: Admitting a failure they’ve hidden from everyone else, or showing a "weakness" they usually compensate for with humor or bravado. 4. Avoiding the "Perfect Couple" Trap Perfect people are boring to watch. Relatable couples: Argue over small things : Real intimacy includes friction.

Do you love a good "forced proximity" situation, or are you a "friends-to-lovers" loyalist? Let’s chat in the comments! Want more writing tips? Check out the National Centre for Writing for expert advice on crafting fiction. or more of a lifestyle/personal essay about real-world relationships?

The best ones treat love as a verb, not a destination. They ask: What does this relationship reveal about who these people are? If the answer is "nothing much," cut it. If the answer is "everything," then let it breathe.