Learn the secrets to writing a great romance novel of all time

TheRomanceReviews.com gives a detailed review of every new romance novel that comes out, as well as periodic reviews of classic romance novels. We recognize that even if we don’t like a certain story, someone worked hard on it and there are others, who loved it. So, we are never too hard on any novel. But since our standards are so high, the coveted 5-star rating is remarkably hard to come by.

What are we looking for?

Our criteria are simple but hard to execute perfectly. A good romance novel must have a reason to be told. That may sound like a strange requirement for fiction, and we agree. We start with this requirement because all stories should be written for a reason. Becoming a famous romance author is not a good enough reason. We want to see that a story really means something to the person who wrote it. We don’t like shallow.

We also like when romance novels have a clearly defined subgenre. Sometimes an author writes something that is a complete mess in the name of being unique. Originality is good, but best served within conventional story structures and subgenres. Once the story has a clear direction, we can get to the romance without distractions.

The next thing we look for is character development. Romance is all about the emotion of the story. If we don’t care about the characters or if they never change, the emotions won’t be there. If we aren’t emotionally invested in a story, it won’t get a high rating.

Lastly, make the setting interesting. That doesn’t mean a romance novel should be set on Mars. We want to see the setting play an important role in the story. For a love story to be a one-of-a-kind experience, the setting it takes place in should be one of a kind too. There is much more that goes into a review system and deciding whether a not a story will get five stars, but that is an idea of what we look for in romance novels.

Write a story that draws us in

For those who want to try to write their own novel or short story in the romance genre, the same basic principles apply. All the things we look for in a good love story are the things you should give great importance to when writing one. Choose a subgenre and stick with it. When the reader is able to place themselves into your story, the overall experience is better. Let the reader put themselves into the setting of the book without whipping them all over the universe each time they turn the page.

Reveal the characters’ deep emotions and thoughts. You can do this with either internal or external dialogue. If you’re having trouble making your character seem like a real person people will relate to, use experiences from your own life. You’ve surely been in love before. What did you feel? What internal or external struggles did you deal with? Use all that to build a three-dimensional character that gives meaning to your story.

You also must use conflict properly. Even though your ultimate goal is to have the story end happily ever after, if there is no conflict, no one will keep reading. Conflict is what drives the story. It can happen between characters or internally, but it should reveal important information.

Activate the reader’s imagination

Lastly, you’ll want to use the senses to stimulate the reader’s mind. Yes, your story will be on a printed page or a screen, but you can use all the senses to keep your scenes interesting. Use descriptive language to help your reader imagine what a place or person smells like, how the air feels or smells, or how someone’s voice sounds. Describe what a person’s touch feels like and make contrasts between characters. All these things create a world within the reader’s mind which keeps them coming back to your story.

If you’re having trouble getting started or want some good examples of good romance writing, start by reading some classics. When you decide on a basic story structure or subgenre, read plenty of books from the same genre. Learn how the pros did it and cherry-pick what you like. See if what has worked for other authors can work with your story. Here are some great romance novels to start with:

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin
Normal People by Sally Rooney
To All the Boys I’ve Loved by Jenny Han
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
Delta of Venus by Anais Nin
Rush by Maya Banks
Maurice by E.M. Foster

Those are titles ranging from historical romance to young adult to erotic. There are plenty of other subgenres to choose from as well. Whatever you decide to go with, start by reading a few books similar to what you want to write. This is sure to spark your creativity.

Bear in mind

All good writers need to know how to write an effective love scene or romance story. If you are ready to write your own book or short story, follow these basic tips to get started. You can find more helpful advice and encouragement from the romance writing and reading community at TheRomanceReviews.com.