Hello, Inkitt readers and writers! Today, we’re talking about the rules of romance writing!
Romance novels currently dominate the world of fiction as the highest-grossing in sales and reader downloads.
If you’re interested in the profitable, best-selling romance fiction genre, it’s important to know that romance readers have particular expectations.
In other words, there are rules for writing romance novels, and we asked the Inkitt community all about them! Read below to learn more!
Main Elements of a Romance Novel
- Central Love Story: The plot focuses on the relationship and romantic journey between two (or sometimes more) main characters.
- Emotional Conflict: Obstacles or internal struggles that the characters must overcome to be together, adding tension and depth to the story.
- Character Growth: Both protagonists typically grow and change as they face challenges, often learning from each other along the way.
- Romantic Tension: A buildup of attraction, chemistry, and sometimes longing that keeps readers engaged and invested in the relationship.
- Happily Ever After (HEA) or Happily For Now (HFN): A satisfying resolution where the couple ends up together, ensuring a happy or hopeful ending.
- Distinct Setting and Atmosphere: Often chosen to enhance the romance, whether it’s a small town, city, historical period, or fantasy world.
Why You Need to Know Romance Rules
Knowing and following certain rules in romance writing keeps the story smooth and totally satisfying. Romance readers expect the sparks, the challenges, and of course, the big happy ending. Sticking to these tried-and-true elements helps you build realistic connections, keep readers hooked, and deliver the feel-good journey that romance fans love.
Rule Number 1: Happy Endings Are a Must, Right?
In traditional romance novels, a happy ending is essential—the main characters must end up together. While you can certainly create a fresh, unique story, a sad ending isn’t typically part of the plan. Your protagonists shouldn’t decide they’re better off apart, as romance readers expect a “happily-ever-after” (HEA) or at least a “happily-for-now” (HFN). There’s one exception: if the story is part of a series, you can end with a bit of heartbreak, but ultimately, a happy resolution should follow in the end.
Authors’ Comments
Andrea O.C.: I would never read a romance without a HEA, ergo I would never write one😂 For me, that’s the entire point of reading a romance novel: you go through high and low, angst and slow burn, share their heartbreak so I can rejoice in the end when they get their happy ending.
Real-life romances rarely, if ever, end in forever bliss, so I need my books to be all sugary sweet.
Arayne: [A]s a reader, and by far many, tend to be drawn to the HEA endings. It’s all about the joy of it. Many don’t read books to be depressed by them; they expect to finish the last sentence with a smile. (I mean, doesn’t reality screw us already?) This is why I write a HEA sequel after a tear-jerker one.
Arri Stone: No matter what I am writing, I always make a HEA (even if it isn’t in the first book, I will make it in the next.) There will be tears when someone dies (even main characters,) but it will end up happy one way or another.
Ashley Kyle: Fiction offers us escapism from our daily lives, it gives us hope that things could be better no matter how dire. I love writing HEA stories, I love the idea of overcoming obstacles and living a happy life. So yeah, my stories would always have a happy ending.
KatarinaW: For a romance, I would need a planned sequel or otherwise a very heavy reason not to go for a HEA.
Michelle Torlot: I made the mistake of writing one with a non-HEA, and it bombed, so I guess I won’t try that again. I do tend to add a few deaths in here or there, but not with the main characters – at least not anymore🤣
Rule Number 2: Couples (or Other Relationships), Front and Center
In a romance novel, the main focus is the developing relationship between characters, with the plot centered on whether they can overcome obstacles to be together. Readers expect the story to bring these characters closer despite challenges.
If the relationship isn’t the main storyline, it may fall into a different genre rather than romance.
Rule Number 3: Don’t Neglect Your Plot or Subplot
Yes, the point of a romance novel is to see a relationship bloom, but if you’ve introduced a plot or subplot beyond the formation of a couple, don’t neglect it! Resolve it along with the romance!
Loose ends make for unsatisfying stories. Be sure to tie everything together.
Authors’ Comments
Ashley Kyle: I love writing plots. So expect drama in my stories as for my characters, they could be good, naive, bad, controlling, or somewhere in between. As the story progresses, we learn who they are, what makes them the way they are, etc.
Then I weave in snippets of clues of their past, throw in some twists and turns, for me writing romance equals plot they go hand in hand, either could come first.
Michelle Torlot: It’s always about [the plot]first for me. An idea, a what if? Then comes the basic character idea. Are they good or bad or somewhere in between? What happened to them to make them that way?
Rule Number 4: Tropes Are Your Friend
If you look at the world of romance novels, you’ll find it littered with tropes. Here are some of them:
Enemies to lovers
The couple can’t stand each other initially but just can’t help their attraction!
Fake relationship
The lead characters must pretend to be a couple for some reason important to the plot (like a willed estate where they need to prove they’re married or a wedding they don’t want to go to alone). Then they fall in love.
Friends to lovers
The couple starts as friends and has no idea that, secretly, behind that friendship is a passionate attraction.
Forbidden fruit
Falling in love with someone you shouldn’t? A best friend’s brother, a brother’s best friend, the son/daughter of the family your family hates (Romeo and Juliet, anyone?), or the bad, bad, bad boy who hasn’t ever had a successful relationship? It’s one of the most popular tropes for a reason: endless possibilities exist here.
Love triangle
Oh, the sad, sad situation when the hero/heroine is trapped trying to figure out whether he or she should love Wonderful Person A or Wonderful Person B. They are a sad little romantic triangle!
Secret billionaire/celebrity
It’s so hard being rich and famous. Sometimes, rich and famous people just need to mingle with the rest of the world…and fall in love with a “normal” person who reminds them normal is better.
Soul mates/instalove
Ever look into someone’s eyes and immediately know that you were meant to spend the rest of your life loving them? Soul mate. Clearly. (Notably huge in werewolf love stories).
Rule Number 5: Subgenres Can Help You Find Your Way
There are a ton of sub genres within romance novel writing:
- Action
- Billionaire
- Comedy
- Dark/twisted romance
- Erotic
- Fantasy
- Historical
- Mystery
- Paranormal/supernatural
- Religious
- Sci-fi
- Small town
- Thriller
- Urban
- Western
- Young adult
These subgenres come with their own reader expectations, so know your audience.
For example, Christian romances tend to be sweet and clean, with closed-door love scenes.
Readers will be infuriated if you include steamy scenes. On the other hand, erotic romance novel readers expect steamy scenes.
Rule Number 6: Hybrid Genres Expand Possibilities
But beyond the ‘how spicy is it’s aspect of the story, this is where things can become a little trickier.
When you hybridize genres (i.e., write in subgenres), you’re playing with more than one set of genre expectations, allowing, or sometimes necessitating, more emphasis on plot and character development, especially if you’re writing a series.
A hybrid genre in books and novels combines elements from two or more genres to create a unique story experience. For example, a paranormal romance combines supernatural elements (like werewolves or vampires) with a traditional romance plot, blending the excitement of fantasy with the focus on a romantic relationship.
Authors’ Comments
Andrea O.C.: In my rom-coms, my main focus is the romance part; the plot comes second, and I like to throw in all the soap opera, wild twists and turns because they usually add up to a funny read.
My fantasy books, though, are very plot-driven, adding and developing side characters and giving them enough moments to shine, then just weave romance through all of that.
Arri Stone: I think it all depends on the actual story you are writing. I always have romance in my stories, and I love a happy ending. (Eventually)
My wolf series, the first book has a lot more romantic involvement 😉 because it is part of the two main characters getting to know each other. Book two goes on to develop the story and unravel all the clues I put in book one. Book three changes course and develops all the side characters from books 1&2. Books 4&5 will be based on side characters.
Eliza Grace: For plot, I strongly believe that romance should never be the only plot. In real life, we wouldn’t just look for love or focus just on romance; that’d make for a boring life and a boring read! So I like to develop romance alongside the plot […]
I definitely focus on [the]plot more. I love romance in books, but sometimes, especially in thrillers or whodunnits, it’s more distracting than anything where it’s at the forefront.
Rule Number 6: Don’t Neglect Your Secondary Characters!
It can be tempting to focus solely on the romantic leads. Understandable! Readers come for the romance! But don’t neglect your secondary characters, especially your antagonists! Good secondary characters and antagonists can add atmosphere and tension to the plot.
Authors’ Comments
Andrea O.C.: All my characters are inspired by people I know. They sometimes get one particular character trait emphasised or hyperbolised for comedic purposes or to move along the plot.
Arri Stone: I aim for tension and surprise twists between the main characters and side characters throughout the story. I think it is important to keep the plot going and add in the romance where necessary.
Ashley Kyle: My Antagonists are all secondary characters, but all are vital to the plot of the story. They added an unexpected spin to the story, made it more interesting and challenging, and brought in more drama. I love writing them as much as I do the primary characters.
Eliza Grace: Secondary characters are bread and butter for me! I feel like they definitely add a flavor to the book and make it more interesting, especially if they’re memorable.
For antagonists, it depends on [the]story. For some stories, where antagonist actions are impacting my characters but not the antagonist itself, I’d think of them as my secondary characters.
But if my antagonist is present in the story, with interactions with my characters, they’re definitely a primary character for me and will get more consideration than other characters.
Michelle Torlot: Secondary characters are usually there to move the plot forward, and mostly come to a sticky end, even if they are good. Sometimes the antagonist will have a primary role, but usually a secondary role.
Rule Number 7: Tension and Conflict Before Climax
Creating tension in books keeps readers engaged, making them eager to find out what happens next. Tension adds excitement and emotional depth, drawing readers closer to the characters and their journey.
Authors’ Comments.
Andrea O.C.: I love building tension; in my opinion, that’s the epicentre of romance; you can use the tension and the near misses to add dimensions to a character or stack on the cliffhangers and keep the readers on their toes with will they/ won’t they moments.
Eliza Grace: For tension, I’m not one for writing slow burn. I like romance to be fairly fast-paced but natural. I don’t like my characters to be passive in the face of love, but I like them to actively go and get it… with varying degrees of success. I like to throw in obstacles that not only help build tension with fast burn but also help to further the plot along.
And that’s it. While excellent writing is ultimately essential in making your story fully come to life, these are the rules to bear in mind when writing genre or hybrid genre romance.
However, Remember It’s About Writing Creatively
Just because readers have expectations doesn’t mean your story has to be stale or formulaic.
You don’t have to conform to a pre-fab blueprint. Let your creativity run wild! Think of the rules for writing as the goals and boundaries on a field of play. Yes, there are limits, but within those limits lay a multitude of possibilities.
Authors’ Comments
Arri Stone: I’m not a plotter, so I have an idea in my head, and it flourishes from that as I write. (Some people will plan every chapter and what they want to happen.)
Ashley Kyle: For me when writing romance, I don’t have many rules; it’s more of my impulses taking the lead and writing what I feel. I’m a bit of a plotter, though.
Eliza Grace: I start developing my characters by putting them in different situations and seeing how they react in my head. This helps me to establish their personalities but also how they manage conflict, how they deal with stress, and how they would work together. Sometimes I need to tweak them, just because they don’t make sense as a couple, and writing something forced is no fun for anyone!
pencil Miss Fatma Durmush: [S]ometimes the story gets too involved; that is when editing and thinking help. It is a common problem with writers that they need to heal or do the splash and then make a story of it. The long digestion is the key. I am one of those writers who go from life and living and then find my own way. It is a sinful thing for a writer today, to do but I cannot write any other way.
Want to learn more about different romance tropes? This Galatea Chronicles article about contemporary romance provides a convenient guide for readers and writers. And one is an ensightful guide to understant erotic one-shots better!
We’re Open to Feedback! 🗣️📢
Do you have a topic you would like us to cover? A suggestion for the next big feature? Share your brilliance! Turn your idea into the next sensation! Let us know, and join us on Discord! 🙂
