I'm a big fan of hero teams. Conventional writing wisdom says there's a hero and an antagonist, and the best climax is the hero facing the antagonist alone.
This results in a lot of tortured, tired ways to get the hero alone that frankly, I loathe. Officer Friendly protecting the hero -- except the one time he's lured away. The "let's split up" to "cover more ground" mentality (who honestly thinks this is a good idea in the face of danger?). The act of nature that separates the hero from their compatriots: be it a boat split by a waterfall, a blinding snowstorm, or a thundering herd of cattle. The "emotional" misunderstanding that causes one party to walk away (for f* sake, talk it out. You're supposed adults!)
To me, the original Avengers movie was a refreshing antithesis to all that. True, the obstacle to overcome was exactly that, the team that didn't want to be built. But it didn't use those tired tropes, or if it did, it used them in new ways. And I just like a story that ends with the team I've grown to love coming together to beat the bad guys and win the day.
That having been said, don't make it too easy for them to be a team. That's boring. Give them opposite characteristics or points of contention or have one or more of them refuse to help at some point, either the first time they're asked or later down the road. Then it's even more satisfying when the team puts aside all those differences (or uses them to their advantage!) to get the job done.
Mix it up and keep your reader guessing -- and reading!
Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits.
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