Characters · Tip 17 of 82 · 4 min read
Sidekicks and Story Friendships
Every hero needs a friend. Learn how sidekicks make stories warmer and funnier.
Batman has Robin. Many heroes have a best friend, a talking pet or a loyal companion. These characters are called sidekicks, and they can make your story much better.
What sidekicks do
- Someone to talk to: dialogue is more fun than a hero thinking alone.
- Help when things go wrong: a sidekick can save the hero, or need saving!
- Make readers laugh: sidekicks are often the funny ones.
- Show the hero's heart: how the hero treats their friend tells us who they are.
Opposites make great friends
Friends who are different from each other are the most interesting to read about. They argue, they surprise each other, and they each bring different skills.
Ruby charged at every problem like a rhino. Felix liked to make a list first, then another list about that list. Together, they were unstoppable, once they finished arguing about who should go first.
Friendships can have problems too
A falling-out between friends can be a great story problem. Maybe they both want the same thing, or one keeps a secret. Readers will be desperate for them to make up!
Felix held out half his sandwich. Ruby looked at it, then at him. "It's cheese and pickle," he said. "Your favourite." She grinned and took it. Just like that, they were a team again.