the vampire diaries fanfic writing tips

✧ how to choose a love interest

sorry if my advice on this isn't perfect, i've always created ideas around a specific character i knew i wanted to write for, i never created a story and then chose a love interest except for within a few ocs within my stories but not the main one.

so here are some tips on choosing a love interest:

1. consider what show you wanna end up in

if you're looking to stay in the vampire diaries, then it's easier to pick a character who is from that show and stays on that show. Elena, Caroline, Bonnie, Stefan, etc.

Or pick a character who leaves the originals or who isn't on it that frequently. For example, Kol and Rebekah.

You can obviously choose who you want. But it does make it a little more challenging. I'll do another chapter on bringing characters over to the other show.

Just keep that in mind.

2. consider the difficulty of each character

Some characters are much harder to write for others and i don't mean because of their personality or whatever.

For example, writing your oc as a love interest for Elena is probably going to be more challenging then let's say Caroline or Bonnie.

Elena is in a relationship for the majority of the show. Even when she's single she's in love with either Stefan or Damon.

I already did a chapter on writing her in a relationship so I won't discuss it here it's just something to be aware of.

With a character like Stefan for example, he's single as of season 4 and stays single until season 6 I believe. That just leaves you a little more to work with.

3. think about who fits your love interest

Not everyone is compatible with everyone they meet. Some people are drawn to different characteristics.

Really look at your character and look at the others and think about whether or not they're compatible.

What are they all looking for in a relationship? What do they look for in a person?

It's not just about whether your OC is a good person for that character but whether they are a good fit for them.

What does your character need?

Feel like people overlook that point.

What things do they have in common?

4. Consider what type of romance you're looking to have

Is it a more complex one? Characters like Damon and Klaus fit that more.

Is it supposed to be an instant love that's more simple?

Is it a slow burn? Or do they get together quickly?

Things like that.

5. At what point does your character come into the story?

If your character comes in let's say season 1 of the vampire diaries, having your main love interest be Freya for example might be a little difficult. Unless you have the most compelling OC, most people are reading for the relationship.

I won't even read a Klaus or Kol or any Mikaelson fanfic if it starts at season 1 and they still don't make an appearance until season 2 or 3. I'm just not interested. And I know many people feel the same.

6. When do you want your character's story to end?

If you plan to write throughout the duration of the show and want the relationship to last that long, then your limited by character's dates.

For example, if you want to write until season 8 of the vampire diaries and want Elena as a love interest you're going to have to go through 2 seasons without her or find a way to save her. And then change those 2 seasons to include her.

Take it from me, it's not that easy to include your OC (possibly more than one) AND other characters from the show who aren't supposed to be there.

Spoiler alert for my Kol fanfic:

In my fanfic, Kol doesn't die in season 4. I had to find a role for him in seasons 4-6 of tvd and basically all of season 5. It also changed his dynamic with his family so even in episodes that he was in in the original, I had to change his role.

It's not easy. Consider that.

It also throws off the story. For example, because Kol lived, they couldn't complete the hunters mark and then I had to account for that.

If you want your OC to have a happily ever after, then consider that might not be possible with some characters unless you change the ending. For example, Klaus, Stefan, Hayley, etc.

7. What storylines do you want your OC involved in?

If you want your OC involved in certain storylines and not others then consider certain characters.

For example, if you aren't interested in your OC being a part of Klaus as a father and your OC as a potential step parent then maybe don't have Klaus as a love interest.

If you want your OC involved in the 1864 storyline, maybe consider a Salvatore or even Katherine.

Hope this helps.