5 Things Romance Writers Do to Win Over Readers
As an avid romance reader, I thought I would intuitively know what it took to write a good romance novel. After all, I can easily read a love story and know whether or not I enjoyed it and why. But as soon as I sat down to write my first rom-com, I realized quickly that reading romance and writing romance are two different beasts entirely.
(Ways to Find a Great Premise for a Romance Novel.)
The sign of a good romance, to me, has always been whether it gives you all the feels (this is a technical, objective evaluation, of course). It took a lot of trial and error, reading of great contemporary romance novels, and some list-making of commonalities, but I finally developed a formula for what makes me fall in love with certain love stories over others. The things that make me think about a book long after the final kiss.
At the heart of every swoon-worthy love story are five things we romance writers do to ensure our books live rent-free in reader’s heads.
Build romantic interest at a believable pace.
One of the most challenging components of writing a romance is to get the pacing right. Imagine a roller coaster rising slowly before a drop. Even, steady, then all at once, it falls. The rise doesn’t have to happen at an exact steady pace, but if it happens too slowly, riders will be bored, and if it happens too fast, they could get whiplash.
The same is true for romantic build-up in a novel. Regardless of whether it’s love at first sight or a slow burn, writing a believable connection is knowing which interaction levers to push and pull that create electricity and rhythm.
Balancing moments of tension, humor, and romance is essential. One thing I’ve found in my own writing and in providing critique for others is that it’s easy to give characters really big (too big) feelings. “Our eyes met and it set off a rocket in my stomach” or “his touch sent me into convulsions.” While there may be a time and place for these types of big feelings, it’s important to use them sparingly and in the right moments.
If the reader has been on the journey with you, has felt the connection of the characters grow, and is getting excited for the *ahem* payoff, then a statement or two like these work. But, only after the tension has been building to a clear precipice. Subtlety is key. On a next read-through of a work-in-progress, I suggest highlighting all lines of physical or emotional response and see if it makes sense to dull them slightly or build them up a bit more. Ensuring the exact right emotional calibrations is key to creating believable romantic buildup.
Similarly, think about how we build connection with others, romantic or otherwise. Most often, it’s over time spent, through the sharing of intimate details of our lives, and via some form of shared experience. Incorporating these three components of connection will deepen the reader’s understanding of why two characters are falling for each other.
Provide root-worthy love.
One of the lessons I learned early on (thank you, reviewers) is that it’s hard to root for someone’s love story if you don’t particularly care whether they find love. At the very least, readers need to want to root for the main character. The easiest way to do that? Likeability.
Readers should clearly understand the main character’s desires, vulnerabilities, and imperfections. A character is closed off and therefore a bit standoffish in their first interactions with others? Fine, but make the reader understand why. Perhaps this character was burned in love before and is hesitant to jump back in.
If readers can understand a character’s why, they can accept most any behavior, thus making them easier to root for. The goal is not a “perfect” character with no flaws (because who finds that interesting?), rather a flawed human with whom the reader can relate.
Check out Neely Tubati Alexander’s In a Not So Perfect World here:
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Craft natural (and layered) dialogue.
It’s the thing that can make or break a book. Well-crafted dialogue reads like natural conversation and is key to characterization. The best advice I can give? Read dialogue aloud. If it comes out choppy or too formal or just not how real people might talk, you’ll be more likely to catch it audibly.
One of the things that makes dialogue so powerful is subtext. What are the characters not saying? Is their body language or internal thought in opposition of their words? Things like interiority and body language can add layers to not only moments of dialogue but the story itself, allowing readers to infer unspoken feelings and intentions.
A great exercise is to practice writing a scene where a character is saying one thing but feeling the opposite. Perhaps they are saying no to something but really want to say yes, or vice versa. Write the dialogue itself while giving readers an internal view into the conflict the character is managing internally. Perhaps they are starting to sweat or feeling guilty or hoping the other person is not picking up on their untruth. This tension creates a closeness between character and reader, as the reader is on a secret the other character isn’t.
Write believable (and consensual) sex scenes.
A critique partner once left the following note on a sex scene in one of my manuscripts. “Does he have octopus limbs? If not, his hands are doing an unreasonable number of things.” Nothing takes readers out of a romantic scene more than the mechanics not working. Furthermore, modern romance readers seek the right mix of fantasy and believability.
And in contemporary romance, consent and safety are important. Some of my favorite romance authors find ways to show consent and safe sex practices in ways that don’t pull the reader out of the thrilling moment. Integrating these components into foreplay can be a creative solve for the writer while also satisfying the reader’s desire for a romantic scene.
Deliver the Happily Ever After or Happy For Now.
As a tried-and-true pessimist, I have often thought about writing a twisty romance ending readers won’t see coming. But then I remember that, more than anything, romance readers come to the genre for the satisfaction of a feel-good ending.
This doesn’t mean rules can’t be broken, but it’s an important component to recognize when writing in this space. After all, is it really romance without an emotional payoff? Whether it’s a happy ending, bittersweet conclusion, or a twist, it should feel earned and fitting for the story.
Happily-ever-after’s give us an ending wrapped up in a sweet bow, where the characters live, well, happily ever after. Happy-for-now provides more of an “everything is not perfect, and we don’t know where this is headed, but chances are, somewhere good.” Confident versus hopeful. There’s room in the genre for many versions of these, but it’s important not to overlook reader expectations.
Ultimately, readers want to fall in love alongside the main characters, feeling their hopes, wants, desires, and heartbreak. I often imagine the reader as a voyeur, catching intimate moments and details between the main characters that would otherwise only exist between the two. So, give your reader the best view for a lasting impression.
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