Carol Rose
Basic
Introducing a romantic sub plot into a novel that is not a romance by genre definition doesn't have to be overwhelming, or feel like uncharted territory. There are some tips and tricks that can help you not feel out of your element, no matter what type of story you're writing.
The first step is to understand what a romance novel is, and what reader expectations are in the various romance sub genres. A romance is a character driven story. They are about the couple's journey toward falling in love, and readers expect they will be together at the end of the story. Different sub genres of romance tend to have specific reader expectations.
Urban fantasy with romantic elements novels usually have more of a slow burn romance, whereas paranormal romances feature instalove, especially if the heroes or heroines are shifters. Contemporary romance is all over the map, from hot, illicit hookups to sweet romance, but all of them end up with the couple together. YA romance (this includes dystopian) is often closed-door sex, and may contain no actual penetration if the hero and heroine are underage. The sex and language in erotic romances can be as graphic as the author wants to make it. Dark romance deals with, as expected, the darker side of human interaction, and those romances can include heroes or heroines who are serial killers or criminals. Historical romances usually reflect the mores and customs of the period in which they're written. Sci-fi romance can include aliens or different world beings as heroes. Because the world is often made up by the author, that world's rules will influence the sexual or romantic interactions between the couple.
Even if you are writing a genre in which the stories are more plot driven than character driven, you can successfully write a romantic sub plot by first and foremost remembering that a romance is character driven. For the scenes where you show the romance aspect of the story, focus on the internal and external conflicts of your characters, and why it's not easy for them to get together. Of course, you also want to make those interactions real and believable. No matter what you may have heard or read about romance novels, those of us who write them do strive to make our characters three dimensional people, with authentic dialogue and distinct personalities.
Some questions to ask about your novel that might help you weave the romantic sub plot into the story include whether you're writing a stand alone novel or a series. Do you want those characters together at the end of the book, or will you be continuing the romantic thread throughout the series? If it's the latter, you might want to consider planning out the romantic scenes, and how you intend to weave them into each individual book in the series. In this case, it might be helpful to think of the romance sub plot as its own mini story, so you don't lose the thread in the rest of your series' own sub plots and threads.
Also, determine what type of relationship you want those two characters to have. Is it a happily ever after? Will one of them propose marriage? Are they going to live together? Work together? Will they even be together at the end of the book or series? It's not a romance novel, so there won't be a reader expectation that they are together at the end of the book or series. That part is up to you.
Other things to consider are how do they meet? Do they have a history together? Are they on opposite sides of the central issues in the book, or are they on the same side? Obviously this will influence the conflict and interactions between them.
Just as in any other character interaction, you want to keep in mind their motivation for developing a romance in the first place. Try to resist the urge to simply drop in a romantic sub plot for the sake of sneaking in some sex scenes, or for some other reason that doesn't fit with the rest of the book. Even in a romance novel, the same goal, motivation, and conflict guidelines apply. If you aren't clear on these for your character - in or out of the romance sub plot - your readers also won't be clear. The romance has to make sense for those characters, or you shouldn't consider putting it in there.
Happy writing!
The first step is to understand what a romance novel is, and what reader expectations are in the various romance sub genres. A romance is a character driven story. They are about the couple's journey toward falling in love, and readers expect they will be together at the end of the story. Different sub genres of romance tend to have specific reader expectations.
Urban fantasy with romantic elements novels usually have more of a slow burn romance, whereas paranormal romances feature instalove, especially if the heroes or heroines are shifters. Contemporary romance is all over the map, from hot, illicit hookups to sweet romance, but all of them end up with the couple together. YA romance (this includes dystopian) is often closed-door sex, and may contain no actual penetration if the hero and heroine are underage. The sex and language in erotic romances can be as graphic as the author wants to make it. Dark romance deals with, as expected, the darker side of human interaction, and those romances can include heroes or heroines who are serial killers or criminals. Historical romances usually reflect the mores and customs of the period in which they're written. Sci-fi romance can include aliens or different world beings as heroes. Because the world is often made up by the author, that world's rules will influence the sexual or romantic interactions between the couple.
Even if you are writing a genre in which the stories are more plot driven than character driven, you can successfully write a romantic sub plot by first and foremost remembering that a romance is character driven. For the scenes where you show the romance aspect of the story, focus on the internal and external conflicts of your characters, and why it's not easy for them to get together. Of course, you also want to make those interactions real and believable. No matter what you may have heard or read about romance novels, those of us who write them do strive to make our characters three dimensional people, with authentic dialogue and distinct personalities.
Some questions to ask about your novel that might help you weave the romantic sub plot into the story include whether you're writing a stand alone novel or a series. Do you want those characters together at the end of the book, or will you be continuing the romantic thread throughout the series? If it's the latter, you might want to consider planning out the romantic scenes, and how you intend to weave them into each individual book in the series. In this case, it might be helpful to think of the romance sub plot as its own mini story, so you don't lose the thread in the rest of your series' own sub plots and threads.
Also, determine what type of relationship you want those two characters to have. Is it a happily ever after? Will one of them propose marriage? Are they going to live together? Work together? Will they even be together at the end of the book or series? It's not a romance novel, so there won't be a reader expectation that they are together at the end of the book or series. That part is up to you.
Other things to consider are how do they meet? Do they have a history together? Are they on opposite sides of the central issues in the book, or are they on the same side? Obviously this will influence the conflict and interactions between them.
Just as in any other character interaction, you want to keep in mind their motivation for developing a romance in the first place. Try to resist the urge to simply drop in a romantic sub plot for the sake of sneaking in some sex scenes, or for some other reason that doesn't fit with the rest of the book. Even in a romance novel, the same goal, motivation, and conflict guidelines apply. If you aren't clear on these for your character - in or out of the romance sub plot - your readers also won't be clear. The romance has to make sense for those characters, or you shouldn't consider putting it in there.
Happy writing!
