Welcome back to the Writer’s Lab everyone! This episode is for the lovers, the dreamers, and the hopeless romantics… like me, sadly. Whether you are trying to write a slow-burn love story or a bitter enemies to lovers trope, this ones for you.

1. Start With Strong Characters

A good romance starts with people, not just plot points. You want two (or more) fully formed characters who feel like real individuals with their own goals, wounds, and desires.

Ask yourself:

What does each character want (besides love)?

What’s holding them back emotionally?

How will the romance help them grow?

Readers should care about your characters as individuals before they root for them as a couple.

2. Create Conflict, Not Just Attraction

Attraction is easy. Conflict is what keeps the story going.

What’s keeping them apart? (Family expectations? Past trauma? A rival? The end of the world?)

What’s drawing them together anyway?

Romance thrives on tension—not just physical, but emotional and situational.

Popular conflict tropes:

Enemies to lovers

Forbidden love

Second-chance romance

Opposites attract

Fake relationship (that turns real)

3. Write Relatable Dialogue

Romantic dialogue doesn’t need to be cheesy or poetic—it just needs to feel authentic. Let characters speak in a way that reflects who they are.

Strong romantic dialogue often includes:

Wit and teasing

Emotional honesty

Awkwardness or hesitation

4. Use A Dual POV (But Only When It Helps)

Showing both sides of the relationship can deepen emotional resonance. Dual POV (point of view) lets the reader fall in love with both characters.

Benefits of dual POV:

Reveals hidden vulnerabilities and motivations.

Builds dramatic irony (we know something the other character doesn’t).

Increases emotional investment in the relationship.

Caution: Make sure both voices are distinct—different word choices, thoughts, pacing.

5. Avoid Insta-Love

It’s fine for characters to feel immediate attraction—it’s human! But deep, lasting love takes time to build.

To avoid “instant-love”:

Show what draws them together beyond looks (shared values, humor, trust).

Include conflict and miscommunication—they shouldn’t understand each other perfectly from day one.

Develop emotional intimacy alongside physical attraction.

Let love be a journey, not a shortcut.

6. Build Trust Before Attraction

Emotional intimacy, especially in slow burns, often comes before anything physical. That’s what makes it feel so deep and earned.

Ways to develop emotional closeness:

Quiet, vulnerable conversations

Moments of shared comfort

Protecting or standing up for each other

Discovering common values or pain

Readers fall in love with the characters through how they fall in love with each other.

The Final Sparks (Polishing Up)

Give them a life outside of their relationship.

Characters should have small, certain traits/manners that occur around the love interest that dont normally happen. E.g. Positioning of character (adjusting posture), nervousness such as fidgeting, etc.

TAKE. ADVANTAGE. OF. BODY. LANGUAGE. Super important. To show jealousy, use a jaw clenching, narrowed eyes. For anxiousness, use avoiding eye contact, twirling hair, or touching the back of the neck. Let me know if you want a cheat sheet for body language when writing romantic scenes!

Show characters prioritizing each other.

There’s no “right” way to write love. Let your characters fall as messily or beautifully as real people do.