How to Write Chemistry That Jumps Off the Page
Writing a fantasy world is hard. Writing two characters that fall for each other in a way that the readers can’t stop swooning over them? Even harder.
Writing a good romance arc is a quest in itself. When writing romance in fantasy, it becomes a dragon to slay. The spark. The tension. The banter. The stakes. The emotional shift. And the final confession. It all needs to be perfect. So, here’s your guide on writing chemistry that jumps off the page.
How Does Chemistry Work, Anyways?
True chemistry is all about the connection between the characters - the irresistible pull that even makes the readers scream, “they need to end up together.” The real chemistry works when the readers can’t see but feel the tension, in the moments of vulnerability, the almost-confessions, and the lingering glances.
When the reader slowly uncovers the tension, layer by layer, only to find out the vehemence of the emotional attachment the characters have reached, that’s how the real chemistry is built.
Tips And Tricks To Write The Intensest Chemistry
Fantasy authors and romance writers both receive one common advice: “Don’t just tell us your characters love each other, make us believe it.” As easy as it may sound, writing good chemistry means you have to work on a lot of intricate details - the deets that are not even apparent but have the power to make or break your story. Here’s how you can do it in 7 easy steps.
Start With The Spark
Amidst all the characters in your story, what makes your protagonists stand out? When the male and female lead meet, what makes that moment different from the thousands of interactions they encounter daily?
The first meetup is very critical to your romance arc - it is where the chemistry starts brewing. Make sure your readers feel the spark in that moment. You don’t need to make it a grand, cliche “I-have-never-seen-a-girl-like-her” moment. In fact, the more subtle the spark is, the more smoothly the romance arc can take off.
2. Build Tension
What makes a great romance novel? Tension. Every glance, every conversation, and every step towards each other should build tension. The best thing you can do as an author? Not rush it.
Let the tension build slowly. Make the characters question their feelings towards each other. Create situations where the leads are ready to give in, but their pride, fear, or internal struggle stops them. The readers should feel this tension slowly heighten, so when they finally confess, it feels cathartic.
3. Serve The Readers With Amazing Banter
Banter is not just wit. Banter is what your characters are too afraid to say out loud, so they coat ot with humor. It’s about revealing something deeper that your leads feel towards each other - attraction, curiosity, or maybe vulnerability.
Readers devour a brilliant banter. Reason? It is amidst this banter that the characters fall for each other. When the playful mockery transitions into hesitant confessions folded in their glances, that’s when the chemistry jumps off the page.
4. Ground Their Connection in Fantasy
As a fantasy author, the romantic chemistry in your story is not just about the characters; it is deeply entwined with the fantasy elements, too. Maybe the leads have opposing magical powers, maybe their powers amplify when they're together, or maybe they're both part of a prophecy.
Best way you can do this? Take inspiration from Shadow and Bone - the complementary powers of Alina and the Darkling, and the other love interest, Malyen, being the amplifier. Brudago probably does it best when it comes to merging arcs in fantasy. If you are not grounding the chemistry in fantasy, it becomes more of a subplot within your story that might not garner much attention.
5. Opposites Work; Complements Do The Trick
Opposites. Sworn enemies. The leads that have nothing in common but still somehow find their way to each other. They are like fire and ice and can serve the readers with great tension. But what most authors don’t realize is the power of compliments.
Sometimes, the characters, forbidden to even breath near each other, filled with hate, fit like the pieces of a puzzle when they first meet. Their unexpected connection and the shock of recognition intensify the tension. And the bets part? The emotionally charged process of reinventing everything they have been taught about each other.
6. Make The Readers Feel The Emotional Shift
When your leads have been fighting against each other since birth, the emotional shift in the moment they start fighting for each other is crucial. It can be something subtle: holding a glance for too long and seeing the other person through an entirely different lens. Or it can be something grand: risking one’s life for the other person without knowing why.
The tension builds slowly. However, the moment of truth - it explodes. The angry confessions, fighting against one’s feelings, and the disregard of emotions - this is what makes readers soak it all in.
7. Tie The Romance To The Story
One of the common fantasy writing mistakes to avoid is not tying the romance with the story. Amidst all the info-dumping and the character building, the writers don’t align the romance arc with the plot. The result? The romance and the main plot become detached.
The best way to make it work? The stakes of the plot should mirror the stakes of the romantic arc. The climax, the ending, the resolution of the central conflict - all these elements should be deeply connected with the actions and choices of your male and female leads. And those actions and choices? Make sure they are shaped by their feelings towards each other. As the stakes rise, the tension should rise higher.
Do The Romance And The Main Plot In Your Story Feel Detached?
Maybe the romance arc the the main plot feel like two different stories competing for attention. Fret not, it’s a common problem. The good news? It’s absolutely fixable. All you need is a combination of a fantasy book editor and a romance book editor. And that is exactly what you get with me at Once Upon A Manuscript.
From polishing the chemistry and banter to tying romance with the plot, I can help you write chemistry that readers will never stop talking about. Let’s work together and bring the chemistry of your characters to life.
