The Ten Commandments for Romance Authors

I. Thou shalt make thy reader care about thy characters.

For a reader to get involved in a story, she has to care what happens to the characters. We don't care much about people we don't like and admire, so our characters' flaws and problems must be realistic and reasonable. It helps a lot if the character is facing his/her problems in a straightforward way, without whining.

II. Thou shalt create main characters who have logical reasons to like and trust each other as well as to dislike and distrust each other.

In too many romances, the main characters actively hate each other right up until the final scene, when they fall into each others' arms with declarations of love. But unless the reader sees the characters growing fond of each other as the story progresses, it's difficult for her to believe in the happy ending.

III. Thou shalt keep thy main characters on stage, together, as much as possible.

When the main characters aren't physically together and interacting, it's difficult to show a developing relationship. If the main characters aren't physically close, perhaps the hero should be on the heroine's mind, and vice-versa. And a scene where they're separated should usually be followed by one where they're together.

IV. Thou shalt not weasel away from conflict.

Almost nobody likes to witness a fight in real life; when one starts, we tend to leave the room. Maybe that's why, in fiction, there's an urge to summarize the dangerous action or rush through the argument.

To do so, however, cheats the reader of the feeling that she's there, and it cheats the writer of a marvelous opportunity to showcase the characters and heighten the importance of the conflict.

V. Thou shalt make thy characters' problems emotionally involving for thy reader.