10 Tips to Writing Romance

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and what better way is there to celebrate than getting stuck into a good romance novel? 
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Fancy trying your hand at writing a romance? Check out the following top tips on writing a romance novel, grab your laptop – and maybe a glass of vino – and see what you can create! 

• Conflict is crucial! The elements that are stopping your characters from living happily ever after are the driving force behind your story. Know what these elements are and figure out how your characters can overcome them, together. The main obstacle should be significant, one that is not easily overcome. 
  

 

• Really know your characters. Who are they? What do they want? Why do they want this? The romantic relationship between characters must be realistic, unique and, above all, interesting. 
  

 

• The key is to start on a point of action, hooking your readers from the very first page. What are your characters doing on the very first page? Is your heroine on a terrible first date in a restaurant with a guy she has only met once, when suddenly your hero starts choking across the room and she has to save him? Picture how and when your main protagonists will meet, then dive into the action. 
  

 

• Use secondary characters with caution. You’re writing a romance, so readers are going to be mostly interested in the main romantic couple. 
  

 

• Read romances. Lots of people who think they can write a romance aren’t actually fans of reading romance novels. If you’re not interested in the genre as a reader, that’s going to come across in your writing. ​
  

• Follow the formula. Romances typically have characters that readers can love and relate to, a believable conflict and a happy ending. Start writing with these elements in mind to get the basics down, then play around with making your work original and unique. 
  

 

• Focus on feelings. Readers of romance want to feel something when they read. You can have some dark moments, some challenges, in your story, but the narrative should be positive and life-affirming at its core. 
  

 

• Avoid writing about sex for the sake of it. It’s important to write about physical attraction in romances, but this doesn’t have to involve sex. It could just be a kiss. Or the sex could happen implicitly behind closed doors. If you want to write a sex scene, there needs to be an emotional reason behind it. First ask yourself: What might this scene show readers about the characters’ relationship? Is it believable? Do my metaphors/euphemisms work? 
  

 

• Be sure to create characters with flaws. They need to seem human to readers. If characters have real faults, readers will find them to be more believable and striking. 
  

 

• Know your subgenre. Are you writing a historical romance? A contemporary romance? A paranormal romance? Read widely and do your research. Take notes on where big plot points tend to occur in these novels – what are they? 
  

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