Friendships in fiction should be multifaceted, just like they are in real life. They can be loyal yet complicated, nurturing yet competitive, comforting yet confrontational. And when they’re written well, these relationships elevate your characters, deepen your plot, and move your readers. Let’s talk about how to write friendships that feel real, raw, and unforgettable.

Great storytelling is like great music—it’s all about rhythm, balance, and harmony. In fiction, the balance between dialogue and action is one of the most critical aspects of your pacing, character development, and reader engagement. Too much dialogue, and the story can feel like a script with talking heads. Too much action, and readers may struggle to emotionally connect or understand motivation. So how do you strike that perfect balance? Let’s break it down.