Writing 101: Love is in the Air

So, how do you get two fictional people to fall in love?

To some writers, the answer to this question may be the most natural thing in the world. To others, it may strike fear into your hearts. Well, I'm here for you, members of the latter group! Writing about falling in love is not some magical, mysterious gift possessed by only romance writers. In fact, there are some pretty basic formulas you can follow.

Here are the three I've defined for myself. I'm naming them after boys in The Hunger Games, whose divided fanbase illustrates how different types of falling in love can all be effective for readers.


The Gale Method: Make Them Talk

For two people to fall in love with each other, first they have to know each other reasonably well. And for two people to know each other reasonably well, they'll have to talk to each other. A lot.

It can be face-to-face, online, on the telephone. It can be friendly conversation, serious shop talk, angry arguments. Come to think of it, the "conversing" could consist mostly of facial expressions and body language, provided you're really good at it!

You don't have to record all the talking in the story. In many cases, it's probably better if you don't. Time spent together can be summed up easily in transitional sentences. (Don't do this with all the talking, though, or you're telling and not showing!)

With this method, you are, in effect, creating a friendship. Yes, even if they start off hating each other and their talking consists mostly of insults--then you're showing the transition from enemy to friend.

A non-Hunger Games example of this type of romance: Oh so many, but the most recent on my mind is Bianca and Wesley in The DUFF by Kody Keplinger. An especially interesting case since kissing and sex come before friendship and love, but the transition is believable and romantic.


The Peeta Method: Make Them Go Through Crap Together

Don't have time for hours and hours of talking? That's alright. Just have them get kidnapped or something!

Intense life-or-death situations have a way of slowing down time and magnifying everything that goes on... at least in fiction. One day of fighting for their lives is equivalent to a month of pleasant chatter for two young single people. (This has been proven by science, don't worry.) As a bonus, if they are the only ones experiencing the trauma, they will likely have to rely on each other once they get back to safety.

Naturally, this method only works completely in some genres. But you can still use mini-disasters to accelerate your contemp high school romance. Take getting trapped in an elevator or a car breaking down on the roadside. (Both cliches, but it should give you an idea of what I mean.)

A non-Hunger Games example of this type of romance: This sort is often found in fantasy, such as Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon. Ai Ling and Chen Yong only spend a few days together during the book, but damn does a lot of bad stuff happen to them! There's no way they couldn't have one hell of a bond after that adventure.


The Finnick Method: Give Them Really Magnetic Chemistry

Okay, so, Finnick was never a real contender for Katniss's affections, but you probably can't deny that he sizzles with pretty much anyone he talks to. He creates chemistry.

Sometimes, two people just seem to be made for each other. You can try to keep them apart, but they'll inevitably get pulled back together. You may even know real people who have a relationship like this, the kind of bond that exists from the beginning and weathers years, decades even, of adversity. It's almost like love at first sight, but it's not based on physical appearance. It's something... magnetic.

One thing, though: this type of romance is really really hard to pull off well. There's like a 90% chance readers are going to roll their eyes. In fact, you should probably just give up now. Pull these two kissing dolls apart and have them go about things in a more conventional manner.

...what's that? You can't pull them apart? Well, okay then. You may have one of the few cases where it works. Just make sure you get a second opinion!

A non-Hunger Games example of this type of romance: Not everyone will agree with me, since readers will always react differently to a meant-to-be scenario, but my choice is Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Sam and Grace have barely spent five minutes of quality time together before they're inseparable. But it just works. I can't stand to see them apart.


And there you have three ways to make characters fall in love, from simple to elusive. Just remember that writing about love, just like writing about anything else, is part art and part science. Plan out what feels right to you, but ultimately, go with your gut. If you think it's romantic, there's a good chance your readers will, too!

Book Recs: Sometimes It Happens and Love Story

If you're looking for books that are funny, light, and romantic, you'll probably love these. They're coming out very soon!

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss.
The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

There have been a lot of best friend/boyfriend books released recently, and I think of all of them, this one is probably my favourite. I love the way it starts--when "things" have already happened and there's tension in the air. The author has a type of writing that sucks you in. I loved the progression in Hannah and Noah's relationship, from strangers to friends to more. This one comes out on July 12, 2011.

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..
For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?
Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

Jennifer Echols has become one of my favorite contemporary authors. And she does romance oh-so-well! If you haven't read any of her books, this is a great place to start. This book is actually being classified as adult. But that's only because Erin has just started college, and I don't think it is any different than other YA books out there. Get your copy on July 19, 2011.