You want to write that romance novel you have always dreamed of, but you don't want it to be full of cheese.
- 1. Write About What You Know and Love.
- 2. Be Descriptive, but Don't Go Overboard.
- 3. Keep the Dialogue Realistic.
- 4. Make sure your characters are likable and relatable.
- 5. Create conflict and suspense.
- 6. Don't forget the details.
- 7. Use strong verbs.
- 8. Be wary of clichés.
- 9. Edit, edit, edit!
- 10. Have fun!
Here are 10 tips to help you write a great romance without being too cheesy:
1. Write About What You Know and Love.
Writing a great romance doesn't have to be complicated – if you write about what you know and love, the passion will come through in your words and make the story more believable.
After all, who knows better than you what it feels like to be in love? When you're writing about a subject that's close to your heart, it will show in your work. So don't be afraid to let your own romantic experiences inspire your writing.
Just remember to stay true to yourself – and your readers will also fall in love with your story.
2. Be Descriptive, but Don't Go Overboard.
When it comes to writing a great romance, the key is to strike a balance between being descriptive and avoiding cheese. Too much of either can ruin the mood, so finding a happy medium is important.
Use sensory details to set the scene and bring your characters to life, but don't go overboard with purple prose.
At the same time, a little bit of cheesiness can be charming, so don't be afraid to let your inner romantic shine through. The most important thing is to write from the heart and let your passion come through in your words.
3. Keep the Dialogue Realistic.
One way to write a great romance without being too cheesy is to keep the dialogue realistic. People don't always speak in complete sentences or use perfect grammar, so neither should your characters.
Instead, let them trip over their words and use slang or dialect to add color to their speech. This will make them feel more like real people, and it will also make the reader feel as though they are overhearing a conversation rather than reading a script.
Another way to avoid being too cheesy is to focus on the small moments that make up a relationship. It's the little things that often mean the most, so by showing your characters caring for one another in small ways; you can create a romance that feels both genuine and touching.
4. Make sure your characters are likable and relatable.
A great romance always has likable and relatable characters at its core. Readers need to be able to connect with them on some level in order to root for them. That's why it's important to make sure your characters are well-rounded and three-dimensional.
Think about these four characteristics when building out your characters:
- flaws
- weaknesses
- strengths
- virtues
Covering all of these bases will help you create characters that feel real and relatable – and that's essential for writing a great romance.
In addition, your characters should have good chemistry with each other. They should be able to banter and flirt with each other in a way that is believable and fun to read.
If you can create two characters that readers want to see together, half the battle is already won.
5. Create conflict and suspense.
Without these elements, there is no story. In a romance, the conflict should arise from the relationship itself – will these two people be able to find their way to each other, despite the obstacles in their way?
The suspense should come from wondering whether or not they'll end up together.
Will they kiss?
Will they confess their love for each other?
These are the questions that will keep readers turning the page.
6. Don't forget the details.
In a romance novel, the little things can make all the difference. A lingering glance, a softly spoken word, a gentle touch... All of these details can add up to create an incredibly romantic scene.
But what if the author forgets to include them? Suddenly, the scene falls flat. The characters seem less genuine, and less connected to each other. The romance feels forced and false. They may seem like they're not important, but they'll make all the difference - especially as the cheesy stuff doesn't typically work in a romance novel.
7. Use strong verbs.
Romance is all about evoking strong emotions in your reader, and one of the best ways to do that is with powerful verbs.
Words like "love," "passion," and "heart" can convey a lot of feeling, but only if they're used sparingly. Too much flowery language can make your writing seem insincere and overblown.
Instead, focus on using vivid verbs that will help your readers imagine the scene unfolding before their eyes.
8. Be wary of clichés.
While some clichés can actually be quite effective, others should be avoided at all costs. In romance, some of the most eye-rolling clichés include:
"Love at first sight"
"Meant to be"
"Soulmates"
If you can find a fresh and original way to express these ideas, your writing will be all the better for it.
9. Edit, edit, edit!
Don't be afraid to go back and make changes to improve your story. In fact, editing is essential to creating a well-crafted romance novel.
When you're editing, keep an eye out for any small changes that could make a big impact – like adding in more description, or fleshing out your characters' backstories.
Even the smallest tweak can make a world of difference.
10. Have fun!
Writing should be enjoyable, so don't take yourself too seriously. Let your creativity flow and see where it takes you.
And who knows? You might just end up writing the next great romance novel!
