7 Deadly Romance MISTAKES Writers Make ❌ avoid these chemistry killers!

Are you struggling to write romantic chemistry that feels believable and realistic and makes your readers fall head over heels in love? Do you feel like your characters are missing that magic spark that makes them insanely shippable? In this video, I’m revealing the top 7 deadly mistakes that will instantly kill the romantic tension between your characters. So if you're guilty of committing any of these chemistry crimes... STOP IT RIGHT NOW.

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✨C H A P T E R S✨
00:00 Do your characters have good chemistry?
02:08 They don't have enough alone time together
03:55 They fall in love too quickly
06:03 They tease each other about other love interests
07:46 They never touch
09:12 Want to take your romantic chemistry to the next level?
10:44 They get sick of each other after a while
11:58 They don't challenge each other's weaknesses
13:51 They have chemistry with someone else
15:49 Watch my live training on romantic chemistry!
16:12 Subscribe for weekly writing videos :)
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✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨

MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:

→ WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT WHEN YOU’RE BORED

→ THE ULTIMATE CHARACTER PROFILE

→ HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED TO WRITE YOUR NOVEL

→ MY CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER OUTLINING METHOD

✨F O L L O W ✨

✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.

Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[racheltheradiant]

The worst romantic tension killer for me is when the MC goes on and on about how hot the Love Interest is. Like sure, he's hot, but what other good qualities does he have?

[nicollivaneli]

1- Never or rarely have time alone together
3- They fall in love to quickly
3- Tease each other about other potencial love interest
4- They never touch
5- They get sick of each other after a while
6- They don’t challengers each other faults and weaknesses
7- They have romantic chemistry with other’s characters

[TheMessCalledJess]

Hot take: being sick of each other is completely normal and can actually strengthen a relationship. It provides another hurdle to move past. I did not immediately love everything about how my husband lived his life and there were times where little stuff he did made me upset or annoyed. And vice versa, spend TOO long with someone and you eventually find SOMETHING you don’t agree or like about one another. BUT you can absolutely use this as a plot device and strengthen their bond by having them fight and then compromise, just like what happens in real life. Real love takes WORK and gets easier with time. Been with him 9 years now and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, and he is my muse ❤

[emtboyd]

One thing that kills romance for me is when they fall madly in love and have nothing in common. Theres absolutely no reason why they should fall in love yet they are suddenly in love. There has to be a connection between the two people in order for their romance to withstand the stories conflict. Another thing that kills me is when one character does something truly messed up to the other character and it’s forgiven in the end because they are SO in love. That’s an instant killer for me

[KGBeast.]

The worst mistake for me in writing romantic chemistry is sacrificing authenticity for the sake of plot convenience or adhering to romantic tropes without adding depth or originality to the relationship

[campwriter]

All thirsting and no romance 🤦🏻‍♀️ please give me romance! I feel like the the spice rarely works unless there’s been a nice build up of romance👌

[PrideOfFantasy]

I would also add just make them enjoy each others company in non-romantic ways. When the author shows the two love interests just having fun with each other doing something thats not romantic, it solidifies that they are truly well placed.

Like if they share a passion for investigation and do it together. Or maybe they are both mages and work together to make their magic stronger. Idk, hopefully that makes sense.

[TiaLove]

Abbie your candles near your books are STRESSIN' ME OUT haha

[rokusashu]

What kills the romantic ship for me is usually when one person does most of the work in the relationship when the other simply doesn't invest as much thoughts or just stupid and never grows. I think it just won't work when two people develops at different pace, most of the time I started rooting for the one with most growth to move on and find better pair/be alone.

[SomeUniqueHandle]

"When they tease ease other about other love interests" - that can set up a fun twist. Character A is convinced that B couldn't possibly love them so A tries to set them up with C because C is "far more worthy" of B. B mistakes the attempted matchmaking as A being disinterested and tries to settle for C despite loving A.

[toms]

When a character is obsessed with the idea of love itself and notion of being in love, I become dubious and sceptical of their love interests... as it's less about the chemistry and more about the character's own erotomania. That's one of the reasons why Elizabeth Bennet is so great: she establishes her credentials as grounded, clear-headed and self-aware so that as the love develops we can trust that she's not just a fantasist.

It's ironic that, at least as far my tastes go, writers who are obsessed with love must write characters that aren't in order to convey a powerful love story.

[somebody]

My thing is when a character DELIBERATELY destroys something/someone the other character loves just to see them suffer. Maybe it's bc I hold grudges, but it's just sickening to me. Not only is it insanely hard to redeem that character later on, but it's hard to see the two together without viewing the scene under a veil of toxicity. If it's on accident? Yes. Give me all the angst.

[AraileLioness]

One thing in my opinion that kills a ship is they fight waaay to much. Sure, disagreements is important when writing ships. BUT it only works if the characters WORK through the conflict. Arguments in fictional ships build chemistry BUT only to a certain point. When you have two characters arguing and having an on and off relationship it becomes toxic and not fun to watch or read about.

[ebixqiy]

In Chinese Historical Fantasy novels, there is a deliberate thing, called Second Male Lead Syndrome. It's on purpose. It's when the secondary male is so good with the Female Lead, that you wish they would ditch the actual Male Lead for the secondary. If you ever want to rant about a girl being with the wrong guy, read the Chinese novel Chaos of Beauty. I swear it was those interactions with the Secondary ML that kept me turning the pages. I hated, and still hate the Male Lead. However, I will say if you write a better love interest you only have two ways to go, messy divorce to be with the other person, or terrible tragedy.

So, while I agree with most of the advice, sometimes that secondary character being better has plot potential. At the very least if you break your reader's hearts and crush their 'ship' they will remember your novel for years to come.

[StarShine]

Another reason: Conversations not being deep enough. I mean, sure, you can have both characters in a stage with both of them alone after some conflict or situation they just went through together but, sometimes we have this... shallow conversations, characters almost asking each other hows the weather and then, after two of these situations, boom! They´re in love and its like... N-no? You barely know them, everything we know about both characters is what they've revealed us through their own thoughts, but they've NEVER talk about themselves with each other? What do they have in common? Whats their dreams and motivations? Do you share anything else besides vicarious passion?? Please, make you characters have DEEPER CONVERSATIONS!!!

[giulianoaaronfrancoynsfran]

7:49 I think I don't agree with this one that much, because there are characters that do not like touch, and I think showing respect for that boundary can be more romantic than "but they would do it for this person"

[missedthebandwagon]

Fullmetal Alchemist has possibly the most impressive romances I have seen. Because I am a shipper, I am a navy captain over my fleet of ships. But FMA makes me root for every single one of the canon ships, and I don't root for any other ship. I usually think the love interest is more interesting with one of the side characters, but FMA just manages it, I don't know how.

[theparadoxicaltouristtrave]

Frieren breaks or at least bends most of these rules and the romance is quite good.
Frieren is nearly never alone with himmel, they rarely touch, they never directly addresses each other's flaws unless its lightly teasing one another, and he's dead most of the series. Yet, i hope they can work something out --if only letting her wish him permanent farewell.

[Exayevie]

Interesting - I could actually see "rarely or never alone together" as a great builder of romantic tension, if it has a clear, compelling reason, and is used as an obstacle they must overcome. I can't help but think of Nora in Pete's Dragon, who managed to have a deeply compelling romance even as the only part of the couple that had any screen time at all lol. Or Maid Marian and Robin Hood in that old Disney adaptation. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, " in the words of Lady Kluck :P

[Nobody-shpu]

Mako and Raleigh from Pacific Rim is a very good example of building chemistry right, and they didn't even end up together