Twenty years ago, when I first got the idea to write a novel, I decided I’d write a romance. After all, how hard could it be? I can only look back and shake my head. That first manuscript was terrible, and that’s putting it nicely. I’m still embarrassed I let anyone else read it.
Like many rookie writers, I had fallen into the trap of thinking that because the story was about love, it would be easier to write. But as anyone who has tried writing romance knows, the opposite is true. Not only do you have the usual external and internal conflicts common to all stories, but you have to make two characters fall in love, too!
Thankfully I’ve grown wiser over the last two decades. If I could go back and offer Past Me some suggestions, here are my five top tips for writing romance.
Create a Strong Romantic Conflict:
Since this conflict is the heart of the story, it needs to be big. Your readers should be flipping pages asking themselves, “how on earth is this going to work out?” We’re not talking about miscommunication that could be resolved in a ten-minute conversation. Your couple needs to overcome major obstacles, such as deep-seated misbeliefs about themselves or love, big secrets they’re keeping, or reasons why these specific two people can’t be together. As the external plot unfolds, your characters will have to confront these issues they’d rather ignore and work through them to grow (and fall in love!). Remember, the higher the stakes, the more compelling the story.
Keep Your Main Characters Likable and Sympathetic:
Nobody wants them to be perfect, so they should make mistakes and have flaws, but readers won’t care about them if they’re too unlikable or their motivations don’t make sense. Give them quirks that the opposite lead finds endearing—a heroine who rescues animals or a hero who gives his lunch to a homeless man.
Give Your Characters Opportunities to be Vulnerable with Each Other:
Vulnerability builds emotional intimacy and challenges the characters’ misbeliefs. Small moments throughout the story in which your lead couple opens up to each other will make their growing romance feel more real to readers.
Know the Twelve Stages of Physical Intimacy and Use Them to Build Tension:
Whether you’re writing a sweet or spicy story, physical contact will play a role one way or another. But if you rush the stages of intimacy, you risk creating moments that make readers cringe. On the other hand, there’s nothing as swoony as a well-placed touch of the hands or almost-kiss (or bedroom scene!).
Study Romance Movies and Books to See How all the Moving Parts Fit Together:
It’s not easy to tie together the external plot, internal character arcs, and romance in a way that’s emotionally satisfying. But if you spend time analyzing stories you enjoy (and ones you hate) to figure out why they do or don’t work, you’ll soon see patterns for what makes a successful romance tick.
Of course, the biggest key to improving your romance writing skills is old-fashioned practice. So keep writing, and best of luck!
Kellie VanHorn’s latest Love Inspired Suspense, Wyoming Ranch Sabotage, is out now!
With her ranch under attack, can she trust him to defend her?
Desperate to rescue her horses from a suspicious fire, rancher Sadie Madsen suddenly finds herself trapped inside the burning barn instead. She’s saved by the one man she never wanted to see again—her ex-fiancé, Jesse Taylor. Unable to ignore the string of recent “accidents” on her property, Sadie reluctantly accepts the park ranger’s help. But as they investigate and discover family secrets, the attacks escalate. Dangerous killers want Sadie’s land, and luring the culprits into the open is their only hope of escaping a deadly conspiracy…
Wyoming Ranch Sabotage is out now! Check it out on Harlequin.com.
