Romantic Subplots

A romantic subplot is one of the sharpest double-edged swords in fiction. They can make room for character development, add tension and conflict, and hey, everyone likes to see a likeable character get the girl (or guy) in the end. However, there are many, many ways to make them ruin a story. 

1. Make it seem natural. Just because you have a male lead and a female lead does not mean you have to have a romantic subplot. Even if they’re going through hell together, if there’s no chemistry, there probably won’t be romance. Even if one of them gives the other mouth-to-mouth. And yes, even if one rescues the other. Sure, a lot of girls would fantasize about being rescued from some peril by a guy they already like. That doesn’t mean that they will automatically fall in love with a guy who does. Women and men get “rescued” all the time by members of the opposite sex; lifeguards, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, etc. That doesn’t mean they fall in love with them. Characters need some chemistry. Maybe they both have had similar experiences in their past that they can talk about, or a hobby that they both share. Just as important as chemistry, time. People don’t fall in love within minutes, days, or even weeks of having met. Unless they’re young*, like 12-15, in which case it’s probably more infatuation or “teen love” (though not always).

*Or drunk, I suppose.

Besides, if they’re on an extremely important mission, falling in love wouldn’t be a good idea. One could be baited into compromising the mission by the other being in danger, or temporary anger over a “breakup” could cause one to ignore the other being eaten by a hellhound. Did you know that NASA will not let married couples fly on the same trip? 

And please, do not use “love at first sight” or “true love” to force two incompatible characters together.

2. Don’t make it cliché. How many times have you seen this formula before: Boy meets girl, girl acts aloof towards boy, boy does something to impress the girl, boy and girl date, boy and girl almost-kiss, boy does something stupid, girl leaves him, boy does something to win her back, boy and girl kiss, the end.

Sheesh. How many fictional romances have you seen like that? Probably a lot. How many real romances have you seen like that? Probably not too much. Ask your parents, or an older sibling with a significant other. How did their romance come to be?

3. Don’t let it take over the story, unless you intend it to be a romance. If people want to read stories that focus on romance, they will look for stories that advertise themselves as such on the back cover. Romantic subplots should be just that—subplots. Keep it as a side dish, not the main course.

4. Make love triangles fair. Chances are, if you’ve gone to high school, you’ve seen a love triangle. Maybe even been part of one. A love triangle occurs when two people are each trying to win over a third, and that third must decide which one (if any). An example would be Bella’s choice between Edward and Jacob in the Twilight series.*

They have their place in fiction, though are generally suited more for stories with more focus on romance. They can add tension and heartbreak. Most of the time, they do not. If you include one, make it fair. Give the center character good reasons to choose either one. If it’s obvious which one the center is going to choose, why have it in?

*I refuse to call it a saga. Beowulf is a saga. The Odyssey is a saga. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a saga. The Mabinogion is a saga. The Book of Exodus is a saga. Titanomachy is a saga. Argonautica Orphica is a saga. The Ramayana is a saga. Twilight is a steaming pile of crap.

Also, don’t make it creepy without at least portraying it as such. When an emotionally abusive hundred-and-something guy stares at and stalks a seventeen year-old, that is creepy. When two twelve year-olds start acting like they’ve each overdosed on ecstasy, that is creepy. It’s even creepier when everyone seems to be okay with it.

A good example of a romance would be from the Percy Jackson series: (Spoiler warning, highlight to view) Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase. It develops throughout their teenage years and seems like something that would really happen (if, you know, the Greek gods and monsters existed). There’s a lot of tension and uncertainty, like when Percy learns that Annabeth had been thinking about joining the Hunters of Artemis (who are forever young and cannot fall in love). There’s still a lot going on aside from the romance, but you really get the sense that they’re falling in love, with all that they do for each other.(End Spoiler)