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1. Fully develop all three characters involved.
A lot of love triangles can feel unrealistic because they feature men written by women, or vice-versa, who have no idea how male psychology of attraction works. Men do not seek out competition like that, they do not try to steal another man's girl unless he's a truly vile person and does that for sport… in which case, it's unrealistic for her to choose him because she's going to see this disrespect reflected in his other self-absorbed actions. Strong women do not fall for this, only weak-willed women will be like "Oooh, let me give up this solid relationship in favor of the high blood pressure and anxiety that guy gives me–he's dangerous and borderline abusive to me."
Because that is what most written love triangles are, toxic and dangerous vs. stable and friendship-based. So unless you make your female deeply flawed and the trauma is bonded, I wouldn't believe she'd pick someone who repeatedly hurts her over someone she has a stable friendship with. I wouldn't believe a guy would willingly invade that and make that drama his problem in order to "save" her, knowing she's going to go back to him anyway, because she's weak-willed. And I would lose respect if the girl is clearly using one of them to enable toxic behaviors, playing games and putting them against each other even though she's clearly already chosen.
After Twilight, a lot of people became aware of the criticisms of a toxic love triangle, and it became a tired trope there's not much market for.
Maud Pie is a character from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. She is Pinkie Pie's depressed sister and has a passion for rocks. Her character is engaging to the average MLP fan or the average FurAffinity reader. In order for that to happen, I selected three well-rounded characters from the popular TV show with their own goals, motivations, hopes, fears, values, comfort zones and unique world views.
In MLP: FIM proper, Maud Pie is in a relationship with a pony named Mudbriar; a fellow earth pony who shares her quiet, stoic personality and love for rocks. This makes their bond very compatible despite seeming unusual to others. Both Maud and Mudbriar are very reserved and have a calm demeanor, which is why they connect so well. Pinkie, Maud's energetic sister, often struggles to understand the dynamic between Maud and Mudbriar because of their very different personalities.
Fluttershy also has a lot of things that shape who she is, determine what she wants and needs, establish what she offers to those around her and will impact how she responds to the plot events of my stories.
Fluttershy is a gentle and compassionate ponies who nurtures various creatures, including a small injured griffin chick. Her primary motivation is not recognition or praise but the satisfaction of healing and creating a sanctuary for all creatures. Her hopes are simple, such as ensuring nectar for migrating butterflies and trusting her presence. However, her deepest fear is the fear of failing to protect the vulnerable.
Both Maud and Fluttershy's values are rooted in empathy and respect for all living things, believing in the inherent good in every creature, even one that seems outwardly aggressive.
They see the fear and pain behind the snarl and the loneliness behind the territorial growl. Fluttershy's comfort zone is the gentle rhythm of her cottage life, where she feels capable and in control.
One morning, Fluttershy faces a challenge when a group of adolescent hawks corner a small, trembling field mouse. Despite her initial instinct to retreat, she stands firm and unwavering, speaking about the importance of balance and respecting every life, no matter how small. The hawks eventually back down and the little mouse scurries away to safety.
Fluttershy's world is built on small acts of kindness, quiet observation and a deep respect for the delicate balance of nature. Her goals are personal, her motivations intrinsic, her hopes gentle and her fears a constant reminder of the preciousness of life. In the quiet solitude of her cottage, Fluttershy nurtures Ponyville, proving that true strength often lies in the quietest of hearts.
When you don't do the work to flesh out all of the characters involved in your love triangle (or square), your reader will probably end up either rooting for only one of the suitors or will not really care about the outcome either way.
2. Make both suitors a viable choice for the protagonist.
Your protagonist should have actual reasons for loving both suitors, as well as legitimate reasons for not being able to choose one over the other right away. If one character is "perfect" for your protagonist and the other suitor is obviously the "wrong" choice, there will never be any suspense over who your protagonist will end up with. In other words, your love triangle will be predictable, and readers will probably feel less invested in the character who is painted as the "wrong" choice. Do the work to develop both of the suitors as if they are simply a romantic interest for your protagonist and not part of a larger love triangle.
I represent Maud Pie as someone known for her direct and clinical approach to affection. She offers meticulously chosen rock samples with specific meanings, such as "protection from negative energies" and "unconditional love in its rawest, most unadulterated form". Their courtship is less about butterflies and more about the enduring strength of metamorphic rock. However, their communication styles are fundamentally different. Maud needs to learn to express her affection in ways that resonate with Fluttershy's softer, more emotionally attuned nature. Their future can involve quiet evenings spent side-by-side or Maud choosing to "cut to the chase" if Fluttershy will allow it, or Maud can find a partner who appreciates her directness and shares her fascination with the earth's hidden wonders. Her unconventional love is as solid and enduring as the bedrock beneath Ponyville.
3. Don't drag out the decision or go back and forth too much.
There's no quicker way to stall the forward momentum of your story than to have your main character waffle back and forth between two love interests for too long. Yes, your main character should have a hard time choosing between both potential partners. But drag this indecision on too long, and you'll likely annoy your readers and make them lose interest in your characters. Imagine if Maud, a MLP character, kept going back and forth between Mudbriar and Fluttershy over and over and over again. You wouldn't be interested in her story.
4. Have your protagonist actively choose someone to be with.
At some point, your protagonist will have to choose who they want to be with. If you make this decision too easy for your protagonist—for example, having one potential mate die or suddenly turn evil, leaving only one character left to choose from—your reader will be disappointed. People read stories to see how a character deals with the conflict and changes happening in their lives. When you don't let your character make an active choice, you're not delivering the kind of story that readers want to see. There's no quicker way to squash the reader's interest than by having some kind of Deus Ex Machina swoop in and make the decision super easy for your protagonist.
In Ponyville, the predictable nature of life is disrupted by the slow shift of tectonic plates. Maud Pie, her companion, Mudbriar, spends more time cataloging sedimentary layers of the Everfree Forest. Limestone Pie, her older sister, takes on more responsibility at the rock farm. Their shared silences feel heavy with unspoken obligations, and a distance grows between their solid foundations.
Fluttershy has taken on a new dimension in her and Maud's brief exchanges. Of course, Maud isn't allowed to fall in love with Marble or Limestone Pie, since they're all sisters.
They find a shared appreciation for the quiet corners of the library and the unspoken language of shared focus. Maud finds herself observing both Mudbriar's enthusiasm for subterranean minerals and Fluttershy, her shoulders perpetually tight with responsibility.
One afternoon, Maud finds herself at the Ponyville quarry, absentmindedly chipping at a piece of shale. She takes a sip of her tea, feeling the weight of the decision settle on her, heavy as a granite boulder.
Later that week, Maud finds Mudbriar in his usual spot by the stream, meticulously arranging twigs according to some complex structural principle. He asks Maud to observe this remarkable example of... but she will not be accompanying him on their next stick-collecting excursion. Maud explains that while her support for the family farm remains unwavering, her involvement will shift. Fluttershy respects Maud's directness and understands the need for solid foundations, and a foundation built on obligation alone would eventually crumble.
The true shift, the active choice, comes with Fluttershy. She and Maud are now able to enjoy their shared silences and tea. They can also share their appreciation for farts, a secret shared by Fluttershy's other friends. She finds Maud's farts soothing and enchanting, and they embrace their unique fetish. Maud develops a newfound appreciation for Fluttershy's gas, describing it as a symphony of down-to-earth scents and sounds. This intimate bond between Fluttershy and Maud reveals the power of acceptance, understanding and the beauty in embracing one's unique quirks. Their fart fetish is theirs, and life in Ponyville continues, blossoming into the most unexpected yet beautiful relationship in all of Equestria. They find joy, freedom and a love that transcends a true relationship, showcasing the power of acceptance and understanding in embracing one's unique quirks.
And since romance is the main focus, the ending can never be too empty and gross for people who don't like toilet humor or too clean for those who like toilet humor.
Final Thoughts
So hopefully, these tips will help you feel more confident about writing love triangles that are compelling and not cliché or predictable. Love triangles can be a wonderful addition to any kind of story as long as they're well-developed and included with a purpose!
A lot of love triangles can feel unrealistic because they feature men written by women, or vice-versa, who have no idea how male psychology of attraction works. Men do not seek out competition like that, they do not try to steal another man's girl unless he's a truly vile person and does that for sport… in which case, it's unrealistic for her to choose him because she's going to see this disrespect reflected in his other self-absorbed actions. Strong women do not fall for this, only weak-willed women will be like "Oooh, let me give up this solid relationship in favor of the high blood pressure and anxiety that guy gives me–he's dangerous and borderline abusive to me."
Because that is what most written love triangles are, toxic and dangerous vs. stable and friendship-based. So unless you make your female deeply flawed and the trauma is bonded, I wouldn't believe she'd pick someone who repeatedly hurts her over someone she has a stable friendship with. I wouldn't believe a guy would willingly invade that and make that drama his problem in order to "save" her, knowing she's going to go back to him anyway, because she's weak-willed. And I would lose respect if the girl is clearly using one of them to enable toxic behaviors, playing games and putting them against each other even though she's clearly already chosen.
After Twilight, a lot of people became aware of the criticisms of a toxic love triangle, and it became a tired trope there's not much market for.
Maud Pie is a character from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. She is Pinkie Pie's depressed sister and has a passion for rocks. Her character is engaging to the average MLP fan or the average FurAffinity reader. In order for that to happen, I selected three well-rounded characters from the popular TV show with their own goals, motivations, hopes, fears, values, comfort zones and unique world views.
In MLP: FIM proper, Maud Pie is in a relationship with a pony named Mudbriar; a fellow earth pony who shares her quiet, stoic personality and love for rocks. This makes their bond very compatible despite seeming unusual to others. Both Maud and Mudbriar are very reserved and have a calm demeanor, which is why they connect so well. Pinkie, Maud's energetic sister, often struggles to understand the dynamic between Maud and Mudbriar because of their very different personalities.
Fluttershy also has a lot of things that shape who she is, determine what she wants and needs, establish what she offers to those around her and will impact how she responds to the plot events of my stories.
Fluttershy is a gentle and compassionate ponies who nurtures various creatures, including a small injured griffin chick. Her primary motivation is not recognition or praise but the satisfaction of healing and creating a sanctuary for all creatures. Her hopes are simple, such as ensuring nectar for migrating butterflies and trusting her presence. However, her deepest fear is the fear of failing to protect the vulnerable.
Both Maud and Fluttershy's values are rooted in empathy and respect for all living things, believing in the inherent good in every creature, even one that seems outwardly aggressive.
They see the fear and pain behind the snarl and the loneliness behind the territorial growl. Fluttershy's comfort zone is the gentle rhythm of her cottage life, where she feels capable and in control.
One morning, Fluttershy faces a challenge when a group of adolescent hawks corner a small, trembling field mouse. Despite her initial instinct to retreat, she stands firm and unwavering, speaking about the importance of balance and respecting every life, no matter how small. The hawks eventually back down and the little mouse scurries away to safety.
Fluttershy's world is built on small acts of kindness, quiet observation and a deep respect for the delicate balance of nature. Her goals are personal, her motivations intrinsic, her hopes gentle and her fears a constant reminder of the preciousness of life. In the quiet solitude of her cottage, Fluttershy nurtures Ponyville, proving that true strength often lies in the quietest of hearts.
When you don't do the work to flesh out all of the characters involved in your love triangle (or square), your reader will probably end up either rooting for only one of the suitors or will not really care about the outcome either way.
2. Make both suitors a viable choice for the protagonist.
Your protagonist should have actual reasons for loving both suitors, as well as legitimate reasons for not being able to choose one over the other right away. If one character is "perfect" for your protagonist and the other suitor is obviously the "wrong" choice, there will never be any suspense over who your protagonist will end up with. In other words, your love triangle will be predictable, and readers will probably feel less invested in the character who is painted as the "wrong" choice. Do the work to develop both of the suitors as if they are simply a romantic interest for your protagonist and not part of a larger love triangle.
I represent Maud Pie as someone known for her direct and clinical approach to affection. She offers meticulously chosen rock samples with specific meanings, such as "protection from negative energies" and "unconditional love in its rawest, most unadulterated form". Their courtship is less about butterflies and more about the enduring strength of metamorphic rock. However, their communication styles are fundamentally different. Maud needs to learn to express her affection in ways that resonate with Fluttershy's softer, more emotionally attuned nature. Their future can involve quiet evenings spent side-by-side or Maud choosing to "cut to the chase" if Fluttershy will allow it, or Maud can find a partner who appreciates her directness and shares her fascination with the earth's hidden wonders. Her unconventional love is as solid and enduring as the bedrock beneath Ponyville.
3. Don't drag out the decision or go back and forth too much.
There's no quicker way to stall the forward momentum of your story than to have your main character waffle back and forth between two love interests for too long. Yes, your main character should have a hard time choosing between both potential partners. But drag this indecision on too long, and you'll likely annoy your readers and make them lose interest in your characters. Imagine if Maud, a MLP character, kept going back and forth between Mudbriar and Fluttershy over and over and over again. You wouldn't be interested in her story.
4. Have your protagonist actively choose someone to be with.
At some point, your protagonist will have to choose who they want to be with. If you make this decision too easy for your protagonist—for example, having one potential mate die or suddenly turn evil, leaving only one character left to choose from—your reader will be disappointed. People read stories to see how a character deals with the conflict and changes happening in their lives. When you don't let your character make an active choice, you're not delivering the kind of story that readers want to see. There's no quicker way to squash the reader's interest than by having some kind of Deus Ex Machina swoop in and make the decision super easy for your protagonist.
In Ponyville, the predictable nature of life is disrupted by the slow shift of tectonic plates. Maud Pie, her companion, Mudbriar, spends more time cataloging sedimentary layers of the Everfree Forest. Limestone Pie, her older sister, takes on more responsibility at the rock farm. Their shared silences feel heavy with unspoken obligations, and a distance grows between their solid foundations.
Fluttershy has taken on a new dimension in her and Maud's brief exchanges. Of course, Maud isn't allowed to fall in love with Marble or Limestone Pie, since they're all sisters.
They find a shared appreciation for the quiet corners of the library and the unspoken language of shared focus. Maud finds herself observing both Mudbriar's enthusiasm for subterranean minerals and Fluttershy, her shoulders perpetually tight with responsibility.
One afternoon, Maud finds herself at the Ponyville quarry, absentmindedly chipping at a piece of shale. She takes a sip of her tea, feeling the weight of the decision settle on her, heavy as a granite boulder.
Later that week, Maud finds Mudbriar in his usual spot by the stream, meticulously arranging twigs according to some complex structural principle. He asks Maud to observe this remarkable example of... but she will not be accompanying him on their next stick-collecting excursion. Maud explains that while her support for the family farm remains unwavering, her involvement will shift. Fluttershy respects Maud's directness and understands the need for solid foundations, and a foundation built on obligation alone would eventually crumble.
The true shift, the active choice, comes with Fluttershy. She and Maud are now able to enjoy their shared silences and tea. They can also share their appreciation for farts, a secret shared by Fluttershy's other friends. She finds Maud's farts soothing and enchanting, and they embrace their unique fetish. Maud develops a newfound appreciation for Fluttershy's gas, describing it as a symphony of down-to-earth scents and sounds. This intimate bond between Fluttershy and Maud reveals the power of acceptance, understanding and the beauty in embracing one's unique quirks. Their fart fetish is theirs, and life in Ponyville continues, blossoming into the most unexpected yet beautiful relationship in all of Equestria. They find joy, freedom and a love that transcends a true relationship, showcasing the power of acceptance and understanding in embracing one's unique quirks.
And since romance is the main focus, the ending can never be too empty and gross for people who don't like toilet humor or too clean for those who like toilet humor.
Final Thoughts
So hopefully, these tips will help you feel more confident about writing love triangles that are compelling and not cliché or predictable. Love triangles can be a wonderful addition to any kind of story as long as they're well-developed and included with a purpose!
Category Story / My Little Pony / Brony
Species Pony (MLP)
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 81.8 kB
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