Friends. The world is a better place with them in it.

Friendships are the glue that binds us all together. Without friends, the world is a very lonely place. It's interesting to realize how much impact we have on each other, especially without even knowing it. I suppose it's fair to say that without friends, the world would cease to be a nice place. We touch one another in such unique ways that the overall impact is profound. It's the same within the boundaries of a story. Friends are important.

I'm not actually talking here about sidekicks--though sidekicks are often friends, but I place sidekicks in a special class all their own. Friends to the main characters push and pull, give options, expose the truth, and sometimes give advice--good and bad. With such dynamic movements happening all over, the characters come alive and grow. It's important to see how the characters respond, and lets the audience guess at the outcomes. All that causes participation in the story, from every side of the experience.

Even more, friends demonstrate the quality of the people they are around. That's a life lesson for us all actually. I've often heard it said that you can measure a person by the friends they have. While not completely accurate, it certainly does give a feel and direction. Within a story, the audience will guess the worth of the main characters through their friends--at least, at the beginning for sure. It's a great tool, and I love seeing it used well.

- M