How to Create Strong Romantic Relationships in Fiction

At the heart of nearly any story, there is love. Whether it is forbidden love, tainted love or true love, love usually plays a role in most works of fiction. You can't just throw any two characters together and make the romance work in your story, however. They have to have chemistry, even if it is only on paper. Creating that type of relationship is challenging. While you don't want romance between your characters to take focus (unless your story is a love story, of course) you don't want it to be forgettable or even worse, purposeless, either. Read on to learn how to create strong romantic relationships in fiction.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A journal or notebook
• Creativity

1. Think about romantic relationships in other books and movies that you have enjoyed. What makes them work so well? How does the writer develop the relationship? You can incorporate some of these techniques into your own work.
2. Develop your characters separately. You want them to be able to stand strong on their own, and really become something special when they're together, especially if they're involved in anything involving lots of action or suspense where your characters must rely on each other to succeed. The combined whole should be better than its parts.
3. Choose characters that are opposites in some way. Don't make them polar opposites, but do not make them the same type of person either. They should react differently to different situations, but share the same basic philosophies about general things. Allow them to balance each other yet share some common ground.
4. Create sexual tension between your characters. Don't reward your audience with your characters kissing at the first chance they get. Make it almost happen, but not quite, and leave your audience in suspense. This will make the "first kiss moment" all that more dramatic and meaningful. Unless you can manage it skillfully, don't wait too long though, or your audience may grow frustrated with you.
5. Disrupt the relationship. Though conflict in real life may end a relationship, in fiction it can work to strengthen it. Remember that you as the author are in control of the outcome, but don't let your characters react to conflicts unrealistically! Not everything magically works out. There must be some work involved in solving a conflict and growing from it.

Tips & Warnings

• Make love and intimacy mean something. Don't just make it gratuitous.