How to Write a Romance: Or, How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes & Happily-Ever-Afters (2019)
By: The Editors at Avon Books
Publisher: Morrow Gift, an imprint of William Morrow
Although I’m not a romance novelist, I find myself diving into the delicate art of crafting love stories within my novel, Reunion: Coda. While the book isn’t a typical romance, it weaves two compelling love stories into its rich tapestry of coming-of-age, historical fiction, and general fiction.
But here’s the twist: I don’t read romance novels. So, when it came to writing sizzling, authentic scenes between my protagonists, Jim and Maddie, I was at a bit of a loss. How do you create engaging, believable, and sometimes heart-racing romance without a guidebook? Enter How to Write a Romance: Or, How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes & Happily-Ever-Afters by the editors at Avon Books. Published by Morrow Gift, an imprint of William Morrow, this book became an unexpected ally in my quest to bring Jim and Maddie’s love to life.
Publisher’s Blurb
Fresh from the desks of the Editors of Avon—the industry’s premiere romance publisher—How to Write a Romance is a playful and inspirational guide through the world of writing romance. Inside, aspiring writers will find prompts on a variety of topics, from plot to dialogue to character development, as well as wisdom from beloved Avon authors on their craft, making this journal the ideal writer’s companion whether you’re on your first or final draft.
What the Book Isn’t
Despite its title, How to Write a Romance is not your typical paint-by-numbers guide on penning a love story. Rather than being a dry, step-by-step instruction manual akin to Syd Field’s screenwriting bibles, this book shuns the formulaic. It doesn’t dive into tedious details about themes, story arcs, character beats, or the precise mechanics behind crafting snappy dialogue or smoldering love scenes. Instead, it offers a combination of prompts and inspirational quotes from some of Avon’s authors—perfect for igniting the creative spark in both novice and seasoned writers alike.
The prompts, whimsically dubbed “Scenarios,” serve as delightful writing exercises to assist both budding and experienced authors in the art of romance writing. Take, for instance, the challenge of crafting an engaging tête-à-tête between my early 2000s protagonists, Jim and Maddie. In such a case, I might explore a Scenario prompt like this:
Write dialogue in which your characters express their love without using the words “I love you.”
Believe it or not, I used that prompt to write this scene:
The sun is high now, its midday beams slicing through the blinds and laying stripes across the kitchen tiles. It’s 12:30 PM, and the world outside buzzes with the energy of a New York Sunday, but here in my apartment, time moves to the rhythm of a different beat.
I’m leaning against the doorway, watching Maddie in the kitchen, her movements as fluid as the Glenn Miller tunes we listened to while we made love in the predawn hours. “You know,” she says, flipping a slice of French toast in the pan with a flick of her wrist, “they say, ‘Save Water, Shower with Someone You Love.’” Her grin is infectious, and I can’t help but join in, the memory of our shared shower still fresh.
The kitchen smells like a small café, the rich aroma of Maxwell House Colombian Supreme coffee mingling with the sweet scent of cinnamon from the French toast. Maddie’s twist — a drop of orange extract in the batter — adds a subtle note that promises to sing on the taste buds.
We sit at my smallish kitchen table, plates warm with French toast between us, and the conversation turns to the hours before dawn. Our laughter is easy, the teasing light. “Round Three?” I suggest, half-joking, half-hopeful.
She leans in, her voice a whisper of silk. “The kisses we shared in the shower were enough… for now.” Her eyes immediately draw me in, and there’s a promise there, a depth that tells me this is more than just a fling.
Now, I’m fairly certain that the scene nails the prompt. But for good measure, I had Microsoft’s Copilot AI double-check it. Here’s what it had to say.
Sure, let’s break it down! Here are the key elements that show the characters expressing their love without explicitly saying “I love you”:
1. Setting the Scene:
– The sun, the kitchen, and the bustling outside world create a vivid backdrop that grounds the reader in the moment. It hints at a shared domestic life, which implies intimacy and comfort.
2. Shared Activities:
– Making Breakfast: Maddie preparing French toast with a unique twist and the coffee aroma evoke a sense of familiarity and warmth, which is often associated with love and care.
– Listening to Music: The reference to Glenn Miller tunes and their shared experience before dawn build a layer of connection and nostalgia.
3. Playful Banter:
– Shower Joke: Maddie’s playful comment about saving water and showering together is both flirty and endearing, indicating a special bond.
– Round Three Suggestion: The light-hearted suggestion and the subsequent teasing about “Round Three” show a level of comfort and mutual affection.
4. Sensory Details:
– Descriptions of smells (coffee and cinnamon), tastes (orange extract in French toast), and sounds (Glenn Miller tunes) create a rich sensory experience that enhances the feeling of being in a loving environment.
5. Non-Verbal Communication:
– Infectious Grin: Maddie’s grin and the protagonist’s response showcase a shared joy and understanding.
– Whispered Words: The intimate whisper about kisses in the shower conveys deep affection and a promise of more to come, without needing to say “I love you.”
6. Implied Promises:
– The protagonist’s observation about the depth in Maddie’s eyes and the promise there suggests a future together, which is a powerful expression of love.
Each of these elements works together to create a scene filled with love and connection, without ever needing to use the phrase “I love you.” It’s all about the subtext and the small, meaningful moments that convey the depth of their feelings.
Naturally, not every prompt fits seamlessly into my novel, so I tend to skip scenarios like “Write a scene in which the hero watches the heroine dance with another man, from his perspective.” I’ve already explored how possessiveness or jealousy can impact a story, and I certainly didn’t want to taint the delightful Jim-Maddie dynamic with such negativity.
However, I did find a cheeky way to incorporate this delightfully over-the-top scenario, clearly designed to evoke a 1930s screwball comedy, into my narrative.
Your heroine is wearing a fake mustache and your hero is soaking wet. How did they end up like this? What do they do next?
The soft, golden light of early morning filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow across my bedroom. The air inside is perfectly comfortable, thanks to the modern climate control in my high-rise apartment. I am gently awakened by the familiar sound of my Sony Dreamcaster radio alarm clock.
“…And good morning, New York! It’s now 7 AM on this chilly Thursday, March 23, 2000. Currently, it’s 42 degrees Fahrenheit outside, with light winds coming from the northwest. Yesterday, the city saw the official start of spring, but winter seems to be lingering a bit longer, as temperatures failed to rise above 50 degrees. In other news, the stock market saw a significant drop yesterday, with the Dow Jones closing down 250 points…”
I stir, my eyes fluttering open to the newscaster’s voice. As I turn, I can’t help but smile at the sight of Maddie peacefully asleep beside me, wrapped in one of my Arrow shirts. Her face is serene, and a soft giggle escapes her lips, even in sleep. I wonder if she’s dreaming about our intimate moments from dinner at Delmonico’s, or something delightful entirely.
Maddie, wrapped in one of my Arrow shirts, slowly wakes up, her hazel eyes still heavy with sleep. She looks at me with a mix of love and recognition, her hair adorably tousled. I marvel at how beautiful she looks, even in her early morning disarray. She snuggles closer to me, and we exchange soft good mornings.
“Good morning, beautiful,” I say, my voice a gentle rumble.
Maddie blushes, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. “Morning,” she replies, her voice still groggy.
I chuckle softly. “You were giggling in your sleep. What was so funny?”
Maddie coughs in embarrassment, her blush deepening. “I had the strangest dream,” she admits. “I was wearing a fake mustache, and you were soaking wet. I have no idea why my subconscious conjured that up, but it was hilarious.”
I laugh, the sound warm and infectious. “That does sound pretty funny,” I agree, pulling her closer. “Tell me more.”
Maddie takes a deep breath, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Well, in the dream, we were in this old-timey silent film, like something out of a Mack Sennett comedy. I was dressed as a detective, complete with a fake mustache, and you were a hapless bystander who somehow got caught in the middle of a pie fight. You were drenched from head to toe in cream and custard, and then, out of nowhere, someone sprayed you with seltzer water. It was like a comedy of errors, and I was trying to solve the mystery of who started the whole mess.”
I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it. “And did you solve the mystery?”
Maddie grins. “Not exactly. Every time I got close to figuring it out, another pie would come flying out of nowhere and hit you in the face. And just when you’d start to clean up, someone would squirt you with seltzer water again. It was like the universe was conspiring to keep you soaked and me laughing.”
I’m less impressed by the inspirational quotes from romance novelists whose works have been published by Avon. Some, like Lisa Kleypas’s, “Our genre supports the idea of a woman’s freedom to make her life whatever it wants to be,” are particularly relevant at a time when women’s rights are being suppressed by a political party intent on dragging the United States back to the 1850s.
I also appreciate Cathy Maxwell’s exhortation, “Never doubt that you are good enough. Storytelling is your gift and it should be shared. Start writing and see where you go.”
At first, I thought the scenario was too far-fetched for the story I’m weaving in Reunion: Coda, but it turns out it fits perfectly as Maddie’s “screwball dream.” Sometimes, the most absurd dreams have a way of making the best anecdotes.
How to Write a Romance is designed not as a how-to manual, but as an invitation to creative exploration. It encourages aspiring authors to let their imaginations run wild as they jot down short scenarios. Although there’s ample space on the pages for brief notes, I recommend transferring longer, more detailed scenes to either a student-style notebook or a word processor document. This allows for expansive storytelling while keeping your ideas organized and easily accessible.
I’m less impressed by the inspirational quotes from romance novelists whose works have been published by Avon. Some, like Lisa Kleypas’s, “Our genre supports the idea of a woman’s freedom to make her life whatever it wants to be,” are particularly relevant at a time when women’s rights are being suppressed by a political party intent on dragging the United States back to the 1850s.
I also appreciate Cathy Maxwell’s exhortation, “Never doubt that you are good enough. Storytelling is your gift and it should be shared. Start writing and see where you go.”
Others, however, are just okay for me. They’re not unhelpful, mind you, but they’re geared for writers who need reassurances that the romance genre is relevant, even necessary. For instance, here’s a quote from Alyssa Cole:
To riff on G.K. Chesterton: romance novels aren’t written to show readers that love exists, they’re written to show readers that they’re deserving of it. Don’t forget that as you write your (Happily Ever After).
Overall, though, How to Write a Romance has proven to be an invaluable resource in my novel-writing journey, particularly as I approach the final chapters of Reunion: Coda. Its creative prompts have seamlessly woven into my narrative, injecting fresh ideas and revitalizing my storytelling. Additionally, it has provided me with a way out of literary blockages, encouraging me to venture outside my comfort zone and explore new creative horizons.
For writers seeking a deeper exploration of how to craft romance fiction, it is advisable to look for more specialized “how-to” books, particularly those that focus on specific areas such as love scenes or dialogue. These resources can provide a more thorough understanding of the nuanced techniques and skills required to excel in the romance genre. However, the writing exercises in How to Write a Romance offer a delightful and effective way to generate intriguing story ideas and enhance one’s writing abilities. By encouraging authors to engage in creative play, this book proves to be an invaluable tool for inspiring fresh concepts and fostering growth in a fun and imaginative manner.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
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