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“Romance is thinking about your significant other, when you are supposed to be thinking about something else,” – Nicholas Sparks.
Romance: An ardent emotional attachment between two people. A love affair.
My last couple of newsletters I’ve looking at plot devices in romance writing. One covered forced proximity and the other marriages. This month I’ll continue that theme by looking at how secrets can be an effective plot device in romance writing.
A plot device is a situation used to advance the story, overcome a narrative obstacle, or resolve a conflict.
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People love a good secret. In romance writing, secrets build emotional tension, heighten conflict, and augment vulnerability.
Secrets keep the story flowing, making readers eager to discover what happens when it’s revealed.
Why keep Secrets?
Characters tend to keep secrets to hide past shame or shield themselves from judgement. As the secret lingers on, the risk of losing newfound love can come with heavy emotional cost. Ah, but when the secret is out in the open then real healing and growth can start.
Here are some “secret” plot devices used in romance writing.
Secret or Hidden Identity
The hero or heroine is hiding who they really are. This is usually done for protection or when trying to cover up something.
Wealth
Sometimes the hero or heroine will hide the fact they’re wealthy because they don’t want to deal with opportunists or they don’t want to intimidate the other person with their wealth.
Supernatural/Paranormal Powers
There’s a usually a secret or two when reading a good paranormal romance, typically having to do with hero or heroine’s supernatural ability. These secrets tend to be out of a need to survive.
A Hush-Hush Affair
The focus here isn’t having an affair with another person, but instead, having a relationship that the hero or heroine have to pretend they’re not having. For example, keeping your affair a secret for professional reasons or because you don’t want to hurt a family member.
Secret Babies
In romance one of the biggest secrets to keep is a baby, but it can’t stay secret for long. Secret babies are a powerful way to keep a couple apart and bring them back together.
Amnesia
Typically a blow to the head (or some other reason) causes either the hero or heroine to figure out how to fall in love again.
These plot devices can amp up the emotional suspense in the romance genre.
Question for you: What is your favorite romantic movie that had a secret in it?
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Product Type: Kindle Store Reviewer: StephBee Review Rated: E | |
Amazon's Price: $ 6.15
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| | | Quarter Past One (E) A haunting story of love, longing, and the memories we never truly lose #2362229 by Seb   |
| | | Only (E) Angie is dreading the dance class her therapist recommended... |
| | | THE DAY WE MET (13+) This is a short story about finding love in unique circumstances ,when least expected . |
| | | Royal Pretender (13+) Electoral Prince George Augustus meets the love of his life. (Historical Fiction) |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
I had no feedback from my last Romance/Love Newsletter: 7 JUL 26, “Let’s Get Married.
Feedback from my Newsfeed question, dated 27 July 2026: What's your favorite romantic movie that has a secret in it?
Max Griffin 🏳️🌈 
Of course, "Casablanca" would be my all-time favorite romantic movie, but I'm not sure it has a surprise in it, at least not a "romanic" one.
The ending to "Some Like It Hot" where Osgood says, "Nobody's perfect" (and implies the now revealed same-gender romance will continue) probably does qualify.
The "surprise" element of GLBTQ romantic movies tends to revolve around whether or not the couple can overcome internal conflicts and external pressures to find love and happiness. "Big Eden" and "Love Simon" are two fairly recent ones that come to mind.
For older movies:
"In and Out." Not exactly a romance, but the "Spartacus"-like scene where everyone in the town announces they are "gay" makes it worth watching.
"Making Love" is romantic, in that the primary male and female leads both find love, happiness, and reconcilation at the end. Again, though, no real "surprise."
"The Ritz" is a hilarious romp with Rita Moreno, F. Murray Abraham, and Treat Williams, but (a) it's not a romance; and (b) the surprise at the ending has nothing to do with romance.
Sorry, you pushed my "movie" button.
I sure did! Thank you so much weighing in. 
Max Griffin 🏳️🌈 PS - Now that I think about it, “Definitely Maybe” is another I liked!
Princess Megan Rose 
The Notebook. A old lady in the Nursing Home has Dementia and her husband reads her journal to her. She thinks it is a romance novel. She doesn't remember her husband but she loves the journal novel}}. This is so sad. Sadly, the journal novel is what she wrote. That's the secret. James Garner is older but still handsome and he can read my journals to me. Okay. My husband would be reading them to me. The Notebook is a touching, sad movie.
Jeff 
10 things I hate about you
StephBee is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. Her summer romance, "Journey of the Heart" can be found on Amazon Kindle. Can James help Rachel save her winery?
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Romance/Love: August 05, 2026 Issue [#13871]
