 Romance/Love: July 30, 2025 Issue [#13270] |
This week: Complicate the Kiss Edited by: Lonewolf  
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Every great romance has one thing in common: Conflict
Not necessarily screaming matches or love triangles, but meaningful complications; those emotional, situational, or psychological obstacles that make the “will they/won’t they” worth sticking around for. |
| "Love Isn’t Easy And That’s the Point"
When you add complications in romance stories it raises the stakes and spark emotion. Especially, if your romantic plot feels too smooth, too easy, or too predictable, it’s time to throw a wrench in the works. Let’s look at why complications matter, and how to build them right.
Why Complications Matter in Romance
They build emotional tension. A smooth love story reads like a résumé, not a novel. Complications force characters to make hard choices, and that's where readers get hooked.
They make love feel earned. When a couple overcomes believable struggles, their connection becomes deeper and more satisfying.
They reveal character. How someone reacts to betrayal, distance, or fear speaks volumes about who they are.
Here are 6 Types of Romance Complications and How to Use Them
1. Inner Conflict (Fear of Intimacy, Past Trauma)
Example: Your heroine has trust issues after a previous betrayal. Every time the hero gets close, she pulls away; until she’s forced to confront her fears.
Why it works: Deep, personal conflict that can only be resolved through growth.
2. External Forces (Family, Culture, Distance)
Example: He’s set to move across the country in three weeks. She’s bound to her hometown bakery. Do they risk long distance, or give up?
Why it works: Readers root for lovers who fight against the odds.
3. Romantic Rivals or Triangles
Use carefully! The best love triangles don’t just add drama, they reveal what the main character really wants.
Twist it: What if the “rival” isn’t a villain, but a genuinely good match in a different way?
4. Secrets and Lies
Example: One partner is hiding something, an identity, a past relationship, a child. When it comes out, trust is shattered.
Why it works: It forces both characters to decide whether forgiveness is possible.
5. Mismatched Goals
Example: She wants marriage and kids. He’s vowed never to marry again. Sparks fly, but are they heading toward heartbreak?
Why it works: It creates high-stakes questions about compromise, change, and compatibility.
6. Timing and Missed Connections
Classic trope: They meet at the wrong time. Careers, grief, or other obligations get in the way. But fate keeps throwing them back together.
Why it works: Readers ache for the payoff.
FINAL THOUGHT
Love without struggle is sweet, but love that’s tested and still survives? That’s unforgettable. Add those complications. Make your lovers fight for it. And when they win? So does your reader.
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