The List Every Romance Needs
Six easy steps to get that romantic tension sizzling.
a head-in-the-sand newsletter
the list your romance absolutely needs.
resources
writing corners
next week
1. a head-in-the-sand newsletter
Hello #TeamCuriosity, and an extra hug for our fellow Americans. This substack was written in advance and will be releasing at midnight on election night. There’s a good chance the election won’t yet be decided. There’s also a chance you’ll be reading this on the first morning of the apocalypse. Only time can tell…
We are sticking our heads in the sand, in the meantime.
This week’s topic: The list your romance absolutely needs. Let’s dive in!
2. the list your romance absolutely needs
Lyssa had a problem recently. She’d obsessed over the romantic beats in her manuscript, crafted each brush of hands and almost-kiss with the most evocative prose she could conjure, and made it so her MC is the missing puzzle piece for her other MC (as discussed in our romance episode, which, fun fact, is our 2nd most popular episode). She infused everything she learned about romance into this plot— so why was it falling flat?
Because she was missing The List.
Here’s how you make The List.
Write, from your main character’s (MC’s) perspective, all of the reasons the MC should absolutely not be with the Love Interest (LI). This list of “Why Nots” should include everything from the big things (the world will end if we kiss) to the little things (he sneezes ridiculously loud). The longer the list, the better. Consider it a writing exercise and include anything that floats into your mind, no matter how big or small. Get into character!
Make sure you consider both internal and external Why Nots.
Internal why nots are within the person’s control to change, even if they’re thoughts and feelings. For example, “she doesn’t feel the same” or “we’d fight all the time.” Contemporary romances do a great job with internal why nots.
External why nots are outside circumstances that have little to do with how the characters feel about each other. These are cultural elements or world building considerations or rules of the world. Forbidden romances do a great job of these (Think Moulin Rouge or Romeo and Juliet).
Try to include a few why nots that are objectively true. Misunderstandings and miscommunications are impactful when used right, but they can be a crutch, too. Challenge yourself to make both people rational in the reasons they can’t be together… then torture them by making them want it anyways. For example, if your MC believes she can’t be with the LI because he lit her grandmother’s house on fire, knowing she was inside it, make sure he really did try to barbecue grandma! It wasn’t some LI lookalike, but that hottie lit the match himself—and tossed it. (Maybe from his POV, grandma’s a demon and he was trying to rid the world of her evil spirit— whatever it is, bonus points if it’s true!).
Repeat this list from the LI’s perspective. Even if they’re not a POV character, what is keeping them from asking the MC out? From kissing them? From being with them at all times? Write it down and keep it beside your screen. You’re gonna need this one, too.
Okay, now that you have both lists, it’s time to shed these why nots off as your romantic plot advances. There might be a million reasons they shouldn’t be together at the meet cute, but as they get to know each other, these reasons will shift and change. As trust/intimacy grows, they’ll shed some of these reasons. And during pinch points, or mess ups, they’ll cling to those why nots harder than ever (and maybe even add some new ones). Progress = shedding why nots (or caring less about them).
Now it’s time for the secret sauce. As your MC and LI have lean in moments, weave in their why nots! Supercharge these moments of “oooh I want to kiss your hot lips” with “but I can’t because you knowingly tried to kill my sweet grandmother, and you might be a suave sociopath, and I can’t believe word your beautiful mouth utters, and you still smell like the ashes of her home.” Look back at so many of your favorite moments of heightened tension in novels, or even film/tv, and they’re LOADED with the why nots, at the forefront of the characters’ minds.
Need examples? This episode of TTS is chock full of them. We apply this to a variety of romances. And if you have any good ones, send ‘em our way in the comments!
3. resources
We are resource-less this week. Or, resourceful, depending how you look at it.
4. writing corners
It’s election night, y’all. Writing corner is gonna have to wait.
5. next week
Next week’s topic was supposed to be this week’s topic, and is discussed at the start of the episode… :)