Writing Tip: Romantic Encounters - How Characters Should Meet and Fall in Love

There are various levels of romance novels and genre. If you need to put a name to these guidelines, they are for a Hallmark type of romance novel. The following guidelines are for writers who are aiming for a middle of the road romance genre. The following is also a good guide for writers who want to add a touch of romance into a non-romance novel. Or, if you describe your novel as a romantic-mystery or refer to it as an action novel with a hint of romance thrown in, these guidelines are the level of romance you will most likely want to follow.

1. Do not give the heroine too many personality traits. Pick one or two traits and stick with them throughout the book.

2. Avoid clichés in plot and story line.

3. Do not overdo the sex angle. Story should be about meeting and falling in love. They should be able to solve personal problems, out of bed.

4. Story and characters must be timely and real. Avoid:

5. Heroes who are mocking and arrogant.

6. Heroines who are so beautiful they drive men mad with lust.

7. Heroines who simply stamp their feet and get what they want.

8. A hero who desires the woman.

9. Sex scenes that take up 85% of story.

10. Stay within realistic and sensitive confines of genre.

11. Keep all aspects of story, characters and physical descriptions limited to what makes story move forward.

12. Start the story fast, in the middle of the action. Do not bore the reader with long bits of story where the characters tell each about each other. dish out the details in small segments throughout the story.