Tips for Writing Clean Romance by L.S. Case

Tips for Writing Clean Romance: a guest post by L.S. Case

I’ll admit, I’m a diehard Hallmark movie fan! I’m hooked from the characters’ introduction until the big reveal and long-overdue embrace. (Cue the tissues).

As the author of A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow, a small-town romance novel about second chances and new beginnings, I love bringing Hallmark-style joy to readers. It’s all about creating the slow burn — the growing anticipation and desire — to engage the reader and ignite their imagination.

Some may think steam and spice earn a novel’s five-star review rather than the warm and fuzzies. Well-noted. But I’ve found that readers are lured into the characters’ emotional intimacy when clothing remains intact and closed-door details are withheld.

I get it; no one likes to wait for anything these days. We want what we want when we want it. (Whew, that’s a lot of W’s!) Our meals need to be delivered to our doorstep pronto. A dress ordered this afternoon must arrive by the morning to be worn that evening.

But here and now, sooner and faster, doesn’t always equate to better-at least not for a budding romance. Remove the quick hookups and immediate gratification and allow the attraction between characters to develop gradually and anticipation to build steadily. It’ll nudge your readers to grab their pom poms and megaphones and cheer from the sidelines. That personal involvement — an investment in their pursuit of happiness — is compelling.

We are each perfectly imperfect, so create flawed characters with familiar hurdles if you want your romance novel to be relatable. Let others reserve fluff and facades for their social media posts. We’ve all had to ooh and aah over someone’s delectable dining experiences and Friday night plans with a new lover. But eliminate the filters, and you’d notice misplaced hairs and underlying stress. No road trip through life is without traffic, just like every relationship has obstacles. Seasons of change will bring your characters close and your reader closer. Scatter disappointments and establish setbacks throughout your story to keep things real!

Use your senses to create romantic settings in your novel — the town square’s bubbling fountain or a snow-covered cabin nestled in a juniper forest. Consider how pleasing sounds can bring two people closer — dinging bell buoy in a marina and serenading crickets on a moonlit evening.

Introduce enticing smells throughout your story — a boardwalk radiating summer’s warmth and fried dough’s aroma wafting from a festival’s concession stand.

Describe what your characters taste — the sacred ingredients from an old family recipe prepared for a loved one. Detail what your characters see — the dappling sun through tangled branches and the revolving carousel reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors. Observe body language — how he combs his fingers through his sandy hair or rolls his dress shirt cuffs with slow, precise movements.

Love’s onset is often unexpected and can be found in the least likely places. It can stem from elaborate overtures or simple acts of kindness. A gentle word of encouragement or nod of understanding can spark a romance. Perhaps your character’s interaction with others when they think no one else is watching creates their appeal. Or the words they left unsaid say it all. Let character differences create their chemistry. Even quirks can pique curiosity between two people.

Unsure about the direction your storyline is heading? Place yourself in your readers’ shoes and consider what they would want to transpire so that hope prevails. If a twist doesn’t feel right, it likely won’t sit well with your readers.

However you choose to write romance, invest wholeheartedly in yourself as the writer, and embrace your readers like inner circle friends. No one is exempt from writer’s block or the occasional self-doubt. But when you develop a strong bond with your characters, you won’t dare disappoint them (or they’ll taunt you in your dreams). You’ll be compelled to tell their love story, pure and true. Lay the foundation, provide the elements, and trust that your reader’s imagination will run wild with the rest. My friends, that’s when the magic happens!

Nice! Such a great article for romance readers! Thank you, L.S., for this useful article. ♥♥♥ Guest Blogger Bio

L. S. Case is the author of A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, she can be found singing off-key at an ’80s concert, cycling to the beach, participating in races, swinging from a trapeze, or hanging from the warehouse ceiling in Fear Factor Live at Universal Studios. Connect with L. S. on social media @LSCaseNovelist or www.LSCaseNovelist.com

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lscasenovelist/

Instagram: @LSCaseNovelist

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/L.-S.-Case/author/B0BTTZ313S

Thanks again! We hope to see you back on ILRB sometime.

As always, happy reading, everyone! Have a great rest of your week! ♥

Originally published at http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com on June 20, 2023.