“Good romance isn’t about perfect people falling in love perfectly. It’s about imperfect people choosing each other despite the mess. Write the mess.”
— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven
Romance is the bestselling genre in fiction, and it’s also the most underestimated. People think it’s easy. It is not. Writing genuine emotional chemistry between characters—the kind that makes readers blush, cry, and throw the book at the wall in the best possible way—is one of the hardest things in storytelling.
The Chemistry Checklist
| Element | What It Looks Like | What It Doesn’t Look Like |
| Tension | They want each other but obstacles are in the way. | Instant, frictionless attraction with no barriers. |
| Banter | Playful verbal sparring that reveals character. | Mean-spirited insults disguised as flirting. |
| Vulnerability | They show each other the parts they hide from everyone else. | Trauma dumping on the first date. |
| Growth | They become better people because of the relationship. | One person ‘fixes’ the other like a project. |
| Stakes | Something real is at risk if they get together (or don’t). | The only obstacle is a ‘misunderstanding’ that one conversation could solve. |
How to Write Romance That Feels Real
- Give both characters full, separate lives. They should be interesting INDIVIDUALLY, not just as a pair.
- Use small moments. A brushed hand, a shared laugh, a remembered detail. Intimacy is built in tiny gestures, not just grand ones.
- Let them disagree. Conflict reveals character. Two people who agree on everything are boring.
- Earn the big moments. Don’t rush to the declaration of love. Build it. Let the reader ACHE for it.
- Read widely in the genre. Know your tropes. Then subvert the ones that don’t serve your story.
Your Move, Creative
Write a scene where your love interests share a small, quiet moment—no kiss, no confession. Just two people noticing something about each other that nobody else sees. That’s chemistry. That’s romance.
Stop letting your stories stay stuck.
