if you have an enemies-to-lovers trope fixation  that is super basic in this sense and i guess also  
if you have an enemies-to-lovers trope fixation  that is super basic in this sense and i guess also  

in this sense but i don't mean that pejoratively  because looking down on people because they like  
in this sense but i don't mean that pejoratively  because looking down on people because they like  

something which is popular is some painfully  insecure behavior and you might want to look to  
something which is popular is some painfully  insecure behavior and you might want to look to  

that i'm Jill Bearup i pretend to fight people  for fun this video is sponsored by Campfire  
that i'm Jill Bearup i pretend to fight people  for fun this video is sponsored by Campfire  

more on that later and enemies to lovers where two  characters start out hating each other and end up  
more on that later and enemies to lovers where two  characters start out hating each other and end up  

falling in love is popular for a reason. well i  say a reason i mean lots of reasons many of which  
falling in love is popular for a reason. well i  say a reason i mean lots of reasons many of which  

are basic to good storytelling so let's get to  it! Conflict one of the most basic (I swear i'll  
are basic to good storytelling so let's get to  it! Conflict one of the most basic (I swear i'll  

stop now) elements to storytelling is conflict  characters want something but they can't get it  
stop now) elements to storytelling is conflict  characters want something but they can't get it  

they try to get it they probably fail a bunch  they eventually succeed hooray set up and pay  
they try to get it they probably fail a bunch  they eventually succeed hooray set up and pay  

off achieved and the greater the struggle the more  satisfying the resolution. Luke Skywalker wants  
off achieved and the greater the struggle the more  satisfying the resolution. Luke Skywalker wants  

to blow up the death star to defeat the empire  Harry Potter wants to keep the philosopher's  
to blow up the death star to defeat the empire  Harry Potter wants to keep the philosopher's  

stone away from Voldemort, Sarah wants to get her  brother back and obviously you can't have fight  
stone away from Voldemort, Sarah wants to get her  brother back and obviously you can't have fight  

scenes without conflict so this is a particular  interest of mine. So two people who may be decent  
scenes without conflict so this is a particular  interest of mine. So two people who may be decent  

or at least decent-ish characters in conflict with  each other and struggling to understand the other  
or at least decent-ish characters in conflict with  each other and struggling to understand the other  

person's point of view and possibly even doing  bad things to the other person for reasons that  
person's point of view and possibly even doing  bad things to the other person for reasons that  

they think are good all excellent conflict-related  stuff. people on opposite sides of a war coming to  
they think are good all excellent conflict-related  stuff. people on opposite sides of a war coming to  

understand each other and the other person's  viewpoint excellent conflict satisfying  
understand each other and the other person's  viewpoint excellent conflict satisfying  

resolution. This is also true in enemies to  lovers's sister trope rivals to lovers where  
resolution. This is also true in enemies to  lovers's sister trope rivals to lovers where  

two people are in conflict because they're on  opposite sides of an issue or they're in academic  
two people are in conflict because they're on  opposite sides of an issue or they're in academic  

competition or they're on opposing sports teams  it's less life or death dramatic but it's still  
competition or they're on opposing sports teams  it's less life or death dramatic but it's still  

fun, realistic in a lot more situations, and  satisfying when it's resolved. tension and build  
fun, realistic in a lot more situations, and  satisfying when it's resolved. tension and build  

up i already said the greater the struggle the  more satisfying the resolution and while it's true  
up i already said the greater the struggle the  more satisfying the resolution and while it's true  

that there's only so long that you can string  your audience along for before they get bored  
that there's only so long that you can string  your audience along for before they get bored  

or frustrated tension does make for a compelling  story. three hundred thousand word slowburn fanfic  
or frustrated tension does make for a compelling  story. three hundred thousand word slowburn fanfic  

anyone? it may be that you the reader or the  viewer are in no doubt that everything will  
anyone? it may be that you the reader or the  viewer are in no doubt that everything will  

absolutely work itself out eventually but it's  not knowing when it will work itself out or how it  
absolutely work itself out eventually but it's  not knowing when it will work itself out or how it  

will work itself out that creates that tension one  of my favorite relationships in any book series is  
will work itself out that creates that tension one  of my favorite relationships in any book series is  

Toby and Tybalt from the October Daye series by  Seanan McGuire and a lot of my favorite moments  
Toby and Tybalt from the October Daye series by  Seanan McGuire and a lot of my favorite moments  

from that relationship are the ones which balance  on a knife edge the ones where there is tension  
from that relationship are the ones which balance  on a knife edge the ones where there is tension  

where something might happen but you genuinely  don't know what it is it could go either way it  
where something might happen but you genuinely  don't know what it is it could go either way it  

makes the resolution more satisfying if you tease  it beforehand if you make it seem like there could  
makes the resolution more satisfying if you tease  it beforehand if you make it seem like there could  

be resolution earlier but something gets in  the way and that something could be as simple  
be resolution earlier but something gets in  the way and that something could be as simple  

as the characters just aren't ready for it yet  those glimpses of conflict resolution encourage  
as the characters just aren't ready for it yet  those glimpses of conflict resolution encourage  

your reader to keep reading or your viewer to  keep viewing moments where there is almost an  
your reader to keep reading or your viewer to  keep viewing moments where there is almost an  

understanding and then it is snatched cruelly away  from you are really frustrating but if you do them  
understanding and then it is snatched cruelly away  from you are really frustrating but if you do them  

right they are very compelling they encourage you  to keep going because you want to know if it will  
right they are very compelling they encourage you  to keep going because you want to know if it will  

work itself out in the end. that's one reason that  flirty fights are so popular and why they can work  
work itself out in the end. that's one reason that  flirty fights are so popular and why they can work  

so well they're a release valve although usually  a temporary one for the tension that is built up  
so well they're a release valve although usually  a temporary one for the tension that is built up  

between two characters in the story they give you  a hint of the resolution in the hope that you will  
between two characters in the story they give you  a hint of the resolution in the hope that you will  

keep going so that you will find out what happens  at the end are these two characters going to get  
keep going so that you will find out what happens  at the end are these two characters going to get  

together at the end of the movie i mean yes of  course they are but how are they going to do it  
together at the end of the movie i mean yes of  course they are but how are they going to do it  

that's the question that keeps us watching or at  least the question that keeps us watching them.  
that's the question that keeps us watching or at  least the question that keeps us watching them.  

character growth the greater the struggle the  more satisfying the resolution and the greater the  
character growth the greater the struggle the  more satisfying the resolution and the greater the  

change the more satisfying the resolution to up to  a point stories in which characters have to change  
change the more satisfying the resolution to up to  a point stories in which characters have to change  

dramatically on an emotional and practical level  are very compelling and going from i hate you to  
dramatically on an emotional and practical level  are very compelling and going from i hate you to  

i love you and would die for you is a pretty big  change. avatar the last airbender is known for  
i love you and would die for you is a pretty big  change. avatar the last airbender is known for  

being a brilliant show it's also known for having  a fandom that was absolutely wild with debate as  
being a brilliant show it's also known for having  a fandom that was absolutely wild with debate as  

to whether Aang and Katara or Zuko and Katara was  the superior ship i mean i'm personally very fond  
to whether Aang and Katara or Zuko and Katara was  the superior ship i mean i'm personally very fond  

of the idea that one can love one's friends as  deeply as one loves one's romantic partners but  
of the idea that one can love one's friends as  deeply as one loves one's romantic partners but  

you know there is a reason for all that alternate  universe zutara fanfic people do love this trope  
you know there is a reason for all that alternate  universe zutara fanfic people do love this trope  

see also all that Rey/Kylo Ren fanfic  although to be fair that one is a little more  
see also all that Rey/Kylo Ren fanfic  although to be fair that one is a little more  

canonically backed that degree of change though  is one of the reasons it can be very difficult  
canonically backed that degree of change though  is one of the reasons it can be very difficult  

to write enemies to lovers convincingly or even  just stories where bad people become better people  
to write enemies to lovers convincingly or even  just stories where bad people become better people  

because if we're not emotionally invested  if we don't like the character if we don't  
because if we're not emotionally invested  if we don't like the character if we don't  

like the direction the story is going in then  we'll just drop it redemption arcs are really  
like the direction the story is going in then  we'll just drop it redemption arcs are really  

powerful and great in concept but if you're not  emotionally invested in the character already  
powerful and great in concept but if you're not  emotionally invested in the character already  

they tend to fall flat. Equity and power one of my  favorite reasons for character growth in enemies  
they tend to fall flat. Equity and power one of my  favorite reasons for character growth in enemies  

to lovers is that the enemies challenge each other  to be better which is also why rivals two lovers  
to lovers is that the enemies challenge each other  to be better which is also why rivals two lovers  

is my preferred trope incidentally someone who  is constantly keeping you on your toes either  
is my preferred trope incidentally someone who  is constantly keeping you on your toes either  

verbally or physically will mean that you're on  your metal you are always prepared you are at  
verbally or physically will mean that you're on  your metal you are always prepared you are at  

the top of your game not that i'm competitive  obviously but that only really works when you  
the top of your game not that i'm competitive  obviously but that only really works when you  

perceive the characters as equals and now we're  into the stuff that i find really interesting  
perceive the characters as equals and now we're  into the stuff that i find really interesting  

novels invite you to empathize with their  characters particularly their viewpoint  
novels invite you to empathize with their  characters particularly their viewpoint  

characters they invite you should you choose to  imagine yourself as that person and while that  
characters they invite you should you choose to  imagine yourself as that person and while that  

means you are going to experience a lot of very  dramatic and bad things albeit secondhand you  
means you are going to experience a lot of very  dramatic and bad things albeit secondhand you  

also get the secondhand joy or satisfaction  that comes from learning a new skill or  
also get the secondhand joy or satisfaction  that comes from learning a new skill or  

defeating an enemy or any of the things that the  characters do if you've ever wondered why enemies  
defeating an enemy or any of the things that the  characters do if you've ever wondered why enemies  

to lovers is particularly popular among young  women i would say there are probably a lot of  
to lovers is particularly popular among young  women i would say there are probably a lot of  

reasons but this is the one that stands out to  me as i said in the short that i made about this  
reasons but this is the one that stands out to  me as i said in the short that i made about this  

you aren't enemies with a goldfish or a baby  unless you're Voldemort you're enemies with  
you aren't enemies with a goldfish or a baby  unless you're Voldemort you're enemies with  

someone you consider a threat you may hate them  you may fear them but you take them seriously  
someone you consider a threat you may hate them  you may fear them but you take them seriously  

being a teenager means feeling awkward and out of  place and like you don't fit in anywhere and like  
being a teenager means feeling awkward and out of  place and like you don't fit in anywhere and like  

people aren't treating you properly and are  disrespecting you because you're not a child  
people aren't treating you properly and are  disrespecting you because you're not a child  

but then again you're not quite an adult either  spoiler i'm 35 and there are some people in life  
but then again you're not quite an adult either  spoiler i'm 35 and there are some people in life  

who will just try and treat you like a child no  matter what age you are it's just something you  
who will just try and treat you like a child no  matter what age you are it's just something you  

have to develop mechanisms to deal with sorry.  But with enemies to lovers here is a story where  
have to develop mechanisms to deal with sorry.  But with enemies to lovers here is a story where  

the main character who is sort of a stand-in for  you to varying degrees is taken very seriously is  
the main character who is sort of a stand-in for  you to varying degrees is taken very seriously is  

respected as a threat is feared but also loved who  doesn't want to be taken seriously and respected  
respected as a threat is feared but also loved who  doesn't want to be taken seriously and respected  

who doesn't want to be seen as competent i mean  yes it is straight up wish fulfilment you too can  
who doesn't want to be seen as competent i mean  yes it is straight up wish fulfilment you too can  

have a partner who is impressed by you who sees  you as an equal frankly who doesn't love some wish  
have a partner who is impressed by you who sees  you as an equal frankly who doesn't love some wish  

fulfilment and also i would encourage you not to  settle for anyone who isn't impressed by you and  
fulfilment and also i would encourage you not to  settle for anyone who isn't impressed by you and  

doesn't see you as an equal just throwing that out  there and leading on from that last but not least:  
doesn't see you as an equal just throwing that out  there and leading on from that last but not least:  

deep understanding on top of equity on top of  interesting conflicts on top of character growth  
deep understanding on top of equity on top of  interesting conflicts on top of character growth  

and the appeal of redemption arcs on top of all  of that we have the two lovers part of enemies  
and the appeal of redemption arcs on top of all  of that we have the two lovers part of enemies  

to lovers because the appeal of the trope is  not just being taken seriously and not just  
to lovers because the appeal of the trope is  not just being taken seriously and not just  

being thought of as dangerous not just having  someone who treats you as an equal and takes you  
being thought of as dangerous not just having  someone who treats you as an equal and takes you  

seriously and yada yada it's also someone who not  only does all of those things but falls in love  
seriously and yada yada it's also someone who not  only does all of those things but falls in love  

with you as well it's the idea that a character  can be deeply and intensely loved by someone  
with you as well it's the idea that a character  can be deeply and intensely loved by someone  

who already knows all of the bad things about them  i mean to be so irresistible that even people who  
who already knows all of the bad things about them  i mean to be so irresistible that even people who  

hate you find something lovable about you wish  fulfilment on steroids man i love it character a  
hate you find something lovable about you wish  fulfilment on steroids man i love it character a  

sees character b and all the terrible things that  b has done some of them to a but can't help but  
sees character b and all the terrible things that  b has done some of them to a but can't help but  

fall in love with b anyway because they know them  so completely and what they know is so deeply and  
fall in love with b anyway because they know them  so completely and what they know is so deeply and  

intensely lovable. there's no need to hide the  bad or shameful parts of yourself from an enemy  
intensely lovable. there's no need to hide the  bad or shameful parts of yourself from an enemy  

to lover because they've already seen them it's  completely brutal but it's also searingly honest  
to lover because they've already seen them it's  completely brutal but it's also searingly honest  

and that craving to know and be known and be loved  in spite of or because of that knowing is a very  
and that craving to know and be known and be loved  in spite of or because of that knowing is a very  

very human one enemies to lovers is a trope which  like all tropes can be good or bad or indifferent  
very human one enemies to lovers is a trope which  like all tropes can be good or bad or indifferent  

but because it contains so many elements which  can be key to really good storytelling compelling  
but because it contains so many elements which  can be key to really good storytelling compelling  

empathetic characters equity respect desire  redemption an arc it's never going away so if  
empathetic characters equity respect desire  redemption an arc it's never going away so if  

you're already writing or have now been inspired  to write your very own epic enemies to lover story  
you're already writing or have now been inspired  to write your very own epic enemies to lover story  

or at least let your ttrpg players have a  crack at one then today's sponsor Campfire  
or at least let your ttrpg players have a  crack at one then today's sponsor Campfire  

might be able to help, and it's free for smaller  projects and frankly who does not love free?  
might be able to help, and it's free for smaller  projects and frankly who does not love free?  

campfire is a browser-based writing application  that has helped over 150 000 people write better  
campfire is a browser-based writing application  that has helped over 150 000 people write better  

stories faster the manuscript module stores your  project be it campaign or novel in the cloud and  
stories faster the manuscript module stores your  project be it campaign or novel in the cloud and  

means you can quickly reference details because it  has auto tagging it has a character module which  
means you can quickly reference details because it  has auto tagging it has a character module which  

helps you create dynamic characters and remember  what hair color they have and what height they are  
helps you create dynamic characters and remember  what hair color they have and what height they are  

among other things it has a relationship module  which helps you track the dynamics between  
among other things it has a relationship module  which helps you track the dynamics between  

characters there are timelines so you can plan  or just remember what happened when and to whom  
characters there are timelines so you can plan  or just remember what happened when and to whom  

and there are modules for maps locations cultures  magic systems anything you could possibly want  
and there are modules for maps locations cultures  magic systems anything you could possibly want  

if you need extra stuff on top of the free account  you just pay for what you need either as a monthly  
if you need extra stuff on top of the free account  you just pay for what you need either as a monthly  

subscription or as a lifetime purchase if you hate  monthly subscriptions and there's a 30 day money  
subscription or as a lifetime purchase if you hate  monthly subscriptions and there's a 30 day money  

back guarantee too i personally love the idea of  a lifetime purchase of things because one and done  
back guarantee too i personally love the idea of  a lifetime purchase of things because one and done  

and i'm very bad at remembering if i've subscribed  to things or not regardless you only pay for the  
and i'm very bad at remembering if i've subscribed  to things or not regardless you only pay for the  

things you want so that seems pretty good  to me organize your story today and take  
things you want so that seems pretty good  to me organize your story today and take  

the frustration out of writing by clicking either  the link that's on the screen or the one that's in  
the frustration out of writing by clicking either  the link that's on the screen or the one that's in  

the video description and if you decide to publish  the results of all of this writing do let us know
the video description and if you decide to publish  the results of all of this writing do let us know