How to Write Siblings

A lot of people struggle when it comes to writing siblings.They make their relationship too stilted and forced, to the point where they’realmost glorified acquaintances.

A sibling relationship isn’t just about quipsand annoying each other, though those things may be a big part of it, so if youwant to write a believable pair of siblings(with a good relationship with oneanother), here are some tips.

1. They Don’t Love Each Other THAT Much

Unless you’re writing about something that’s very not good, siblingsshouldn’t be too touchy-feely. When they’re older and aren’t living in the samehouse, siblings kiss each other on the cheek hello and goodbye, but teenagedsiblings rarely do that, if at all.

An older sibling may kiss a much younger sibling on thecheek, and there may be a lot of hugging involved, but in my experience,siblings who are close in age only kiss on the cheek if they’re older and don’tsee each other often. If you’ve had a sibling, you know that they DO NOT kisseach other on the lips. That’s just weird. (Yuck!)

2. They Have to Do Sibling Stuff Together

A good sibling relationship isn’t cultivated by ignoringeach other, though many siblings spend a lot of time doing just that. Even ifthey are annoyed by each other, they can’t just…not interact for the wholestory.

Sibling affection can be conveyed through various acts thatmay seem weird but to siblings are perfectly normal.

 Jumping on each other/playful fighting

Real Fighting over weird things (My personal favoriteargument that I’ve had with my brother is which Smash Ultimate character is thethiccest)

Scaring each other

Playing video games together

Playing pranks on each other

Inside jokes

Weird rituals (Whenever we encounter each otheron opposite sides of a hallway, my brother and I just strike the do it to em’pose until one of us yields and thus proves their inferiority)

Staring contests

Violent footsie under the table

Spilling tea about bfs/gfs/friends/school drama

Watching Netflix together

Listening to music together

Simply sitting in the same room and enjoying eachother’s presence

Nicknames (Ever since I read A Gentleman’s Guideto Vice and Virtue I’ve referred to my brother exclusively as Goblin)

Contests/rivalry (who can run the fastest, whocan climb the highest, who can fit the most marshmallows into their mouthwithout choking, etc. Usually prefaced with “race ya” or the anxiety-inducing “readyset go”)

3. They Have to Be Supportive

Siblings stick up for each other. They comfort each other.Sometimes, when they’re feeling petty, they snitch on or berate each other ruthlessly.

They might get mad for a while and ignore each other, but eventually it’ll allbe okay because it’s really hard to stay mad at a fellow quasi-human who livesin the same house as you.

If a sibling is getting bullied at school, the vengeance inthe others will burn white hot for a person they haven’t even met; they mightlove embarrassing the sibling, but they’re the only one who’s allowed to bullythem. No one else. “Penalty for bullying a sibling is death.”

4. Some Movie/TV/Book Siblings to Reference

The Lightwoods (The Mortal Instruments)

Nani and Lilo (Lilo and Stitch)

Kenai, Koda, Sitka, and Denahi (Brother Bear)

T’Challa and Shuri (Black Panther)

Dash and Violet (Incredibles)

Hiro and Tadashi (Big Hero 6)

Felicity, Monty, and The Goblin (A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue)

Sam and Dean Winchester (Supernatural)

Klaus, Luther, Vanya, Allison, Diego, Number Five, and Ben (Umbrella Academy)

Carter and Sadie (Kane Chronicles)

Scout and Jem (To Kill a Mockingbird)

The Weasleys (Harry Potter)

The Starks (Game of Thrones)