How to Write a Romance Novel

               There are some great romance novels out there for those who enjoy reading about the throws of passion. If you are an avid reader of these novels, you may have thought about writing one yourself. This can be a long process, but if it is well thought out, then you may be able to see your novel next to those of your favorite authors.

                The first thing you will need to do is pick your characters names and plan out the setting for the story. Your characters will be a huge part of your story. When you are creating your female and male lead, you will have to make them realistic in order for your readers to get into your characters. Both characters need to have their flaws. No one is perfect and your characters should not be. While they can be perfect for each other, they should have their problems.

                You will have to pick an age for your characters. Picking their age will allow you to know who your target audience is going to be. If you are attempting to write a romance novel for the teens, then you should keep your characters between the ages of 18 and 24. If you are catering to a more adult audience, then you should make your characters a bit older, between the ages of 25-40.

                Your setting in a romance novel is different than in a traditionally written fiction book. With a romance novel you do not have to be specific. Most romance novels take place in very vague areas. For example, you may read one that takes place on a wintery night in the mountains. Conversely, you can also be as specific as you wish. If you want your readers to have more details about the setting, you may include it. Your setting can even be fictional. You do not have to have a real place in mind, especially if it a fantasy romance. You can make up towns and places, like a soap opera.

                You never want your characters to jump right into a romance. You must build the romance between the characters. For example, your characters could start out as friends, moving into best friends, and then romantic partners. The male character could have saved the girl from a mugging, a car accident, or from drowning. You can even start the characters out as disliking each other, but then something happens to make them get a long.  Build on the sexual tension between the characters.

                When you are creating conversation between your characters, make sure it sounds like a real conversation. Some cheesy dialogue is expected in romance novels, but you cannot make the entire novel about the cheesy dialogue. When it comes to romance novels, there needs to be a level of passion. Your characters must feel and express emotions.

                Make sure your characters have some trouble along the way. For instance, say they fight because one thinks the other is cheating or they hate each other in the beginning and are constantly fighting. You can even carry some of that fighting into their newly formed relationship. You can make the problems come from outside the relationship. For instance, one can be older than the other and the family disapproves of the relationship. One can be an ex of a best friend and that causes trouble. If you are going for the fantasy aspect, one can be a ghost or from a futuristic time.

                You must remember that the main characters of the book have to have a well developed relationship. The relationship between the two main characters is crucial. Even in a well developed relationship there has to be some excitement to it or the reader will get bored fast. Using other characters as part of the setting will aid in the development of the relationship. The other characters can put up roadblocks for the characters or help in encouraging the two main characters to come together.

                The novel should end well. Your ending will determine if the novel is “okay” or if it will be remembered as an “I liked the novel, but the end was awful.” You can end your novel one of three ways. The couple can end up together, which will make the readers happy. The couple could end up not together, because they are unable to handle the pressure of the outer forces. The couple could come to a tragic end, like in Romeo and Juliet.

                Lastly, have fun writing this novel. Use your own imagination and fantasies to write this novel. You could even use aspects from your own life. Write this novel because it makes you happy and you want to share it with the world.