So, what are your thoughts on having characters engage in relationships with multiple people at once, completely consensually and their partners are aware of it and are okay with it?
Are there any ideas about how to write a three-way relationship.
I think it's perfectly fine, amazing in fact! Several of my characters are in poly relationships, and I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that they're all still human. It won't be perfectly ideal, jealousy is still just as much a factor as in mono partnerships. They still need to talk things through, and it won't always be perfect, but they're in love and that's what matters.
Sidenote: There are lots of types of poly relationships, even with just three people it can still vary. It could be all three in love with one another, or it can be one with two separate ones who prefer to stay friends. Both are awesome, but will affect the way you describe the relationship and write character interactions. Feel free to ask more questions, this is a topic I can talk for awhile about!
Hey, if you're still wondering, ask me any questions, being in a poly relationship myself, I'd say I know a bit!
^I'm in a poly-ship, too.
Are there any ideas about how to write a three-way relationship.
A big one: it's not just one three-way relationship. It's one three-way, plus each of the individual two-way relationships. Each of the people is going to have a unique relationship with each of their partners, things they'll talk about with that person alone, worries about the other partner, things like that. That's in addition to the relationship they all have as a unit. (Multiply for larger ships, of course.)
The emotional relationship can be different than the romantic relationship can be different than the sexual relationship. And each person isn't just boyfriend\girlfriend\significantfriend\partner, they're all individual people with their own likes and dislikes, interests they share with one person that they might not with another.
Even if it's not actively discussed by the people in the relationship during the course of your story, boundaries will be in place and have been talked about. Who buys the food, who takes care of utilities, each person having their own cabinet or cupboard with their snacks and goodies and general 'community' eats. Everyone's favorite flavor of ice cream which by mutual agreement no one else touches without permission.
Who's doing dinner? Who's doing laundry? Who's doing that if that person can't?
Relationships are about communication. Poly relationships require exponetially more communication. Saturdays are for X and Y, Sunday is family breakfast and no it doesn't matter if you have a hang-over or a goddamned broken leg we're eating together so sit the fuck down and be happy damn you I made this just for you.
There may or may not be a list or document of rules because no one can remember everything.
Do's – Always talk to the unit about important life happenings, Always talk to the unit about bringing someone new in, or even if you have a crush.
Don't's – Talk about the unit to outside people without permission, our life is none of their business. Keep secrets, it's as good as lying or cheating. Don't go behind one another's backs with the other partner.
((For example, I'm asexual, and one of my partners isn't super-cuddly, so when my partners have sex, I'm the one partner-2 comes to for post-sex cuddles or talking, and that works for all of us.))