Star-crossed lovers

[mariko_writing]

It sucks in real life, but my goodness it's appealing in literature.

Right now I'm trying to think of a good reason why my teenaged characters can absolutely, point-blank, not end up together, or even get together at all, despite however much I would want to write it otherwise.  I'm talking way beyond something along the lines of "one of them

Comments

[the_sly_wink]

Do these characters desire a relationship they cannot have, or are they merely male and female and you need a compelling, natural reason for them not to float together into a neat relationship?

I agree with the internal flaw solution. Differences in culture or societal pressure are external obstacles that beg to be destroyed by love, and your readers may feel disappointed if these lovers aren't devoted enough to even attempt to overcome outside problems--as if by accepting and giving in to your obstacle, they don't deserve to be together. Probably not what you're going for.

Something like conflicting personality traits? Two people who are great as friends may be terrible as lovers. (But since I don't know what kinds of characters these are, this may not work.) To me, that's the tragedy that cuts deepest: they're together, they've overcome everything, but their union can never be a victory because the lovers are incompatible at the most basic level. Their characters' can't be "fixed" without changing the person (which would betray the point). The couple is doomed; the inescapable truth is that they are wrong for each other and nothing can change it.

Does that make any sense? Easier said than done, I know. Because how should you shape their personalities so they can interact realistically and in an interesting fashion, but so they're still believably terrible as a couple? It would be a lot of work.

[mariko_writing]

PREACH. I wish I could write check marks next to everything I agreed with in your comment.

I have one boy and one girl who are best friends, and I need a compelling and natural reason for them to never work romantically -- despite however much one or both of them might desire a romantic relationship. Although I think there will be some societal factors (different economic backgrounds, religious affiliations maybe?) the huge, tragic A-factor will be an irreconcilable personal quality or qualities. Now I just need to hit on something good....