer superimposing their own experiences onto the needs of the cause
Identifying corruption within the organization one is helping
Being paired with a volunteer who constantly complains
One party veering into inappropriate territory with a recipient of the organization’s efforts
One party feeling as though they are doing all the work
Workers being expected to accept poor working conditions (since they’re volunteers)
Wounds That Could Factor into The Relationship
An abuse of power, Becoming homeless for reasons out of one’s control, Being disowned or shunned, Domestic abuse, Experiencing the death of a parent as a child or youth, Failing to save someone’s life…
Clashing Personality Trait Combinations
Courteous and Disrespectful, Discreet and Gossipy, Independent and Needy, Controlling and Weak-Willed, Stingy and Generous, Efficient and Scatterbrained, Judgmental and Oversensitive, Dishonest and Honorable, Mature and Irresponsible, Ambitious and Lazy
Negative Outcomes of Friction
Awkwardness while volunteering
One person giving up on the project
Someone in need getting overlooked due to distraction and drama between volunteers
Ways This Relationship May Lead to Positive Change
Finding common ground and a meaningful relationship that extends beyond volunteering
One volunteer seeking to become like the other in a positive way
Themes and Symbols That Can Be Explored through This Relationship
A fall from grace, Alienation, A quest for knowledge, Beginnings, Betrayal, Borders, Coming of age, Crossroads, Danger, Death, Depression, Disorder, Endings, Enslavement, Evil, Family…
Other Relationship Thesaurus entries can be found here.
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Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.