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Romance

Emotional journey toward love and connection.

Want to stress-test character dynamics before drafting? Plot a relationship web in ShipCraft and bring the most compelling conflicts back into this genre guide.

Essential Elements

Central love story drives the plot

Emotional satisfaction (HEA or HFN)

Chemistry and attraction between leads

Internal and external obstacles

Character growth through relationship

Emotional vulnerability and intimacy

10 Essential Tropes

Enemies to Lovers

Initial antagonism transforms to attraction

Example: Rivals, opposing sides, personality clash

Friends to Lovers

Platonic relationship deepens romantically

Example: Longtime friends realize deeper feelings

Forced Proximity

Circumstances throw them together

Example: Snowed in, fake relationship, road trip

Second Chance

Reconnection after previous relationship

Example: High school sweethearts reunite, divorce reversal

Forbidden Love

Obstacles prevent relationship

Example: Family disapproval, professional ethics, social barriers

Love Triangle

Choice between two potential partners

Example: Stable vs exciting, duty vs passion

Fake Relationship

Pretending to date leads to real feelings

Example: Wedding date, visa marriage, public ruse

The Grand Gesture

Public declaration or dramatic act

Example: Airport chase, interrupted wedding, love confession

Meet-Cute

Memorable or quirky first meeting

Example: Coffee spill, mistaken identity, unexpected encounter

Slow Burn

Gradual build of romantic tension

Example: Small moments accumulating, denied attraction

Famous Examples

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

•Chemistry based only on physical attraction
•Controlling behavior portrayed as romantic
•No real obstacles or character growth
•Resolution feels unearned

Practice with Romance

Generate a 250-word story demonstrating key Romance conventions and tropes.

Mix Tropes Tool

Select 2-3 tropes to generate a story that combines them. Learn how different conventions can work together.

Select Tropes (0/3)

Romance Tropes

Select at least 2 tropes to generate a story

Spot the Convention Quiz

Test your knowledge of Romance conventions! Read a story and identify which tropes and conventions are present.

How It Works:

1.Read the generated Romance story carefully
2.Select which tropes you think are present in the story
3.Submit your answer to see how well you identified the conventions
4.Get +1 point for each correct trope, -1 for incorrect guesses