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Intro
Romance is a very popular genre in today’s literary world. Whether you’re a romance reader or excited to create your own, by the end of this blog post, you will know the formula for the perfect romance.
What is a Romance
Romance, ultimately, has leapt to new heights in popularity. So, what is this genre?
According to MasterClass’ article “Writing 101: What Is a Romance Novel? Learn About the History and Characteristics of Romance Novels,”
A romance novel must have both a
- central focus on the development of a romantic relationship between two people
- an emotional throughline and build to an optimistic conclusion
History of the Romance Novel
Romance stories can be dated back all the way to ancient Greece, with five remaining stories included below:
-  Chariton’s Chaereas and Callirhoë (1st century ad)
- Xenophon of Ephesus’s Anthia and Habrocomes (2nd century ad)
- Achilles Tatius’s Leucippe and Clitophon (2nd century ad)
- Longus’s Daphnis and Chloe (2nd century ad)
- Heliodorus’s Theagenes and Charicles (4th century ad)
According to Britannica’s article “Romance,” the romantic style came from the original three romans d’antiquité. These three were medieval French adaptations of classical Greek epics and tales.
- Roman de Thebes
- Roman d’Enéas
- Roman de Troie
Descriptions and narratives in these romances focused heavily on the relationship between the setting and the character’s own perception.
More interestingly, this new use of rhetoric allowed
” a character in love to explore his own feelings, to describe his attitude to the loved one, and to explain whatever action he is about to take.”
You can find more about the history of the romance genre and find prompts to help inspire your own creation in the blog post below!
The Modern Romance
First off, the romance novel we know and love today didn’t take its form till the 17th and 18th centuries. Such pioneering authors for this genre include:
- Anne Radcliff
- Samuel Richardson
- Jane Austen
Early Conventions
From the start of romance, the conventions have relied heavily on rhetoric. Once the romance novel began to become a cemented genre, the original stories stayed within certain confines.Â
An early romance novel always included such things as:
- a white, heterosexual, and female protagonist
- A male love interest
- a struggle between the expectations of their class or society
- a fight for their own personal happiness
- an uplifting, satisfying closing to the story (normally a marriage)
The Evolution of the Romance
As society changes and expectations shift, the romance novel has adjusted likewise. No longer limited to the same protagonist’s perception, a romance can center people from all walks of life. The protagonist could be of any gender, sexual orientation, age, or race. Popularly, many authors have written books that switch perceptions with each chapter.
Popular Romance Books today:
Among many of the classical romance novels, many new authors have sprung up:
- Ready or Not by Andi Porretta
- Detained: A Dark Mafia Romance by Luna Mason
- Grave Intentions: A Dark Taboo Romance by Selena Winters
- Just Friends by Haley Pham
- Ace & Ember by Kate Crew
- And Now, Back to You by B. K. Borison
- Keeping Score by Brittany Kelley
- Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn
Writing Romance
With every genre, there are certain expectations to follow to create a successful romance novel. As stated before, your novel must have a central love story that is followed and eventually resolved.Â
For a basic layout, make sure your novel has:
- a central love story
- two highly developed love interests
- a narrative and emotional arc
- Â satisfying ending
Diving Deeper
Now, that is just a basic layout; your own romance should include additional key components if you want your reader interested.Â
1. Believable
Ask yourself, will my reader believe my love interests would be compatible? What about them attracts each other? If you are writing a romance, you want your reader to be invested. They should feel empathy for your characters and root for their eventual partnership.Â
2. Detailed Narrative Arc
Yes, you are writing a romance, which normally falls under a story’s emotional arc (the emotional goal your protagonist is trying to achieve on top of their higher-stakes pursuit), but be careful. Don’t sacrifice your main plot.
Romance happens on top of the rest of life’s pursuits. What are your protagonists doing that is out of their normal routine? What challenge are they working on when they meet the other character? What greater destiny are they in pursuit of?
3. Distinct Characters
Whoever you place as your protagonists in your story, make them real. To make someone’s personality shine through, think of it like this: if you were in a room with your character, what would you note? Was it how they kept adjusting their shirt? How loudly they spoke? A strong perfume they wore? How often they said the phrase “don’t you know”?Â
Try your best to examine real people in your life and what makes their personalities distinct and notable. Then, try to envision yourself talking to your characters to really ensure you are creating reliable, tangible personalities.Â
To ensure you have the best resources at your disposal, check out how to write dialogue in the blog post below!
4. Quality Writing
Many romances nowadays are almost like fast fashion. Writers will find a popular trope, word vomit a story, and get it approved for publications, to the pain of many readers. In short, the writing is not up to par. Do not follow in their footsteps; your story will remain low-quality and obviously rushed. Instead, put in effort to read and rewrite your work. Allow your writing to show more than tell.Â
Learn more about show-don’t-tell in the blog post below.
Although erotica and smut have grossly reached the mainstream of romance, you don’t need to have your characters continually interacting for believability that they are compatible. Instead, allow your characters to be shown apart from one another.
- What are they like after brief encounters? Do they miss each other?Â
- Are they examining their last interaction?
- Is their new obsession to them affecting their regular lives? How so?
- Are they hurt? How do they choose to react when issues arise?
Highlighting the yearning between two characters when they are apart can be as exciting as when they are finally together again.
6. The Breakup
With every story arc, you must hit a low before you can have a resolution. Therefore, your characters must have a falling out near the end of your story. Whether they break up, have a miscommunication, or something else separates them, allow your reader space to yearn for their partnership again.
Let each character truly feel loss or anger. The added tension holds a significant weight to the back half of your story, which will help accelerate you to your satisfying ending.Â
7. A Fight Worth Fighting
Lastly, what makes your two love interests destined to be with each other? Why should your reader believe they are good for each other?
As you have developed your character and story, by the close, you need that added wow factor that keeps the reader waiting for your characters to get back together again. Really ensure you have shown they truly care for the other and add value to the other’s life.Â
8. Have Layered Themes
Of course, if someone is picking up a romance novel, then they intend to read the theme of romance. But your story should expand upon a plethora of others. Think of your favorite romance novel now.
What were some broader issues the protagonists were facing? Were there themes of income inequality, family stress, career/societal pressures, or mental health struggles that you found either relatable or fascinating?
A good romance layers its themes and not just tells of two people falling in love, but also the struggles of life coinciding alongside that dynamic as well.
Don't Do This
While writing a romance seems easy, be assured that you will find a common struggle: originality.
Since the story will follow presumably two people falling in and out of each other’s lives romantically to then be together at the end, it can be hard to find a new way to create your novel. Try your hardest not to copy and paste.
Be Original
Romance is tricky. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your story can involve any kind of person, so try not to always go for the bad boy, good girl cop-out.
Additionally, try not to make your characters one-note. They have pasts, insecurities, and personal struggles that won’t be uncovered from a few interactions. As yourself:
- What are some conflicts that come up because of these?
- How do your characters still manage to love each other past those flaws? Â
Check out the blog post below for help understanding how to write men vs. women and how to write attachment style.
Conclusion
Romance is something humanity is always striving for and, therefore, an extremely versatile theme. Your romance novel could be the next best seller if you ensure quality writing, well-developed protagonists, and broader themes your readers can empathise with or relate to. Start writing now!
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