love description for creative writing

How to Describe Love in Writing (21 Best Tips + Examples)

Love is a universal language, yet when it comes to putting it into words, many of us find ourselves tongue-tied.

Here is how to describe in writing :

Describe love in writing by capturing emotional depth, using vivid and sensory details, incorporating unique metaphors and comparisons, exploring the complexities and nuances of love, and expressing love through actions and dialogue. Connect love to the plot and theme of the story.

In this guide, you’ll learn 21 top-notch tips and examples that will help you write about love like a pro.

1. The Tip of the Iceberg Technique

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When expressing love in writing, you don’t have to spill all the beans at once.

In fact, it’s often more powerful to leave something to the reader’s imagination. This technique involves alluding to the depth of your character’s emotions without spelling everything out.

It creates an air of mystery and makes your readers want to delve deeper into your character’s feelings.

For instance, your character might not declare his love directly.

But his actions, the way he looks at the person he loves, or the things he sacrifices for her, all speak volumes about his feelings.

The best part is, your readers will feel like they’re discovering these emotions alongside your character.

Often, this makes the experience even more impactful.

Example: He didn’t say anything. But he held her hand, his thumb tracing her knuckles in a silent confession.

2. The Show-Don’t-Tell Rule

We’ve all heard it a thousand times – show, don’t tell.

When it comes to writing about love, this rule is especially crucial. Telling your readers that your characters are in love is like giving them a summary of a movie – it’s informative, but it doesn’t evoke any emotions.

Showing, on the other hand, involves your readers and makes them feel like they’re part of the story.

When you ‘show’ love, you’re painting a picture with your words.

You’re creating a scene that readers can visualize, pulling them into your character’s world.

This can involve showing your characters’ actions, their body language, the way they speak, and their reactions.

Example: Instead of saying, “John was in love with Sarah,” you could write, “John’s heart fluttered every time Sarah walked into the room. Her laugh was his favorite sound, and he found himself doing silly things just to hear it.”

3. The Heart-in-Mouth Technique

This tip is all about creating suspense in your love story.

When you keep your readers on the edge of their seats, they’re more likely to be engaged and invested in your characters’ love story.

The Heart-in-Mouth Technique involves building tension between your characters, creating conflicts and hurdles they have to overcome, and then finally giving them (and your readers) the relief of resolution.

This technique doesn’t just apply to romantic novels or stories.

It can be used in any genre where love plays a significant role.

Remember, the key is to build anticipation and suspense, so when the love is finally expressed or reciprocated, it feels like a big payoff for your readers.

Example: The room was filled with people, but all he could see was her. Their eyes met across the room, a silent conversation passing between them. But as he began to make his way towards her, a man stepped in, sweeping her onto the dance floor. His heart sank, but he couldn’t look away.

4. The Whisper-in-the-Ear Method

Instead of loud, grand gestures of love, this method focuses on the quiet, almost unnoticed expressions of love that often speak louder than words.

These could be little things your characters do for each other, their shared glances, or even their unspoken understanding.

The Whisper-in-the-Ear Method can make your love story feel more realistic and relatable.

In real life, love isn’t always about the big, dramatic moments.

It’s about the little things, the day-to-day acts of kindness and understanding that show someone you care about them.

Example: She woke up to the smell of fresh coffee. He was already up, like always. She found him in the kitchen, humming to himself as he made breakfast. “Morning,” he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. She didn’t need a “I love you” to know that he did.

5. The Behind-Closed-Doors Technique

Another effective technique for writing about love is to hint at what happens behind closed doors.

This doesn’t mean you have to get explicit or graphic (unless you want to, of course).

It simply means suggesting intimacy between your characters without revealing everything.

This allows your readers to fill in the blanks with their own imagination, which can make your love story even more engaging.

The Behind-Closed-Doors Technique adds a sense of realism to your love story, because in real life, not every moment of a relationship is visible to others.

It also adds depth to your characters and their relationship.

You want to show that their love goes beyond what’s visible on the surface.

Example: They disappeared into the room, his hand never leaving hers. The door closed behind them, leaving the rest of the world outside. When they emerged hours later, their eyes held a secret glow only they understood.

6. The Push-and-Pull Dynamic

Love isn’t always smooth sailing – it’s full of ups and downs, conflicts and resolutions.

The Push-and-Pull Method involves creating tension and release in your love story, which keeps your readers engaged and invested in your characters’ relationship.

It’s like a dance, where your characters move towards each other, then away, then back again, creating a dynamic, compelling love story.

Conflict is crucial to any story, and love stories are no exception.

Your characters might argue, have misunderstandings, face external challenges, or deal with their own internal struggles.

The key is to resolve these conflicts in a satisfying way that strengthens their relationship.

Example: They argued, yes. There were days when they couldn’t stand each other. But every disagreement was followed by a reconciliation that brought them closer than before. It was like watching two magnets, pushing and pulling until they finally clicked into place.

7. The Subtext-is-Everything Technique

This technique is all about what’s unsaid, rather than what’s said.

It’s the hidden meanings, the secret messages, and the unspoken emotions that make your love story more engaging and realistic.

The Subtext-is-Everything Technique involves showing your characters’ feelings through their actions, their body language, and their dialogues.

Subtext adds depth and complexity to your characters and their relationship.

By using subtext, you allow your readers to dig deeper into your characters’ emotions and understand them on a deeper level.

Example: She looked away, but not before he caught the flicker of longing in her eyes. “You should go,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. But her hand lingered on his arm, a silent plea for him to stay.

8. The Less-is-More Method

Often when writing about love, the temptation is to over-explain and over-describe.

However, the beauty of the Less-is-More Method is that it relies on simplicity and understatement.

This can make your expressions of love more powerful because it doesn’t feel forced or overdone.

This approach requires precise language, carefully chosen details, and meaningful gestures.

This method is a bit like cooking a gourmet meal – you don’t need a ton of ingredients, just a few high-quality ones used well.

It’s about focusing on the essential aspects of your characters’ love and presenting them in a clear, effective way.

Example: He looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time. And in that moment, he knew.

9. The Echo Effect

Repetition, when used correctly, can add depth and resonance to your love story.

The Echo Effect involves repeating certain phrases, gestures, or scenes to emphasize your characters’ feelings.

This technique can help your readers remember and connect with your characters’ love story on a deeper level.

Just like in music, where a recurring melody or lyric can evoke strong emotions, in writing, the Echo Effect can create a powerful emotional impact.

It creates a pattern that your readers recognize and anticipate, adding a layer of depth to your love story.

Example: He noticed it the first time they met – the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous. He saw it again on their first date, and then again when he told her he loved her. It was a silent echo of their journey, a testament to their shared moments.

10. The Shared-Secret Technique

The Shared-Secret Technique is all about creating a bond between your characters that only they understand.

This could be an inside joke, a shared experience, or a secret they keep together.

This technique can make your characters’ relationship feel unique and special, adding depth and intimacy to your love story.

This technique works well because it not only strengthens the bond between your characters but also creates a connection between your characters and your readers.

Your readers feel like they’re part of the secret, which can make them more invested in your characters’ love story.

Example: Every year on their anniversary, they would go back to the same little coffee shop where they first met. It wasn’t fancy, but it was their place, their little secret corner of the world.

11. The Emotional-Rollercoaster Method

The Emotional-Rollercoaster Method is all about creating a wide range of emotions in your love story.

It’s not just about the happy moments, but also the sad, tense, and even frustrating ones.

This technique can make your love story more realistic and engaging, as it mirrors the ups and downs of real-life relationships.

By creating a mix of emotions, you can keep your readers on their toes and make them feel more involved in your characters’ love story.

Even negative emotions can create a strong impact and make the happy moments even more satisfying.

Example: Their love was a tumultuous symphony – full of passionate crescendos, heartbreaking solos, and soft, tender interludes. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real, and it was theirs.

12. The Love-Is-in-the-Details Approach

The Love-Is-in-the-Details Approach involves focusing on the small, seemingly insignificant details of your characters’ relationship.

This could be the way they look at each other, their little habits and quirks, or the small acts of kindness they do for each other.

This technique can make your love story feel more intimate and personal, showing your characters’ love in a subtle, nuanced way.

Remember, sometimes the smallest details can have the biggest impact.

By focusing on these details, you can show your characters’ love in a more nuanced and authentic way.

Example: He knew just how she liked her coffee – two sugars, a dash of milk, and exactly seven minutes to cool down. It was a small thing, but it was one of the many ways he showed her he cared.

13. The Soul-Gazing Technique

The Soul-Gazing Technique is all about creating a deep, emotional connection between your characters.

This involves showing your characters understanding each other on a deeper level, beyond surface-level attraction or compatibility.

This technique can make your love story more impactful, showing a love that goes beyond the physical.

Creating this kind of emotional depth can involve showing your characters’ vulnerability, their shared experiences, or their mutual understanding and empathy.

It’s about showing that they ‘get’ each other on a level that no one else does.

Example: They sat in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable, intimate. They didn’t need words to understand each other – a look, a touch, a shared smile was enough.

14. The Dance-of-Words Method

This method is all about using your words to create a sort of dance between your characters.

Like a well-choreographed dance, a well-written love scene involves rhythm, pacing, and a balance between tension and release.

It’s about creating a back-and-forth dialogue or interaction that mirrors a dance.

The Dance-of-Words Method can make your love story feel dynamic and engaging.

The key is to find the right rhythm for your characters and your story, to create a love scene that feels natural and fluid.

Example: They spoke in hushed whispers, their words intertwining like dancers in a ballet. A compliment here, a tease there, a shared laugh, a shared silence. It was their own private dance, a testament to their love.

15. The Love-Is-A-Journey Approach

Love, like a journey, is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, and unexpected detours.

The Love-Is-A-Journey Approach involves treating your characters’ love story as a journey, with its own challenges, milestones, and transformations.

This approach can make your love story more engaging and relatable.

It mirrors the complexities and uncertainties of real-life love.

By treating love as a journey, you can show your characters growing and evolving together, strengthening their bond and deepening their love.

Example: Their love was not a destination, but a journey. A winding path with unexpected twists and turns, breathtaking views and steep climbs. But they walked it together, hand in hand, cherishing every step of the way.

16. The Love-Letters Technique

Sometimes, the most powerful expressions of love come in written form.

The Love-Letters Technique involves using letters, notes, or other written communication as a way to express your characters’ love.

This can add a touch of nostalgia and romance to your love story, as well as allow your characters to express their feelings in a more intimate, personal way.

This technique is versatile and can be adapted to fit your story.

Your characters could exchange love letters, leave each other sweet notes, or even write in a shared diary or journal.

Example: He found the note on the kitchen table, her neat handwriting bringing a smile to his face. “See you tonight, love. P.S. Don’t forget to water the plants!” It was a small thing, but it reminded him of the love they shared.

17. The Language-of-Love Method

This method is all about using language and dialogue to express your characters’ love.

This doesn’t necessarily mean using flowery or overly romantic language.

Instead, it’s about using language that feels authentic and natural to your characters, whether that’s sweet and tender, playful and teasing, or deep and philosophical.

The Language-of-Love Method can make your love story feel more authentic and relatable.

It shows your characters’ unique way of expressing their love.

Example: She didn’t say “I love you” in so many words. But when she said “Take care,” “Drive safe,” or “Did you eat?” he heard the unspoken words of love in every sentence.

18. The Love-Is-A-Battlefield Approach

Love can sometimes feel like a battlefield, full of conflicts, challenges, and triumphs.

The Love-Is-A-Battlefield Approach involves treating your characters’ love story as a battle, with its own victories, losses, and strategies.

This approach can add drama and tension to your love story, making it more engaging and exciting.

By treating love as a battlefield, you can show your characters fighting for their love, overcoming obstacles, and emerging victorious against all odds.

Example: Their love was not easy. It was a battle, a constant fight against distance, time, and their own fears. But they fought bravely, tirelessly, because they knew their love was worth every struggle.

19. The Magic-in-Mundane Technique

This technique is all about finding the magic in the mundane – showing your characters’ love in everyday, ordinary moments.

This could be a shared meal, a morning routine, or a quiet evening at home.

The Magic-in-Mundane Technique can make your love story feel more relatable and realistic, showing that love isn’t just about the big, dramatic moments.

But also the small, everyday ones.

Example: It was an ordinary Tuesday evening. They sat on the couch, her feet in his lap, a movie playing in the background. He looked at her, her eyes sparkling with laughter, and he thought, this, this is love.

20. The Through-The-Eyes-Of-Love Technique

This technique involves showing your characters and their world through the eyes of love.

This means showing how your character sees the person they love.

Also, how they notice things that others don’t and how they cherish their shared moments and memories.

The Through-The-Eyes-Of-Love Technique can create a more intimate and personal perspective of your love story.

Example: To the world, she was just a girl. But to him, she was the world. He saw the beauty in her flaws, the strength in her vulnerability, the grace in her every move. Through his eyes, she was not just a girl, but a masterpiece of love.

21. The Love-in-Action Method

The Love-in-Action Method involves showing your characters’ love through their actions.

This means showing how your characters express their love, not just through words, but through their actions, decisions, and sacrifices.

The method can make your love story more powerful and impactful.

It shows that love is not just a feeling, but a choice, a commitment, a daily act of kindness and care.

Example: He didn’t say “I love you” often. But when he picked her up from work when it was raining, when he cooked her favorite meal after a long day, when he held her close during the thunderstorms, his actions spoke louder than any words.

How to Describe Love at First Sight

Describing love at first sight can be tricky, as it involves capturing a moment of instant attraction and connection.

To effectively portray this, focus on the details that made your characters fall for each other.

Describe the physical attributes, mannerisms, or other characteristics that caught their attention.

Try to depict the rush of emotions that accompany such a moment, from surprise and intrigue to excitement and longing.

Example: From across the crowded room, their eyes met. He was drawn in by her radiant smile, the way her eyes sparkled with joy, the effortless grace with which she moved. It was like a lightning strike, a sudden realization that shook him to his core. He didn’t know her, not yet, but he knew he wanted to.

How to Describe Unrequited Love

Unrequited love is a theme full of raw and intense emotions – longing, heartbreak, and sometimes even hope.

When describing unrequited love, delve into your character’s feelings and desires, exploring the depth of their affection for the person they can’t have.

Showcase the bittersweet nature of their love, the struggle between holding on and letting go.

Example: He loved her, but not in the way she loved him. Her love was like a blazing fire, burning brightly and fiercely. His love was more like a gentle breeze, comforting yet elusive. She yearned for him, dreamt of him, even as she knew that her feelings were unreciprocated.

Words to Describe Love

When learning how to describe love in writing, it’s helpful to have a list of words for reference.

Here are some of the best words to describe love:

• Unconditional
• Overwhelming
• Affectionate
• Irresistible
• Invigorating

Phrases to Describe Love

Consider the following phrases for describing love in writing:

• Head over heels
• Love is in the air
• Crazy in love
• Love against all odds
• Love at first sight
• The look of love
• Falling deeply in love
• A burning passion
• The language of love
• Lost in each other’s eyes
• Love knows no bounds
• The power of love
• A heart full of love
• A love that defies description
• A timeless love
• An unspoken bond
• Love that takes your breath away
• A love written in the stars
• A love that stands the test of time
• The depth of their love

Here is a great (and fun) video about how not to describe love in writing – which is just as important to know:

Final Thoughts: How to Describe Love in Writing

Ultimately, describing love in writing is about balancing all the narrative elements of a story.

It’s not easy but it is an incredible way to bring your characters and your story to life. I hope this guide helps you create an epic love that readers ship and swoon over for years.

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• How To Describe a Panic Attack in Writing (Ultimate Guide)
• How to Describe a Dog in Writing (100+ Examples)

Writing Nestling

How To Describe Love In Writing (15 Steps You Need To Know)

Describing love in writing is a captivating and profound endeavor that transcends the limitations of mere words.

Love, that enigmatic and universal emotion, is both a muse and a challenge for writers across the ages. It dances through the pages of literature, painting vivid landscapes of human connection, while also defying easy capture, forever eluding the grasp of language.

Yet, in the hands of skilled wordsmiths, love becomes a story, a journey, a tapestry of emotions and experiences that resonate deeply with readers.

In this exploration of how to describe love in writing , we embark on a literary odyssey through the multifaceted facets of this complex emotion, uncovering the techniques, nuances, and ethical considerations that bring love to life on the written page.

Whether capturing the romance of a budding relationship, the enduring bond of family, or the complexities of unrequited affection, this exploration delves into the art of rendering love as a vivid and unforgettable character in the grand narrative of the human experience.

Table of Contents

How To Describe Love In Writing

Describing love in writing can be a beautiful and creative process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do it effectively:

Understand Your Purpose

Determine why you want to describe love in your writing . Is it for a story, poem, letter, or essay? Knowing your purpose will shape your approach.

Identify Your Audience

Consider who will be reading your writing. Different audiences may require different tones and styles when describing love.

Gather Inspiration

Read love poems, quotes, or books that resonate with you. Watch romantic movies or observe real-life relationships to draw inspiration.

Define Love for Yourself

Reflect on your own understanding of love. What does it mean to you? What emotions, experiences, or metaphors come to mind when you think of love?

Choose Your Writing Style

Decide if you want to use prose, poetry, metaphors, or a combination of these. Your style should align with your purpose and audience.

Create a Mood

Set the tone for your writing. Love can be passionate, tender, melancholic, or joyful. Choose words and imagery that convey the desired mood.

Use Sensory Details

Engage the senses of your readers by describing how love feels, smells, sounds, tastes, and looks. This helps make your writing vivid and relatable.

Employ Metaphors and Similes

Compare love to other things, like a blooming flower, a warm embrace, or a raging storm. Metaphors and similes can add depth to your description.

Tell a Story or Share Anecdotes

Narrate a personal experience or a fictional story that embodies love. Storytelling can be a powerful way to convey the essence of love.

Edit and Revise

After your initial draft, revise your writing. Eliminate unnecessary words, refine your metaphors, and ensure clarity and coherence.

Seek Feedback

Share your writing with trusted friends, peers, or writing groups to get constructive feedback. They can offer valuable insights and suggestions.

Capture the Essence of Love

Remember that love is a complex and multi-faceted emotion. Try to capture its various aspects – from the exhilarating highs to the challenging lows.

Practice Empathy

Put yourself in the shoes of your readers. Consider how they might relate to or connect with your description of love.

Add a Personal Touch

Infuse your unique perspective and voice into your writing. This authenticity can make your description of love more compelling.

Finalize and Share

Once you’re satisfied with your writing, share it with your intended audience. Whether it’s a heartfelt letter, a moving poem, or a captivating story, let your words convey the depth and beauty of love.

Remember that describing love is a deeply personal and subjective endeavor. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, so trust your creative instincts and let your emotions guide your words.

Understanding the Complexity of Love

Love, the enigmatic force that has inspired sonnets, symphonies, and soul-searching quests throughout human history, is a kaleidoscope of emotions and experiences.

It’s a labyrinthine journey that transcends the boundaries of time, culture, and even logic. Love is not a singular monolith but a constellation of constellations, with each type (romantic, platonic, familial) akin to a unique galaxy, holding its own secrets and stories.

At times, it’s an intoxicating dance of hearts, while in others, it’s a comforting embrace in the midst of life’s storms. Love can be the radiant sun that warms your soul or the tempestuous tempest that rocks your world.

To grasp the complexity of love is to embark on an endless odyssey, an adventure through the heart’s ever-shifting landscapes, where every turn reveals a new facet, a new revelation, and a new opportunity to understand what it means to truly feel alive.

Different Types of Love (romantic, platonic, familial)

Love, the universal language of the heart, wears many diverse masks, each with its own distinct flavor and significance. Romantic love, with its intoxicating blend of passion and intimacy, is the kind that sets hearts aflutter and inspires poets to pen verses that dance like flames.

It’s the magnetic force that pulls two souls together in a symphony of desire. Platonic love, on the other hand, is the foundation of deep, abiding friendships.

It’s the bond that transcends physical attraction, nurturing connections rooted in shared interests, trust, and unwavering support.

Lastly, familial love, the unbreakable tie that binds bloodlines and found families, is a love that withstands the test of time and trials, offering a sanctuary of acceptance and belonging.

Each of these types of love contributes to the rich tapestry of human connection, weaving a narrative of our capacity to care and to connect in the myriad ways that make our lives profoundly meaningful.

The Multifaceted Nature of Love (emotions, actions, thoughts)

Love is a prism of emotions, actions, and thoughts, refracting its brilliance through the human experience. Emotionally, it can be a symphony of joy, tenderness, and compassion, but it also has its shadows of vulnerability, longing, and even pain.

Love’s actions are the profound gestures of care and sacrifice that speak louder than words, whether it’s a warm embrace, a selfless act, or a lifetime of devotion.

Yet, love is not confined to grand deeds; it thrives in the everyday moments of shared laughter, quiet understanding, and unwavering support.

At its core, love is an intricate tapestry of thoughts, a realm where we explore the depth of our feelings, make sense of our desires, and imagine futures intertwined with those we cherish.

This multifaceted nature of love is a testament to its complexity, an intricate dance of heart, mind, and soul that enriches the human experience and elevates it to profound heights.

Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Love

Cultural and historical perspectives on love reveal the kaleidoscope of human experiences and values throughout the ages.

Love, as an ever-evolving concept, has been both a mirror reflecting societal norms and a catalyst for change. In some cultures, arranged marriages once prevailed, where love grew over time through commitment and shared life experiences.

In contrast, other societies have celebrated passionate, romantic love as the ultimate ideal. Historical records brim with tales of love conquering adversity, political alliances forged through marriage, and artistic movements inspired by the profound intensity of love’s emotions.

From the courtly love of medieval Europe to the enduring themes of love and duty in ancient epics like the Mahabharata, love’s cultural and historical tapestry is a testament to its timeless and universal significance, showcasing how it has shaped and been shaped by the diverse fabric of human existence.

Techniques for Describing Love

Describing love is akin to painting with emotions, and the artist’s palette brims with an array of techniques that evoke the vivid spectrum of this profound feeling.

It’s about weaving words into the rich tapestry of love stories with the finesse of a master storyteller.

From crafting metaphors that compare love to natural wonders like thunderstorms or moonlit oceans to immersing readers in a sensory symphony, where they can taste the bitter sweetness of longing and hear the whispered promises of affection.

Love’s essence emerges through the dialogue that dances between characters, revealing their hearts and vulnerabilities. It’s the delicate dance between poetry and prose, where rhythmic words become the heartbeat of an amorous narrative.

Techniques for describing love are an alchemical blend of wordsmithing and emotional resonance, breathing life into an emotion that defies containment, offering readers an immersive journey through the boundless landscapes of the heart.

Vivid Imagery and Metaphors

Vivid imagery and metaphors are the enchanting brushstrokes in the canvas of language, infusing writing with colors unseen and emotions unfelt.

They transport readers to worlds beyond the page, inviting them to see, feel, and experience the story on a visceral level.

A well-crafted metaphor can be a bridge between the known and the unknown, transforming love into a roaring tempest or a fragile, delicate butterfly.

These literary tools paint a picture with words, offering readers a chance to explore new dimensions of meaning and emotion.

Like an artist’s palette, the possibilities are endless, and in the hands of a skillful writer, vivid imagery and metaphors become the conduits for profound understanding and profound beauty, making the written word a portal to realms uncharted.

Sensory Details

Sensory details are the lifeblood of storytelling, the ink that colors the reader’s imagination.

They breathe vitality into words, enabling readers to not only see the world of a story but to taste its flavors, touch its textures, smell its fragrances, and hear its symphony.

A well-placed sensory detail can transport you to a bustling Moroccan bazaar, where the aroma of spices dances in the air, or to a secluded forest glade, where the rustling leaves create a symphony of whispers.

These details are the keys to unlocking the reader’s empathy and connection to the characters and their world, making literature a multisensory experience that resonates long after the last page is turned.

Sensory details are the heartbeats of a narrative, and in their subtlety or extravagance, they immerse us in the story’s reality, forging an unbreakable bond between reader and writer.

Symbolism and Allegory

Symbolism and allegory are the secret languages of literature, where words take on deeper, hidden meanings beyond their surface.

They are the tools of the storyteller’s trade, allowing writers to infuse their narratives with layers of significance and metaphorical richness.

A symbol is a word, object, or concept that represents something beyond its literal definition, often embodying themes, emotions, or abstract ideas.

On the other hand, allegory is a broader narrative device where characters, actions, and settings symbolize or represent abstract concepts or moral lessons.

Think of the white whale in “Moby-Dick” symbolizing obsession or the character of Christian in John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” representing the spiritual journey.

In literature, symbolism and allegory open the door to interpretation, inviting readers to delve beneath the surface and uncover the hidden treasures of a story, creating a tapestry of meanings that transcend the confines of mere words.

Character Development and Dialogue

Character development and dialogue are the dynamic duo of storytelling, breathing life and authenticity into the narrative landscape.

Characters are the heartbeats of a story , evolving through their experiences, choices, and growth arcs. They are the mirrors in which readers see themselves and the vehicles through which they navigate the story’s emotional terrain.

Dialogue, on the other hand, is the pulse of character interaction, a symphony of voices that reveals motivations, conflicts, and connections. It captures the cadence of human conversation, giving readers insight into the characters’ inner worlds and relationships.

Through skillful character development and authentic dialogue, writers create relatable and compelling personas, fostering empathy, engagement, and a profound connection between the reader and the story’s inhabitants. Together, they are the architects of immersion, building a bridge between the fictional and the real, allowing readers to walk in the shoes of characters and inhabit their trials, triumphs, and transformations.

Poetry and Prose

Poetry and prose are two distinct but harmonious realms within the vast kingdom of written expression. Poetry, with its rhythmic cadence and vivid imagery, is the art of distillation, capturing the essence of emotion and experience in its most concentrated form.

It can be a whispered secret or a thunderous declaration, a dance of words that transcends the constraints of ordinary language.

Prose, on the other hand, is the storyteller’s medium, offering the canvas for rich character development, intricate plots, and expansive narratives.

It invites readers to lose themselves in the unfolding tapestry of a tale, where the beauty lies not only in what is said but also in how it is said.

These two literary domains complement each other, providing writers with a diverse palette of tools to evoke emotion, convey meaning, and transport readers to different realms of thought and feeling.

Poetry and prose are the yin and yang of literature, each enhancing the other’s impact, and together, they weave the rich fabric of human storytelling.

The Power of Language

The power of language is the conjurer’s wand, the architect’s blueprint, and the composer’s score all rolled into one.

It possesses the extraordinary ability to transform abstract thoughts into tangible reality, to build bridges of understanding, and to ignite the flames of inspiration.

With the right words, one can stir emotions, incite revolutions, and shape the course of history. Language is a treasure chest of stories, dreams, and wisdom passed down through generations, a gift that connects minds across time and space.

It is the key that unlocks the mysteries of the universe and the foundation upon which human civilization is built.

Language is not just a tool; it’s the very essence of human expression, an enchanting symphony of sounds and symbols that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary and allows us to touch the extraordinary.

Word Choice and Diction

Word choice and diction are the meticulous brushstrokes on the canvas of communication, where the selection of each word is akin to choosing a color for a masterpiece. They are the architects of nuance, precision, and impact in language.

The art of choosing the right words is a dance between conveying meaning and evoking emotion, between clarity and ambiguity. The subtlety of diction can shift a sentence from formal to colloquial, from coldly factual to passionately persuasive.

It is through this careful selection of words that writers craft their unique voice, paint vivid mental pictures, and elicit profound emotional responses from their readers.

Word choice and diction are not mere tools; they are the soul of expression, where the perfect word becomes a treasure, enriching the tapestry of language and making the written word a work of art.

The Role of Context and Setting

The role of context and setting in storytelling is akin to a theatrical backdrop, shaping the narrative stage upon which characters come to life.

It’s a dynamic force that whispers secrets, sets the mood, and imbues every scene with a unique heartbeat. Context, whether historical, cultural, or personal, provides the lens through which we view characters’ motivations and actions, enriching the story’s depth.

Setting, in its vivid description, can transport readers to far-flung galaxies, mystical realms, or the dusty streets of a familiar hometown, becoming a character in itself.

The interplay of context and setting is a harmonious duet, orchestrating the symphony of storytelling. In their embrace, narratives transcend the confines of mere words, immersing readers in worlds where the past echoes in the present, cultures clash, and landscapes breathe with their own stories.

They are the stage and backdrop, the silent narrators of tales, inviting readers to journey beyond the text, where imagination takes flight.

How Setting Can Enhance the Description of Love

Setting is the silent maestro of the love story, weaving an atmospheric tapestry that elevates the emotional depth of affection.

A moonlit beach or a candlelit, old-world café can become more than just a backdrop; they can be the stage for a love so passionate that it burns brighter under the soft, shimmering stars.

In contrast, the hush of a snow-covered forest or the bustling chaos of a city street can magnify the contrast of a love that blooms amidst adversity.

Setting becomes a visual and sensory symphony, amplifying the nuances of love – the delicate touch of a lover’s hand, the intoxicating scent of a shared moment, or the resonance of whispered confessions in a secluded garden.

It’s the canvas upon which love’s colors and textures are painted, infusing each scene with a unique ambiance that resonates with the reader’s heart, making the love story more immersive, evocative, and unforgettable.

The Impact of Context on Love

The impact of context on love is like a prism through which this complex emotion refracts into myriad shades and hues. Love is profoundly influenced by the circumstances and surroundings in which it unfolds.

External factors such as cultural norms, societal expectations, and historical events can shape the trajectory of love stories.

Love that blossoms in times of hardship, like wartime romances, can reveal the resilience of the human spirit and the power of connection amidst chaos. Conversely, forbidden love in a conservative society may highlight the tension between personal desire and societal constraints.

Context can also serve as a crucible for testing the authenticity and endurance of love, as it evolves and adapts in response to challenges.

Ultimately, the impact of context on love underscores its adaptability and resilience, reflecting the intricate interplay between human emotions and the world that surrounds them.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

Navigating the labyrinth of storytelling, challenges and ethical considerations are the compass and moral north star guiding the writer’s voyage.

Challenges, like elusive plot twists or stubborn characters, are the crucible where creativity thrives, pushing writers to scale literary peaks they never thought possible.

Yet, as we craft stories, we also encounter ethical crossroads, where we must tread carefully, mindful of the narratives we weave. We confront the responsibility of portraying diverse perspectives with respect and authenticity, steering clear of harmful stereotypes and tropes that have plagued literature for generations.

We delve into the darker corners of human emotion, unearthing complex themes like obsession and unrequited love, and in doing so, we grapple with the ethical obligation to handle these subjects with sensitivity and care.

Challenges and ethical considerations are the twin pillars upon which meaningful storytelling stands, reminding us that the creative process is not just about words on a page but also about the profound impact those words can have on hearts and minds.

Avoiding Clichés and Overused Tropes

Avoiding clichés and overused tropes is the writer’s quest for originality, the pursuit of fresh, uncharted narrative territory.

It’s a journey that requires the courage to veer off well-trodden paths and explore the wilderness of creativity. Clichés and tropes, like old road signs, can lead readers down predictable routes, dampening the thrill of discovery.

Instead, writers seek to surprise, challenge, and captivate by breathing new life into familiar stories or crafting narratives that defy convention.

It’s the art of subverting expectations, where the dragon doesn’t guard the princess, and the hero isn’t always a gallant knight.

In doing so, writers invite readers to see the world through a different lens, to relish the excitement of the unknown, and to revel in the magic of storytelling that transcends the ordinary and embraces the extraordinary.

Addressing Diversity and Inclusivity in Love Writing

Addressing diversity and inclusivity in love writing is an essential endeavor that celebrates the kaleidoscope of human experiences and relationships.

It’s about reflecting the rich tapestry of love stories that exist beyond conventional narratives, acknowledging that love knows no boundaries of race, gender, sexual orientation, or background. Inclusive love writing strives to give voice to marginalized communities, providing representation and validation for those whose stories have often been sidelined or overlooked.

It challenges harmful stereotypes and tropes, fostering a more compassionate and authentic portrayal of love in all its forms.

By embracing diversity and inclusivity, love writing becomes a powerful tool for fostering empathy, breaking down biases, and promoting a world where love is celebrated in its myriad expressions, inviting readers from all walks of life to find themselves within the pages of a story.

The Ethics of Portraying Complex and Difficult Love Situations

The ethics of portraying complex and difficult love situations in writing demand a delicate balance between realism and responsibility.

Writers venture into the intricate web of emotions, including themes like obsession, unrequited love, or tumultuous relationships, acknowledging their impact on the human experience.

At the heart of this ethical consideration is the duty to portray such situations with empathy, nuance, and a commitment to avoiding harm. It entails portraying characters with depth, not reducing them to mere stereotypes, and exploring the consequences of their actions thoughtfully.

It’s also about recognizing the potential influence of literature on readers, ensuring that challenging love situations are handled with sensitivity and care, offering insight and understanding rather than glorification or perpetuation of unhealthy dynamics.

Ethical writing in this context seeks to shed light on the complexities of love while upholding a moral responsibility to depict these situations responsibly and constructively, inspiring reflection rather than fostering harm or misunderstanding.

Revision and Refinement

Revision and refinement are the alchemical stages of writing where the raw ore of creativity is forged into literary gold.

It’s the thrilling excavation of gems buried deep within the manuscript, the symphony of harmonizing words, and the sculpting of prose until it gleams with perfection. In this artistic crucible, writers transform their initial drafts into masterpieces, like a sculptor chiseling away at the rough edges until the statue breathes with life.

Revision is the secret realm where stories evolve, characters deepen, and plots entwine seamlessly. It’s a dance of critique and creation, of challenging the familiar and embracing the unknown.

In the end, revision and refinement are the unsung heroes of writing, where perseverance and passion combine to reveal the true brilliance of a writer’s vision, unveiling a work of art that resonates with readers for generations to come.

The Iterative Process of Describing Love

The iterative process of describing love is a mesmerizing journey, akin to a sculptor patiently chiseling away at a block of marble until the hidden beauty within is revealed.

It’s the dance between words and emotions, where the initial draft serves as a rough sketch, capturing the essence but not yet the intricacies of this complex emotion.

With each revision, the writer refines and deepens the portrayal of love, adding layers of nuance, texture, and depth. It’s an evolving symphony of sensory details, metaphors, and dialogue that transforms a mere description into an immersive experience for the reader.

The iterative process is a testament to the writer’s commitment to capturing the elusive and multifaceted nature of love, revealing its ever-shifting shades and complexities with each stroke of the pen, until the final masterpiece emerges, a true reflection of the profound depths of the human heart.

Balancing Objectivity and Subjectivity

Balancing objectivity and subjectivity in writing is like navigating a delicate tightrope suspended between the external world and the internal realm of emotions and opinions.

Objectivity calls for the impartial observation of facts, fostering credibility and reliability in storytelling. It provides the reader with a stable foundation upon which to build their own interpretations.

On the other hand, subjectivity lends a unique voice to the narrative, allowing the writer to infuse their emotions, perspectives, and experiences into the prose. It’s the magic that makes a story deeply personal, resonating with readers on a visceral level.

The art lies in striking the right equilibrium; too much objectivity can render a story cold and clinical, while excessive subjectivity may veer into biased or solipsistic territory.

It’s the synergy between these two elements that crafts a narrative that is both informative and emotionally resonant, inviting readers to explore the world through the writer’s lens while still drawing their own conclusions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about How To Describe Love In Writing

Can anyone truly capture the essence of love in writing.

Describing love in writing is a deeply personal and subjective endeavor. While it may not capture all aspects of love for everyone, it allows individuals to express their unique experiences and perspectives on this complex emotion.

Is there a specific formula for writing about love effectively?

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for writing about love. It varies depending on the writer’s style, the intended audience, and the purpose of the writing. However, certain techniques and approaches can help convey love more effectively.

How do I avoid clichés when describing love in my writing?

To avoid clichés, focus on personal experiences and unique metaphors that resonate with you. Dive deep into your emotions and thoughts to find fresh and authentic ways to express love.

Can I write about the darker aspects of love, like heartbreak or loss?

Absolutely. Love encompasses both the joyous and painful moments. Writing about heartbreak, loss, or the challenges of love can be just as powerful and meaningful as writing about its more positive aspects.

Should I draw from personal experiences or create fictional scenarios when describing love?

It depends on your writing goals . Drawing from personal experiences can add authenticity, while creating fictional scenarios allows for creative exploration. You can also blend both approaches to create a unique narrative.

How do I balance realism and idealism when writing about love?

Balancing realism and idealism in love writing is an art. Consider including both elements to create a well-rounded portrayal. Realism adds depth and relatability, while idealism can infuse your writing with romance and hope.

What’s the role of symbolism in writing about love?

Symbolism can be a powerful tool to convey love’s deeper meanings. Objects, colors, or even natural elements can symbolize different facets of love, adding layers of complexity to your writing.

Can I use humor when describing love, or should it always be serious?

Humor can be a fantastic element in love writing. It can make your writing more relatable and approachable. Just ensure that it aligns with your overall tone and message.

Are there cultural differences in how love is described in writing?

Yes, cultural differences can influence how love is expressed in writing. Different cultures have unique traditions, symbols, and interpretations of love. It’s essential to be sensitive to these variations when writing for diverse audiences.

How can I make my writing about love stand out from the rest?

To make your writing stand out, infuse it with your personal voice and experiences. Be authentic, use vivid imagery, and strive for emotional resonance. Avoid clichés and strive to offer a fresh perspective on love.

In the tapestry of human storytelling, the art of describing love is a timeless and cherished thread that weaves its way through the narrative of our lives.

Through this exploration of how to convey love in writing, we have uncovered the power of language and the delicate dance between techniques and ethical considerations.

We have celebrated the diversity of love’s manifestations, from romantic ardor to familial bonds, and recognized the profound impact of context and setting.

We have delved into the rich palette of literary devices, from vivid imagery to symbolism, that breathe life into love stories. And we have acknowledged the vital importance of avoiding clichés and embracing inclusivity.

In the end, describing love in writing is an ever-evolving, deeply personal, and ethereal art, where the ink on the page becomes a mirror reflecting the depths of our hearts.

It is an endeavor that invites writers to continuously explore, refine, and expand their craft, recognizing that, in the right words, love can become an immortal force that transcends the written page, etching itself into the souls of those who read and feel its tender embrace.

Related Posts:

• A Valediction Forbidding Mourning (Themes, Summary,…
• How To Write Time Travel Romance (12 Effective Tips)
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14 Modern Literary Passages That Beautifully Describe Every Part Of Love

• https://thoughtcatalog.com/?p=653218

1. “‘I am,’ he said. He was staring at me, and I could see the corners of his eyes crinkling. ‘I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.’”

– The Fault In Our Stars , John Green

2. “People are like cities: We all have alleys and gardens and secret rooftops and places where daisies sprout between the sidewalk cracks, but most of the time all we let each other see is is a postcard glimpse of a skyline or a polished square. Love lets you find those hidden places in another person, even the ones they didn’t know were there, even the ones they wouldn’t have thought to call beautiful themselves.”

– Wild Awake , Hilary T. Smith

3. “No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain something greater … The love we have for each other is bigger than these small differences. And that’s the key. It’s like a big pie chart, and the love in a relationship has to be the biggest piece. Love can make up for a lot.”

— This Lullaby , Sarah Dessen

4. “I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I’ll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again… I’ll be looking for you, every moment, every single moment. And when we do find each other again, we’ll cling together so tight that nothing and no one’ll ever tear us apart. Every atom of me and every atom of you… We’ll live in birds and flowers and dragonflies and pine trees and in clouds and in those little specks of light you see floating in sunbeams… And when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me.”

— The Amber Spyglass , Phillip Pullman

5. “I love you also means I love you more than anyone loves you, or has loved you, or will love you, and also, I love you in a way that no one loves you, or has loved you, or will love you, and also, I love you in a way that I love no one else, and never have loved anyone else, and never will love anyone else.”

— Everything Is Illuminated , Jonathan Safran Foer

6. “All his life he would hold this moment as exemplary of what love was. It was not wanting anything more, nor was it expecting people to exceed what they had just accomplished; it was simply feeling so complete.”

– A Widow For One Year , John Irving

7. “Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.”

– The History Of Love , Nicole Krauss

8. “His examination revealed that he had no fever, no pain anywhere, and that his only concrete feeling was an urgent desire to die. All that was needed was shrewd questioning…to conclude once again that the symptoms of love were the same as those of cholera.”

— Love in the Time of Cholera , Gabriel García Márquez

9. “Love: a single word, a wispy thing, a word no bigger or longer than an edge. That’s what it is: an edge; a razor. It draws up through the center of your life, cutting everything in two. Before and after. The rest of the world falls away on either side.”

– Delirium , Lauren Oliver

10. “Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”

— Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , J.K. Rowling

11. “Passion makes a person stop eating, sleeping, working, feeling at peace. A lot of people are frightened because, when it appears, it demolishes all the old things it finds in its path.

No one wants their life thrown into chaos. That is why a lot of people keep that threat under control, and are somehow capable of sustaining a house or a structure that is already rotten. They are the engineers of the superseded.

Other people think exactly the opposite: they surrender themselves without a second thought, hoping to find in passion the solutions to all their problems. They make the other person responsible for their happiness and blame them for their possible unhappiness. They are either euphoric because something marvelous has happened or depressed because something unexpected has just ruined everything.

Keeping passion at bay or surrendering blindly to it – which of these two attitudes is the least destructive?

I don’t know.”

― Eleven Minutes , Paulo Coelho

12. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

– The Velveteen Rabbit , Margery Williams

13. “A love story is not about those who lose their heart but about those who find that sullen inhabitant who, when it is stumbled upon, means the body can fool no one, can fool nothing— not the wisdom of sleep or the habit of social graces. It is a consuming of oneself and the past.”

— The English Patient , Michael Ondaatje

14. “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

Liz was born, raised, and schooled in the Chicago area. Every year, she is sure the Cubs will win the World Series, and one of these years, she’ll be right.

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43 Ways To Write About Love

In this post, we have included 43 things for you to consider when you write about love .

One of our most popular posts on Writers Write is  37 Ways To Write About Anger . We thought we would look at interesting ways to write about other emotions, including:

• 32 Ways To Write About Fear
• 29 Ways To Write About Happiness
• 40 Ways To Write About Empathy
• 37 Ways To Write About Grief

In this post, we look at writing about love .

How do we write about love in an authentic way?

This post is not about writing a love story . Rather, it is a post that looks at the emotion of love and how we write about it.

Love is complicated. The emotion covers feelings for family, friends, lovers, animals, and gods. When we write about love, we need to shade the emotion according to the characters and their loved ones.

We need to create different moods for different types of love. The way a mother feels about a child is different to the way friends feel about each other. The tone we choose helps us show this.

The same is true for the characters we create. When we write about characters and the love they feel for others, we should remember to write about them in a realistic way.

The people, animals, things, places, and gods they love reveal everything about them.

Here are 43 things to consider when you write about love:

A) Types Of Love

According to the Triangular Theory of Love , love is made up of three components: Intimacy , Passion , and Commitment .

Depending on the mix of these components, you have eight types of love.

8 Types Of Love

• Nonlove – means the absence of all three components: Intimacy, Passion, and Commitment .
• Liking – means you have Intimacy, but the absence of Passion and Commitment.
• Infatuated love – means you have Passion, but the absence of the Intimacy and Commitment.
• Empty love – means you have Commitment, but the absence of Intimacy and Passion.
• Romantic love – a combination of Intimacy and Passion without Commitment.
• Companionate love – a combination of Intimacy and Commitment without Passion.
• Fatuous love – a combination of Passion and Commitment without Intimacy.
• Consummate, or complete love , – the full combination of all three components: Intimacy, Passion, and Commitment.

Read: Types Of Love

B) Body Language

In your body language,  signs of love include those relating to desire, pleasure, and happiness:

• Looking up through lashes.
• Glancing over your shoulder.
• Crossing and uncrossing legs.
• Stretching.
• Making eye contact.

Pleasure/Passion:

• Tilting head backward.
• Leaning forward.
• Placing hand on heart.
• Parted lips.
• Closed eyes.

Happiness :

• Crinkling nose and eyes.
• Swinging arms.

C) Ways To Create Conflict With Love

The love interest is the most useful and the most common of all sub-plots . Love interests in fiction are the most common way to create internal and external conflict. A love interest does not have to be a romantic love interest. ‘It can be a friend, a pet, or a family member.’ ( source )

• Internal : Loving somebody means we are vulnerable and writers can use this vulnerability to manipulate their characters mentally, emotionally, and morally.
• External : Writers use love interests to thwart the main characters by threatening the well-being of the people and the things they love. What would your character do for a loved one?

D) The Importance Of Love In Plotting

• The pursuit of love is a great sub-plot , especially if a romantic interest is involved.
• You can use an established love relationship to support a character who has a challenging job.
• You can also use an unusual love interest to create depth in your story. Read 6 Uncommon Romantic Love Interests for inspiration.
• Use a place or an object that a character loves to show us more about them .
• Put something or someone the character loves in danger to move your plot forward.

E) Exercises For Writing About Love

• Write a love letter from your protagonist to the person they love most.
• Write a love letter from your antagonist to the person they love most.
• Create a playlist of love songs for your four main characters .
• Write about the disintegration of a loving relationship. (Read 9 Ways To Set Up Believable Fictional Breakups )
• List the five things your four main characters love most.
• Describe love in concrete terms. Do this exercise for yourself and for your main characters.
• If love were a place, it would be:
• If love were music, it would be:
• If love were a person, it would be:
• If love were weather, it would be:
• If love were a smell, it would be:
• If love were a taste, it would be:
• If love were a sound, it would be:
• If love were a texture, it would be:
• If love were a colour, it would be:

Happy writing.

If you liked this article ,  you may enjoy:

• 37 Ways To Write About Anger

TOP TIP: Use our  Character Creation Kit  to help you create great characters for your stories.

© Amanda Patterson

If you enjoyed this blogger’s writing, read:

• 10 Ways To Kick-Start Your Horror Story
• How A Flashbulb Memory Can Help You Define Your Memoir
• Do Your Characters Have SMART Story Goals?
• Countdown To NaNoWriMo – How To Plan For The Month
• Write A Road Trip To Help You Plot A Book

More posts on love:

• The Almost Moment Is The Secret To Successful Romance Writing
• The Romantic Heroine
• The 4 Pillars Of Romance
• 101 Romance Tropes For Writers
• The Top 12 Literary Love Quotes
• 12 Literary Couples Whose Love Will Last
• 6 Uncommon Romantic Love Interests
• Types Of Love
• All About The Romance Writing Genre

TIP : If you want to write a romance, join us for This Kiss – How To Write A Romance.

• Body Language , Creating Characters , Description , Featured Post , Romance Writing , Show Don't Tell , Writing Tips from Amanda Patterson

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How to Describe Love in a Story

By A.W. Naves

If you’re writing a romance novel, this post is a must-read! If you need some advice on how to describe love in a story, below are 10 descriptive terms that will help you create the perfect bond between a couple in your book.

1. Passionate

Intense, fervent ; characterized by strong emotions and desire.

“Their passionate love burned like a wildfire, consuming everything in its path.”

“Their kisses were passionate exchanges that spoke volumes, expressing the depth of their affection.”

How it Adds Description

The word “passionate” adds an air of intensity and urgency to the love story. It heightens the emotions between the characters and propels their actions forward. Their passionate love ignites conflicts, propels them into daring adventures, and fuels their determination to overcome obstacles.

2. Bittersweet

Both pleasant and painful ; evoking conflicting emotions.

“Their bittersweet love was a blend of joy and heartache, a constant reminder of what they could never fully have.”

“Jon cherished the bittersweet moments with his love, knowing that their time together was limited.”

The word “bittersweet” captures the complex and conflicting emotions within the love story. It adds a layer of melancholy and longing, as the characters navigate the happiness and sorrow that comes with their love. The bittersweet nature of their relationship creates tension and evokes an emotional response from readers, driving the tale’s emotional arc.

3. Unrequited

Not returned or reciprocated ; one-sided.

“She carried the burden of unrequited love, longing for him from afar.”

“His unrequited feelings of love for her remained a silent ache in his heart.”

The word “unrequited” introduces a poignant element to the story, highlighting the pain and longing experienced by one character for another. It creates tension and unfulfilled desire, driving the plot through the character’s attempts to win the love they crave. Unrequited love adds emotional depth and explores the complexities of unreciprocated affection.

4. Electrifying

Thrilling, exciting ; generating intense excitement or energy.

“Their electrifying love sent shivers down their spines, igniting a spark that refused to fade.”

“Every touch was electrifying for both of them, charging the air with anticipation and desire.”

The word “electrifying” adds a sense of exhilaration and passion to the love story. It portrays the intensity of the characters’ connection, creating a magnetic attraction that propels the action forward. The electrifying nature of their love ignites conflicts, fuels desire, and generates a captivating energy that drives the story’s momentum.

Everlasting, timeless ; existing or continuing without end.

“The love between the thief and his fair maiden was eternal , transcending time and space.”

“In their hearts, they knew their love would remain eternal , even in the face of adversity.”

The word “eternal” encapsulates the everlasting nature of the characters’ love, stressing its enduring power. It lends timelessness and permanence to the story, anchoring the storyline in a deep-rooted connection that withstands the test of time. Eternal love serves as a driving force, motivating the characters to overcome obstacles and strive for a future together.

6. Forbidden

Prohibited, not allowed ; existing outside societal or moral boundaries.

“Their forbidden love defied all societal norms, adding an element of danger and secrecy to their relationship.”

“In the face of adversity, they dared to pursue their forbidden love, risking everything for a chance at happiness.”

The word “forbidden” introduces the concept of prohibited desire and forbidden fruit to a story. It creates tension and conflict, as the characters navigate the societal obstacles and consequences that come with their love. The forbidden nature of their relationship adds the intrigue and suspense of anticipated discovery and the stakes of breaking societal rules.

7. Unconditional

Absolute, limitless ; accepting without judgment or conditions.

“Their love was unconditional , embracing each other’s flaws and imperfections without judgment.”

“In their unconditional love, they found solace and acceptance, knowing they could be their true selves.”

The word “unconditional” emphasizes the depth and purity of the characters’ love, showcasing a bond that is free from judgment and expectations. It adds a sense of security and comfort, allowing the characters to be vulnerable and authentic. Their unconditional love becomes a guiding force, providing support and strength as they navigate challenges and grow together.

Profound, deep ; emanating from the depths of one’s soul.

“Their love was soulful , intertwining their spirits in an unbreakable bond.”

“In their soulful connection, they found solace and understanding beyond words.”

The word “soulful” signifies a love that goes beyond surface-level attraction. It represents a profound connection that transcends physicality and touches the essence of those involved. It adds depth and emotional resonance to the plot. It leads them to explore the recesses of their souls, confront inner demons, and discover profound truths about themselves and each other.

9. Innocent

Pure, uncorrupted ; characterized by simplicity and sincerity.

“Their innocent love blossomed like a delicate flower, untouched by the hardships of the world.”

“In their innocent embrace, they found solace and a sanctuary from the complexities of life in the purest of loves.”

The word “innocent” depicts a love that is untainted by cynicism or ulterior motives. It captures the purity and sincerity of the characters’ affection for each other. Innocent love serves as a beacon of hope and purity in the story, providing moments of respite and reminding readers of the beauty that can be found in simplicity.

Grand, monumental ; surpassing ordinary love in scale and significance.

“Their epic love story spanned generations, leaving a lasting legacy in the annals of history.”

“Sara and Hank fought the odds, defying fate and leaving an indelible mark on the world with a love that was nothing short of epic .”

The word “epic” signifies a love that transcends the ordinary, taking on larger-than-life proportions. It lends grandeur and significance to the love story, elevating it to legendary status. An epic love pushes the plot forward by encompassing monumental challenges, sweeping landscapes, and dramatic twists that keep readers captivated by the story as it unfolds.

Writing Prompts About Love: Explore Themes of Affection

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Explore ‍the Depths of Love: Engaging Writing Prompts to Stir Emotions

Unearthing the power of longing: writing prompts that capture‍ yearning, delve into the complexities of ⁣love: embrace contrasting views and emotions, why explore painful love‌ experiences, 1. moments ⁤of connection:, 2. ‍communication breakdown:, rediscover hope and healing: writing prompts to inspire love’s resilience, discover the⁣ beauty of unconditional love: writing prompts that celebrate devotion and compassion, frequently asked questions, future outlook.

Dive into the world of emotions with ⁣our collection of captivating writing prompts that‍ will take you on a journey to explore the depths of love. Whether you’re a seasoned writer looking for ​inspiration or just⁢ starting ⁤your writing journey, these prompts are designed to evoke intense emotions and unravel the complexities of love.

Unleash your creativity as you embark on a writing adventure that ‌will allow you to explore the various facets of love. Our‍ writing prompts are carefully crafted to spark your imagination and encourage introspection, enabling you to delve deep into the realm of emotions and uncover hidden truths. From heart-wrenching tales of unrequited love to heartwarming stories of soulmates finding each other against all odds, our prompts cover a wide range‌ of emotions⁤ and scenarios.

Here are a few examples of the thought-provoking writing⁣ prompts you can ⁢expect:

• Write⁣ a letter to your younger self, offering advice about navigating ⁤the complexities of love.
• Create a vivid description of a magical place ⁣where love is ‍the only currency.
• Describe a moment when love overcame all obstacles and triumphed against adversity.

Whether you choose⁣ to write a short story, a poem, or simply reflect on these prompts, you’ll find yourself captivated by the emotions they bring forth. So, grab your pen and paper or open up ‍your favorite writing app, and embark on an emotional journey through‌ the power‌ of ⁤our engaging writing prompts. Explore the many layers of‍ love and let your words bring those emotions to life.

Yearning is a fundamental part of the human experience, driving us to strive, ‌dream, and question ⁤our existence. It is a powerful emotion that can be ‍harnessed to create compelling stories and evocative prose. If you’re looking to tap into the depths of longing to bring your writing to⁣ life, we’ve got you⁢ covered with a collection of captivating writing​ prompts.

1. Lost Connections: Explore the ⁢emotional landscape of two​ characters who ⁤were once deeply connected but have been separated for years. How does their yearning for each other manifest?⁣ Are they reunited, forever lost, or left forever yearning?

2. The Unattainable Dream: Dive into the ⁢depths⁤ of desire by writing about a character who relentlessly pursues a dream that seems just out of reach. What sacrifices do ⁤they⁣ make? How does their yearning evolve over time? Does their pursuit ultimately bring satisfaction or perpetual longing?

These prompts are designed to unlock‌ the power of longing within you, allowing your words‍ to resonate with readers and tap into the universal experiences of yearning. Embrace ​these prompts and let the longing in your writing take ⁣hold,​ transporting‌ both you and your audience ⁢to emotional depths ‌you ‍never thought possible.

In the unpredictable‌ world of love, many find themselves bewildered by its complexities. Love, in all its⁣ forms, brings ⁤with it a myriad of contrasting views and emotions. It is a journey filled ⁢with ups and downs, joy ⁢and heartache, excitement and fear. To truly understand the complexities of love, one must be willing​ to delve into the depths of its intricate nature.

Embracing contrasting views is essential ⁣when it comes to love. Love can be both exhilarating and terrifying, euphoric and melancholic. It can bring out ​the best and worst in people, and it is in this juxtaposition that the beauty ‍of love lies. By ⁤acknowledging and exploring these varying perspectives, we gain a⁤ deeper understanding of the intricacies that shape our relationships and connections with others. Love is not a one-size-fits-all ‍experience; it is as diverse and ⁣unique as the individuals who embark upon it.

• A⁣ Kaleidoscope of Emotions: Love⁤ is a rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from blissful happiness to gut-wrenching sadness. It​ encompasses⁣ passion, affection, admiration, and at times, frustration. By embracing these emotions, we ‌understand‍ that love is not a smooth sailing voyage, but a turbulent ‍sea with waves of different intensities.
• Opposing Perspectives: Love can be viewed through various lenses – romantic love, familial love, platonic‌ love, and more. Each perspective offers ‍a distinct vantage point, revealing the multifaceted nature of love. Recognizing these diverse views allows​ us to appreciate the different ways love can be expressed and experienced.
• The Paradox of Love: Love can simultaneously create and ⁣destroy, uplift and bring ⁣down. It can ignite‌ passion and also ‍lead to‌ heartbreak. Understanding the paradoxical nature of love helps us navigate its complexities and appreciate the range of emotions that accompany it.

Delving into the complexities of love requires an open mind and a willingness to embrace the contradictions that come with it. By doing ⁣so, we gain insight into the intricacies that make love such a powerful force in our lives. So, let us embark on‌ this journey of exploring contrasting views and emotions, because only by delving into the‍ depths of love can we truly grasp its profound impact on our existence.

Uncover the Shadows of Heartbreak: Exploring Painful Love Experiences

Love can be a rollercoaster of emotions, and sometimes, it leads us down‍ a path filled with heartbreak and pain. Exploring the shadows of these painful love experiences can be a transformative⁢ journey of self-discovery and healing.⁤ It allows us to understand the complexities of human emotions and relationships, and ‍empowers us to make better choices in our future ⁢connections.

Delving into the‍ depths of heartbreak unveils valuable insights​ that can help us grow‌ and evolve as individuals. By acknowledging and processing the pain,‌ we learn to recognize patterns, red flags, and‌ our own vulnerabilities. This self-awareness assists us in forming healthier boundaries, building resilience, and fostering ⁤more fulfilling connections in the future. Moreover, exploring our painful love experiences ⁣is an act of self-compassion, as it provides an opportunity⁣ for introspection and self-forgiveness. It encourages us to let go of blame and ⁢embrace ‌personal growth,‍ paving the way for a⁣ brighter and more authentic future.

• Self-understanding: Unveiling the shadows of heartbreak enables⁢ us to gain ‍a deeper understanding of our‍ own emotions, reactions, and⁣ desires in relationships.
• Growth and healing: By confronting and processing the pain, we allow ourselves to heal, grow‌ stronger, and transform the wounds into wisdom.
• Relationship improvement: Exploring past heartbreaks helps us identify unhealthy patterns, enabling us to make wiser choices and cultivate healthier connections in ‍the future.
• Embracing self-compassion: Through ‍this exploration, we can learn to‍ forgive ourselves, release blame, and treat ourselves with kindness and compassion.

The Art of Self-Reflection: Writing Prompts to Analyze Personal Relationships

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for understanding ourselves and our⁣ personal relationships.​ Through introspection and honest writing, ⁢we can delve deep into the complexities of‍ our bonds, gaining insights and fostering personal growth. To help you navigate this introspective journey, here are some writing prompts⁢ designed specifically to analyze personal relationships:

Think about a significant moment when you felt a strong connection with someone‌ in your life. It could be a partner, family member, or close friend. Reflect upon the circumstances, emotions, and actions that led to ‍that moment. What made it so special? How did⁤ it ​affect your relationship? Write about your feelings and the impact it had on your understanding of that person and the bond you share.

We ⁣all experience communication challenges in our relationships.⁢ Recall​ a recent situation where ⁣you encountered a misunderstanding or conflict due to miscommunication. What were the factors contributing​ to this breakdown? Analyze your own role in the ⁢situation and the actions you took to address or⁢ resolve it. How did it affect your relationship and what did you learn from this experience? Explore different strategies for ⁤improving communication in the future.

By ‌challenging ourselves to reflect on personal relationships through writing, we invite self-discovery and growth. These prompts offer a starting point to explore our emotions, experiences, and the dynamics‌ that shape our connections. Remember, self-reflection is an ongoing⁣ practice, so take your time, be honest with yourself, and embrace the valuable insights that await.

In the midst of life’s challenges, writing can serve as⁢ a powerful tool to ‌reignite hope and promote emotional healing. Embrace the therapeutic benefits of penning‌ down your thoughts and allow love’s resilience to manifest through these inspiring writing prompts. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or simply looking to explore a new form of self-expression, these prompts ⁢are designed⁣ to spark creativity and encourage introspection.

1. Reflect on a ​time when you faced adversity in a relationship, and write a letter to your past self offering words of encouragement and‌ wisdom. Capture the lessons you’ve learned‍ and highlight the strength and resilience ⁤that blossomed from that experience.

2. Compose a short story infused with love and hope, set in⁣ a world where kindness and compassion prevail ⁤in the face of adversity.‌ Create vivid characters and a captivating plot that showcases the transformative power of love and the strength we possess to overcome obstacles.

3. Craft⁣ a heartfelt poem about the ​beauty of love’s resilience in the​ face of heartbreak. Explore the emotions of loss and pain, but also delve into the healing ⁣and transformative journey ⁤that emerges from such experiences. Use striking imagery and metaphors to convey the indomitable spirit⁤ of love and the strength it brings to mend broken hearts.

Experiencing love’s resilience⁣ through the‍ act of writing can be a⁤ cathartic and transformative process. As you explore these prompts, allow your creativity to ⁢flow freely and embrace the healing power of storytelling. Keep in mind that there‍ are no right or wrong answers – the goal is to tap into the depths of your emotions‍ and⁣ discover a renewed ⁤sense of hope and healing. Let your words⁣ guide you towards brighter days and a deeper understanding of your own capacity for love’s resilience.

Unconditional love is a powerful force that transcends⁢ all boundaries and captures the essence of genuine connections. It is ⁣a love that knows no limits, a love that accepts‌ without judgment, and a love that remains steadfast through the peaks and ‍valleys of life.⁤ In ⁤this section, you will find a collection of writing prompts that evoke the beauty of unconditional love, allowing you to explore‍ and celebrate the depths of devotion and​ compassion.

Whether you are a seasoned writer or just beginning to explore the power of words, these prompts provide a platform to delve into heartfelt emotions ​and ⁣portray the magnificence of unconditional love. From personal experiences to fictional tales, these writing prompts are designed to ignite your creativity and inspire profound reflections on the transformative power of love. Unleash⁣ your imagination as you embark on a journey of exploring the intricacies of ⁣bonds that thrive on loyalty, acceptance, and unwavering support.

• Briefly describe a moment when you experienced or witnessed unconditional love in action.
• Write a poem that encapsulates the essence of devotion ‍and compassion.
• Imagine‌ a world where unconditional love was the ‌norm. Describe what it would look like.

As you embark on these writing prompts, embrace vulnerability and let your words flow effortlessly. Allow yourself to delve into the intricacies⁣ of emotions, painting vivid pictures with your words. Embrace the inherent power of storytelling as you ⁣craft narratives that celebrate the beauty of unconditional love. Join us on this ‌creative adventure, and let your writing be a testament to the enduring strength and beauty of this extraordinary force.

Q: What are writing prompts⁢ and how can they help ‌explore themes of love? A: Writing prompts are specific topics or ‍ideas that serve as a starting point for writing. They can help writers explore various aspects of love by providing a focus ⁣or direction for their creative process.

Q: Why is it beneficial to write about themes of affection? A: Exploring themes of⁤ affection through writing can deepen our understanding of love, relationships, and human emotions. It allows​ us to reflect on our own experiences and gain insights into the complexities of love.

Q: Can you give an example of a writing prompt about love? A: Certainly! Here’s an example: “Write‍ a story about two individuals from different backgrounds who unexpectedly fall in love. Explore the challenges they face​ due to societal norms and prejudices.”

Q: How ‌can writing about love enhance our writing skills? A: Writing about love​ can‌ help refine our⁣ ability to describe emotions, create compelling​ characters, and develop engaging storylines. It challenges us to ⁢use powerful and evocative language to convey the depth of human connections.

Q: Are there any writing prompts specifically designed for exploring self-love? A: Absolutely! ⁤Self-love is an important aspect of love that often gets overlooked. A writing⁣ prompt about self-love​ could be: “Write a letter to your future self describing the journey of learning to love and accept yourself completely.”

Q: Can beginners benefit from using‍ writing prompts about ⁢love? A: Yes, absolutely! Writing prompts ​about love provide a⁤ structured framework for beginners, helping them overcome any writer’s block or uncertainty. They encourage writers to explore new ideas and expand their creative horizons.

Q: Can writing prompts about love be helpful for experienced writers as well? A: Definitely!⁢ Even experienced writers find value‍ in writing prompts about love. They can help writers break away ⁢from⁢ their usual comfort zones and delve into different aspects of love, ⁣offering fresh perspectives and inspirations.

Q: Can these writing prompts be used for any form of creative writing? A: Absolutely! Writing prompts about love can be used for various forms‌ of creative writing, including short stories , poetry, essays, or⁢ even as a starting point for writing ​a novel centered ⁣around love themes.

Q: How can writers make the ‌most out ‌of using these writing prompts? A: To make the most of writing prompts about love, ⁣writers should approach them with an open⁢ mind and embrace the freedom to interpret and personalize the prompts according to their unique creative vision. They should use‍ these prompts ⁢as a starting point but feel ⁢free to explore and take the story as far as their imagination leads them.

Q: Where​ can writers find a variety of writing prompts⁢ about love? A: Writers can find numerous​ sources of writing prompts ⁣about love. Online platforms, writing blogs, or even creative writing classes ​often provide lists of writing prompts tailored to explore themes of love and affection.

In conclusion, writing prompts about love offer​ a valuable ⁣opportunity to delve into‍ the multifaceted aspects of affection, allowing writers to explore emotions, ​experiences, and relationships⁣ in a captivating and ‌meaningful way.⁤

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Writing that Sizzles: 15 Romantic Love Prompts to Steep Your Writing in Passion

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on November 2, 2022

Categories Writing , Inspiration

Do you feel like your writing is missing something? That it could be more passionate, more romantic? If so, then you need to try using love prompts! Love prompts are scenes or situations that can add romance and passion to your writing. This blog post will give you fifteen different love prompts to get you started. So fire up your imagination, and let’s get writing!

15 Romantic Scene Love Prompts

• A couple is having a picnic in a park when they suddenly spot a meteor shower. They lay down on the blanket and watch the sky, feeling closer to each other than ever.
• A couple is dancing in a ballroom. They move effortlessly across the floor, eyes locked on each other, lost in their little world.
• A couple is sharing a quiet moment on a rooftop overlooking the cityscape. The stars are out, and they feel like they’re the only two people in the world.
• A couple is watching the sunset from a beach. The colors are reflected in their eyes as they stare at each other, realizing that this moment will stay with them forever.
• A couple is hiking through a forest when they come across a waterfall. They stop and stare at the natural beauty before them, feeling thankful for what they have been able to share.
• A couple is sitting in a cafe, people-watching. They make up stories about the people passing by, laughing and joking with each other. They feel completely comfortable and at ease with each other.
• A couple is driving down a winding road, music blaring, windows down, and wind in their hair. They sing along to the songs, smiles on their faces, feeling alive and free.
• A couple is lying in bed together after making love. Their bodies are intertwined as they whisper words of love to each other, knowing that this connection is special and rare.
• A couple is sitting at a table, wine glasses in hand. They are laughing and joking, feeling more relaxed and happy than they have been in months.
• A couple is on a beach. The sand is warm and soft, and they lay next to each other on a blanket, staring at the ocean, feeling like the only two people in the world.
• A couple is watching the sunrise. The pink and orange hues are reflected in the sky and on their faces, making them feel like this moment could last forever.
• A couple is on a cruise around an island, breathing in the salty ocean air, feeling like they are in paradise together.
• A couple is watching a meteor shower together. As they gaze through the window, they wonder what it would be like to gaze into each other’s eyes instead.
• A couple is sitting on a park bench, talking about the future. They wonder what their perfect life would look like and what they would do together.
• A couple is on a beach in the middle of a tropical island. They are holding hands, feet in the sand. They feel like they have never been more in love, happier, or more content.

Writing the Perfect Romantic Scene

A lot of people think that writing a romantic scene is easy. They believe all you need to do is throw in some flowery language, and voila! But that’s not necessarily the case. Writing a truly effective romantic scene can be quite challenging.

The key to writing a successful romantic scene is to find the balance between being overly sappy and too blunt. You want your reader to feel the characters’ emotions without losing sight of the story as a whole. In other words, the romantic scene should further the plot, not overshadow it. With that in mind, here are a few tips for writing the perfect romantic scene.

Create Believable, Relatable Characters

Your readers won’t be able to invest in a romantic relationship if they don’t believe in the characters involved. So, it’s important to take the time to develop your characters and make them relatable. What are their motivations? What do they want out of life? Why would they be attracted to each other?

Answering these questions will help you create characters your readers can invest in and root for—which is essential for writing a successful romantic scene .

Don’t Forget About Body Language

Body language is an important nonverbal cue that can help set the tone for a romantic scene. Are your characters standing close to each other or keeping their distance? Are they making eye contact or looking away? Are they touching each other or keeping their hands to themselves?

Pay attention to these details as you’re writing, as they can give your readers important clues about how the characters feel and their relationship with each other.

Use Sensory Details Sparingly

Sensory details are always important in fiction writing, but it’s especially crucial when crafting a romantic scene. After all, one of the key components of romance is physical attraction, so you’ll want to include some describing physical details. However, it’s important not to overdo it—a few well-chosen details will be more effective than page after page of purple prose.

Choose Your Words Carefully

As with all types of writing, word choice is crucial when crafting a romantic scene. You’ll want to avoid using clichés, overdone phrases like “love at first sight” or “meant to be.” Instead, focus on creating original descriptions that capture the unique qualities of your characters’ relationships.

The Many Types of Love

We all know about the fairytale type of love. You know, the movies where the girl gets swept off her feet by the handsome prince, and they live happily ever after. But is that really what love is? In this blog post, we’ll explore the many different types of love to see if we can find which one is the “true” love.

The Greeks believed in 6 different types of love: Eros, Philia, Agape, Ludus, Pragma, and Philautia. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

• Eros is the type of love that is physical and passionate. It’s often what we think of when we think of “romantic love.” This type of love is usually short-lived because it’s based on looks and physical attraction.
• Philia is the type of love that is between friends. It’s a deep emotional bond built on trust and shared experiences. This type of love often lasts a lifetime because it’s not based on looks or anything superficial.
• Agape is the type of love that is selfless and altruistic. It’s driven by a desire to do good for others without expecting anything in return. This love can be seen in volunteers and people who donate their time and resources to help others.
• Ludus is the type of love that is playful and gamesome. It’s often found in young relationships or relationships that are still new and exciting. This type of love has an element of fun and excitement because everything is still new.
• Pragma is the type of love that is rational and practical. It’s often found in arranged marriages or couples who have been together for a long time. This type of love is based on mutual respect and a shared understanding.
• Philautia is the type of love that is self-love. It’s the love that we have for ourselves. This type of love is important because it’s the foundation for all other types of love. We can’t truly love others unless we love ourselves first.

The Many Types of Kisses and Their Meanings

A kiss is so much more than just a physical gesture. It is a moment of connection and intimacy between lovers or friends. There are many different types of kisses, each with its unique meaning. Here are some of the most common types of kisses and what they mean.

The forehead kiss is a gentle expression of love and affection. It is often used as a gesture of comfort, as it can convey a message of support without words. This type of kiss can also be platonic, such as when a parent kisses their child on the forehead.

The cheek kiss is another platonic gesture that can be used to show appreciation or gratitude. It is also commonly seen as a friendly greeting, such as when two friends who have not seen each other in a while sharing a cheek kiss upon meeting again. Cheek kisses can also be part of a romantic gesture, such as when a couple kisses goodnight after a date.

The hand kiss is a chivalrous gesture that was once popular among the nobility in Europe. To perform a hand kiss, the man would take the woman’s hand and bring it to his lips, gently kissing the back of her hand. While this gesture is not as common today, it is still seen occasionally as a sign of respect or admiration.

The neck kiss is an intimate gesture that often occurs during moments of passion. To perform a neck kiss, the kissed individual will tilt their head to the side to expose their neck while the other person gently kisses them on the neck. This type of kiss can be both sensual and erotic.

From Shakespeare to Spoken Word – How To Describe A Kiss

A kiss is just a kiss. But if you’re a writer, you know that the right words can turn a kiss into something magical.

The First Kiss

There’s nothing like a first kiss. The anticipation leading up to it, the nervousness, and the excitement all come together to create something truly special. And when it finally happens, it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced. That first kiss is always unforgettable, whether gentle and tentative or passionate and blazing. Here are some ways to describe it:

• “Our lips met, and I felt an electric charge jolt through my body.”
• “I was lost in the moment, consumed by the heat of her mouth on mine.”
• “Time seemed to stop as we kissed, our bodies molding together perfectly.”
• “I was lost in his kisses, swept away by the emotions they evoked.”

A Deep Connection

A great kiss isn’t just about physical attraction; it’s also about deep emotional connection. When you share a mind-blowing kiss with someone, it feels like you can see into their soul. You know them in a way you never have before, and suddenly all the barriers between you come tumbling. If that sounds like what you’re going for, here are some ways to describe it:

• “As we kissed, I felt like I was finally seeing her for who she was.”
• “Our lips were saying things that our words could never express.”
• “At that moment, I felt closer to him than I ever had.”
• “It was like we were speaking our private language, which only we could understand.”

The Perfect Balance

A good kiss is about finding the perfect balance between passion and gentleness, giving and taking. It’s a dance where both partners are completely in sync, moving together. If that sounds like the kind of kissing experience you’re aiming for, here are some ways to describe it:

“We kissed slowly at first, exploring each other cautiously with delicate pecks.” “But soon enough, the pace quickened as our need for each other grew.” “We were devouring each other now, our mouths hungrily seeking more.” “It was perfection; everything about it felt natural and effortless.”

Passion, Intimacy, and Commitment: How to Write About Love

Love. That universal feeling that brings us all together. It’s an emotion that can destroy us or uplift us. Make us feel safe or make us feel lonely. It can give us the highest highs and the lowest lows. Love can bring down empires and love can overcome evil to save the world. 

Wow. That’s a lot for one little four-letter word to handle. 

Thankfully, it’s up to the task. 

If you’re writing a novel, you’re going to be writing about love. I don’t care what kind of book it is, your characters are going to love something . Love often gets associated with romance, and of course, that’s one kind of love. 

But there are so many other types of love we experience. You can feel love for your friends, children, family, country, home, gods, pets, and more. 

So just because you’re not a romance author doesn’t mean you’re not writing about love. 

If you’re going to develop a character with strong goals and motivations, there’s a very good chance (an almost guaranteed chance) your protagonist is driven by their love of something. Heck, even your villains are going to be driven by love (if you created an awesome one, of course).

In this article, we’ll talk about:

• The triangular theory of love
• The Five Love Languages
• How to show love in your writing

The Triangular Theory of Love

So what is love, anyway? Let’s look at it from a more clinical point of view and explore the triangular theory of love. 

(Not to be confused with a love triangle in which one teenage girl must choose between two nearly identical teenage boys. I kid. I love a good love triangle. Wow, that was a lot of loves.)

Posited by Robert J. Sternberg, the triangular theory of love is defined as: 

Love can be understood in terms of three components that together can be viewed as forming the vertices of a triangle. These three components are intimacy, passion, and decision/commitment.

It’s important to note that you don’t need all three of these components for love to exist. But rather, the amount of each in any given relationship defines what the relationship is. 

Hmm. Okay. Let’s look at the three components a little closer. 

• Passion: This relates to sexual attraction, arousal, and the desire to act upon it. In a romantic relationship, this component will usually have a more dominant presence. 
• Intimacy: This is the feeling of bonding and closeness we feel in loving relationships. It’s what connects you to the other party or parties. 
• Decision/commitment: A decision is the short-term choice to engage in a loving relationship with another, while commitment is one’s desire to maintain that connection. Obviously, these don’t always exist together. One can choose to love someone or something without wanting to make a lifelong commitment. 

Coming out of these three components, we get eight different types of relationships. 

• Non love: This is a situation where none of the above factors are present. 
• Like : This is where you’ll only have the intimacy and decision portions present. This is the kind of relationship you might experience with a pet or a friend for whom you have no romantic feelings. 
• Infatuation: This is where you’ve got just passion and none of the other components.This is your one-night stand or when your character fulfills their immediate desires. 
• Empty or unrequited love: This is where one party is all-in on the decision and commitment portions, but the intimacy and passion aren’t reciprocated. 
• Romantic: This is where you have the passion and intimacy, but not the commitment just yet. Think the early chapters of a romance novel where things are moving, but the declaration of love hasn’t happened. 
• Compassion: In this situation, you have intimacy and commitment. Relationships with your child or a long-life friend would fall into this category. 
• Fatuous: This results in a combination of passion and commitment, but lacks intimacy. This would be a good example of where the love of your country might fall–in this case, the passion would be more about laying down your life or championing a cause, instead of the more literal definition, but those feelings aren’t really reciprocated.. 
• Consummate or complete: When you have all three components existing in balance. This is often the kind of love you have with your spouse or life partner. 

How to Write About Love

Okay, so now that you understand the types of love you can include in your books, let’s talk about how you write them. To do that, let’s look at the five love languages. 

• Words of affirmation: People who prefer this love language like to hear the words “I love you.” They want to be told, regularly and often, how you feel about them. They like compliments, words of appreciation, encouragement, and reminders of how awesome you think they are. This can be verbal or written, including texts and emails. Hearing these words makes your loved one feel understood and appreciated. 
• Quality time: People who like this language feel loved when you want to spend as much time with them as possible. They crave active listening, eye contact, and your undivided attention. This includes having long and meaningful conversations and doing things together. 
• Acts of service: If someone likes this love language, they think actions speak louder than words. Instead of hearing about how much you love them, they want proof through acts that make their life better or easier. Examples include bringing you medicine or soup when you’re not feeling well or doing a chore that takes something off your plate. This makes them feel cherished and appreciated. 
• Gifts: This one is pretty clear, I think. People who value this language want to be cherished through the act of gift giving. And it’s not about the monetary amount, but rather the thought behind it. To buy the perfect gift requires intimate knowledge and a thoughtful process that shows your loved one that you understand their values and needs. 
• Physical touch: And finally, those who fall into this category want to experience physical signs of affection. In nonromantic relationships, that might mean hugging or cuddling. In romantic relationships, it might also mean kissing or sex. This serves as the basis for an emotional connection for your loved one, who appreciates the warmth and love that touch signifies. 

So why does this matter to your story? You might not know the specific love language of your characters (though there is a test you can do if you’re curious), but I point these out to help you start thinking about how to “show” love between your characters. 

You’ve probably heard the rule about “showing versus telling” in your writing, and there might be no better place to use those showing skills than when you’re writing about love. Don’t just tell us that your love interest is desperately in love with your main character. Show us using any of the love languages above, or a combination of them. You can even use these to create conflict. 

If character A is all about acts of service but character B keeps buying her flowers to show her he cares, that could lead to her feeling like he doesn’t appreciate her because he’s not speaking the right language. 

Maybe he craves physical touch, and she’s constantly signing them up for classes at the local community center, when all he wants to do is watch a movie and cuddle. 

You see how this works? 

More Ways to Show Love

So now that you’re hopefully thinking about how you can show love between your characters, let’s look at a few more suggestions when it comes to your writing. Below, you’ll find some more specific examples of actions and gestures that can help you demonstrate that loving feeling without coming right out and saying it. 

Admiration: a feeling of warmth, approval, and appreciation.

• A genuine smile
• Nodding while grinning
• Relaxed posture
• Leanings towards the person they admire
• Open body language
• Adjusting clothing or hair to make a good impression
• Listening intently
• Offering praise
• Gentle touch on the back or shoulder
• Squeezing their hand at the end of a handshake

Adoration: an act of worship or one viewed as divine.

• Parting of the lips
• A soft expression
• A hand laid over their heart
• Fluttering eyelids
• Pressing palms lightly to cheek or forehead
• Flushed skin
• Stroking either themselves or the other person
• Leaning forward
• Touching one’s mouth or face
• Sighing in appreciation 

Desire: a yearning to start or strengthen a relationship with other people.

• Intense eye contact
• Trembling or shivering
• Lowering one’s voice
• Eyes softening or shifting
• Holding in a breath
• Moving closer or touching the person
• Lips parting
• Tongue licking the lips
• Slow smiles that build
• Hands or body becoming hot or flushed

Longing: urgently wanting something or someone yet to be obtained.

• Closing the eyes
• Taking long, deep breaths
• Wistful smile
• Daydreaming
• Absently toying with a necklace or bracelet
• Rubbing a hand over the heart
• Brightening of facial features in presence of loved one
• An inward gaze
• Staring or gazing into the distance
• Speaking in a soft voice

Love: deep affection, attachment and devotion for someone.

• Moving to get closer
• Smiling at them or at nothing
• Beaming expression
• Bright eyes and glowing cheeks
• Parting of lips
• Silly grin wide grin
• Laughing and talking a lot
• Touching them constantly
• Sitting close enough to touch
• Using pet names or terms of endearment
• Strong eye contact

Lust: intense sexual desire or craving.

• Deep and extended eye contact
• Arching the back
• Licking the lips
• Exposing one’s neck
• A suggestive gaze
• Touching the collar or edge of one’s cleavage
• One’s gaze drawn to the lips
• Tilting one’s head
• Pulling closer

Love is a powerful emotion that drives us all, and it absolutely drives your characters. A story without some kind of love (even if it’s entirely self-serving), is like a story without words. And writing about love doesn’t have to be hard. After all, we all love something . 

For more about writing and how to create your best book, download our handy e-book that is packed full of tips and tricks to guide you through writing a novel. 

While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out Dabble, where you can keep track of all your characters and who is in love with whom. Try it for free for 14 days . No credit card required! 

Nisha J Tuli is a YA and adult fantasy and romance author who specializes in glitter-strewn settings and angst-filled kissing scenes. Give her a feisty heroine, a windswept castle, and a dash of true love and she’ll be lost in the pages forever. When Nisha isn’t writing, it’s probably because one of her two kids needs something (but she loves them anyway). After they’re finally asleep, she can be found curled up with her Kobo or knitting sweaters and scarves, perfect for surviving a Canadian winter.

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How to Write a Great (and Not Schmaltzy) Love Scene

Today’s guest post is by editor Jessi Rita Hoffman  ( @JRHwords ).

One of the hardest scenes to successfully write is the love scene. In your mind you may picture a moving, romantic interlude, but down on paper, you find it reads like melodrama—or worse. This can spell disaster for your novel, particularly if the entire book is building to this scene and it needs to be stupendous to carry the story.

In my work as a book editor and writing coach, I see a lot of limping love scenes. Some of the problems are those of amateur fiction writing in general: too many clutter words , repetition of details, and inconsistent spatial narration (one minute he’s holding her hand and the next minute he takes her hand, for example).

Clichés are another problem, and they really stand out in a love scene. Lines like “kisses away the tears, tasting their salt,” or “she was surprised by the sweetness of his kiss,” or “I think about you day and night” can spoil a tender moment with their staleness.

Chauvinism is another common problem—along with what I call “slutification.” Lines like “there was still so much about her that was pure and innocent” may offend women readers, as will oversexed descriptions of the heroine.

But the greatest flaw I commonly see in love scenes written by aspiring novelists is the flaw of excess. For a love scene to move readers, it must embody the principle of restraint—in dialogue, in description, and in the characters’ actions.

A Lesson from the Victorians

Ever wonder why Victorian novels are so popular? We live in an age of hook-ups and friends with benefits, where romance and sex are about as complicated as kicking off your shoes. The Victorians, by contrast, lived in an age of restraint, where considerable flirtation, intrigue, wooing, and resistance were part of the mating ritual. There was tension and intensity in old-fashioned courtship, and that is the stuff of which great fiction is made.

Your writing teacher called that tension “conflict.” Interesting fiction is built on conflict. Unless a scene has tension, it dies on the vine. It puts us to sleep. But a scene that has two forces pulling in opposite directions mesmerizes us. We don’t know what’s going to happen, or who is going to win. The tension is taut like a fisherman’s line with a forty-pounder tugging on the end. In a love scene, this translates to tension between boy and girl, between felt love and forbidden or impossible expression, between what the characters want and what they can have. Restraint and tension are the name of the game. Make it too easy for your characters, and your love scene will hold as much power as a deflated balloon.

One of the best examples I know of the power of restraint in a love story is Emma Thompson’s film version of Jane Austin’s classic Sense and Sensibility . Eleanor and Edward are so determined to do the right thing in spite of the cost to themselves personally, that every time they meet, their words are charged with subtext and power. The greatest power is in what they don’t say, in what they hold back. In the end, when Edward is free to speak of his love, Eleanor bursts into uncontrollable sobs at his declaration. It is one of the most moving moments in cinematic history—not because of what gets said, but because of all the feelings that did not get said, that the characters and the audience carry within them and feel building throughout the narrative. When I first saw that scene in a theater, I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from breaking into a sob myself. There is nothing casual about Victorian or Edwardian love, nothing easy or taken for granted. And it is that intensity, built by restraint, that makes for a powerful love story—and the powerful scenes that chain together to create it.

The Secrets of Writing with Romantic Restraint

So how do you write a love story or love scene that incorporates the secrets of restraint that Victorian authors used, while writing about people in modern times? Here’s the advice I give my clients.

Establish believable reasons for your characters to fall in love

Many amateur love stories fail because the author expects us to automatically understand why two individuals care about each other. Of course we know sexual attraction is part of it, but for a relationship to move us, you need to establish believable reasons for the pull the characters feel—something more timeless and tender than mere animal instinct. Think this through before you begin writing. The reason for their feelings must be credible and clear. If they aren’t, you build a weak foundation for the love story, and readers will have a “so what?” attitude toward the romance, instead of the gripping involvement you aim for. Think about your favorite love stories. What makes the two people start to care? What restraint must they practice, what problems must they overcome, on the journey to true love?

Give the characters something other than themselves to talk about together

One way to avoid the pitfall of writing schmaltzy dialogue is to give your lovers something important to discuss—a problem unrelated to their relationship that they must solve. In Sense and Sensibility , this happens when Edward is disenfranchised by his mother. Eleanor is asked by a benefactor to give Edward information that will help, so the two—who were avoiding each other—are forced to talk. The encounter is charged with unforgettable emotion and romantic tension.

Limit the dialogue—the power is in what they DON’T say

In real life, people rarely say exactly what they feel, particularly when they feel vulnerable. They may mask emotions, speak insincerely, or skirt around what they mean and come at it sideways. Your story should reflect this human behavior. In love scenes, there should be plenty of hide-and-seek. In the climax scene, the lovers’ true feelings will emerge, but even then the power is more in what they hold back than in what they say. Life’s deepest feelings can never fully be put into words. Attempting to spell it all out cheapens the sacredness—the profundity—of the emotion. The principle “less is more” applies in love-scene writing perhaps more than anywhere else. Apply restraint in what your lovers say, or risk writing maudlin dialogue.

Don’t overstate the description

Often new authors are so determined to communicate passion in their love scene that they pad it with overdone description, usually in the form of too many adjectives and adverbs. Rather than “a slight tremor of nervousness in his voice,” just say “a tremor in his voice.” Instead of “looking into his honest, deep-blue eyes that were brimming with unspoken, immortal love,” just write “looking into his honest, blue eyes, full of unspoken love.” Overdo the description and you lose the restraint: the writing starts to sound sappy. Not only must your characters demonstrate restraint in their dialogue with each other, but you, as narrator, must be restrained in your descriptions. Let the significance of the scene be borne by what we know of the characters, their situation, and their past, rather than by overuse of descriptors. Just as in real life too many words spoil the most important moments, so it is in fiction.

The best love scenes often incorporate an element of the cosmic, extending the character’s personal experience to a sense of connectedness with the universe. In life’s most exalted moments, people often report feeling oneness with something greater than themselves, or with all creation. Think about incorporating that sort of cosmic awareness into what your point-of-view character feels.

Examples of “getting cosmic”: “She felt as if they had kissed here long ago, beside this brook,” … “He felt the kiss expanded beyond their bodies, whirling them round, swirling them into the stars.”

Delay the kiss

Romance happens in the space between attraction and fulfillment. The longer you spread out that space, the more romantic your scene or your story becomes. Just as in real life, sex disappoints without a sufficient prelude, a love scene disappoints if it slams the characters together without enough romance leading to their union. Give your characters a believable reason to fall in love, and slowly build to that long-awaited kiss. Delay the fulfillment to deepen it.

Poet John Keats wrote a famous poem about a Grecian urn that depicted two lovers in the moment before their kiss. Their bliss would never be achieved, he said, but their love would exist through the ages, their longing preserved forever in that piece of art. That is the spirit of romance. Delay the sex. Delay the kiss.

If you’ve written a love scene you know doesn’t work, go back and review it with these points in mind. Experiment to see how it reads when you apply them. If you like the results, incorporate them into your story.

And one last tip: think about novels you’ve read that have memorable love scenes. Reread those passages. Do you find these principles expressed there? What else do you notice the author doing that makes those scenes a success? Take note and apply what you find in your own writing, and you’ll be on your way to creating fictional love relationships that move your readers to the core.

Jessi Rita Hoffman is a developmental book editor (content editor) who specializes in helping first-time authors. She can be reached through her website at www.JessiRitaHoffman.com or found on Twitter .

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[…] For a love scene to move readers, it must embody the principle of restraint—in dialogue, in description, and in the characters’ actions.  […]

Good tips here. I like your points about restraint and tension. The Victorians are a perfect example! Nice post.

Thanks, Jennifer! You’ll find more of my suggestions for novel writing on my blog for authors at http://www.JessiRitaHoffman.com .

Thank you so much for this post. Yours is the voice of my heart on the subject of restraint in love stories. I know the most satisfying reads I’ve had have employed these rules. Thanks for your guidance!

Fiction scenes in general are often flawed because too much is there, not because something’s missing. I’m glad you liked the post, Ideliah.

YES. I’ve thought about this very subject a LOT and you’ve utterly and completely hit the nail on the head. 🙂 Thank you so much for distilling it all down so perfectly! “Reticence” is a word I like using a lot, too, when discussing the subject. One of my favorite classic stories — both book and film (particularly the ’04 film in this sense) — is Elizabeth Gaskell’s ‘North and South’; another very pertinent example of the technique.

Thanks again so much and definitely bookmarking this!

Thanks, Heidi!

Heidi, there’s also a TV series called “North and South,” starring Patrick Swayze. The film and book you mention by that title are set in Victorian England. The TV series, by the same name, is set in the U.S. during the Civil War era. It also is quite a love story.

Jessi — thank you! I have a friend that really loves the Patrick Swayze TV series, so I’ve heard of it, but haven’t yet seen any of it… And yes, I absolutely love the ’04 North and South (based on Gaskell’s Victorian novel) starring Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe, but speaking of multiple adaptations, there’s actually a 1975 BBC mini-series, too (starring Patrick Stewart and Rosalind Shanks), which I also really enjoy. It takes a little longer to get into, but by the end it’s amazing…

Great article and information. Thanks for sharing.

[…] Write a great love scene […]

[…] somewhere that a sex scene has to be like any other: it must advance the story. Also, according to this great article, by Jessi Rita Hoffman, it’s really more about what you don’t say. And the buildup […]

Any examples of “getting cosmic” from published sources?

JDW, I’m happy to oblige. Here are some stunning examples of “getting cosmic” from famous literature:

From “Wuthering Heights”: “My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I’m well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Healthcliff! He’s always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.”

From “Dr. Zhivago”: “You and I, it’s as though we have been taught to kiss in heaven and sent down to earth together, to see if we know what we were taught.”

From “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”: “Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, roots itself deeply in our being and continues to flourish over a heart in ruin.”

From “Romeo and Juliet”: “Come, gentle night; come, loving, black-browed night; give me my Romeo; and, when I shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night.”

And at the end of “Winnie the Pooh,” when the “bromance” ends between the little boy and his toy bear because the boy is too grown up to care for stuffed toys anymore, there’s this passage (an example not only of “getting cosmic” but of the power of the words a character DOESN’T say):

Then, suddenly again, Christopher Robin, who was still looking at the world, with his chin in his hand, called out “Pooh!” “Yes?” said Pooh. “When I’m–when–Pooh!” “Yes, Christopher Robin?” “I’m not going to do Nothing any more.” “Never again?” “Well, not so much. They don’t let you.” Pooh waited for him to go on, but he was silent again. “Yes, Christopher Robin?” said Pooh helpfully. “Pooh, when I’m–you know–when I’m not doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?” “Just me?” “Yes, Pooh.” “Will you be here too?” “Yes Pooh, I will be really. I promise I will be Pooh.” “That’s good,” said Pooh. “Pooh, promise you won’t forget about me, ever. Not even when I’m a hundred.” Pooh thought for a little. “How old shall I be then?” “Ninety-nine.” Pooh nodded. “I promise,” he said. Still with his eyes on the world Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt Pooh’s paw. “Pooh,” said Christopher Robin earnestly, “if I–if I’m not quite–” he stopped and tried again– “Pooh, whatever happens, you will understand, won’t you?” “Understand what?” “Oh, nothing.” He laughed and jumped to his feet. “Come on!” “Where?” said Pooh. “Anywhere.” said Christopher Robin. So, they went off together. But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.

And here’s one of my favorite examples of cosmic love, these heartbreaking lines by the nineteenth century poet William Butler Yeats:

When you are old and grey and full of sleep, And nodding by the fire, take down this book, And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true, But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars, Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled And paced upon the mountains overhead And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

That’s awesome. Thank you, Jessi. And that’s an excellent article.

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108 Romance Writing Prompts & Love Story Ideas

Everybody loves a good love story – here are 108 romantic writing prompts and love story ideas to inspire you!

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Everybody loves a good love story, and with these romance writing prompts for romantic fiction, you are sure to find some inspiration to write a story for the ages.

These romantic writing prompts are free for you to take and let your imagination run wild. Use them as novel ideas, short stories, screenplays, or just try them as creative writing exercises to stretch your imagination.

Romantic Fiction Writing Prompts and Story Starters

Please note : We use the pronouns “she and he” in some of these examples, but of course you have the freedom to reverse and change genders as you see fit!

1. Their story begins on a bright summer morning when they both awake in bed together with no memory of who they are or where they came from.

2. She is determined to go on an epic road trip this summer. When her best friend bails out at the last minute, she talks one of her co-workers into joining her as a reluctant sidekick for the adventure of a lifetime. 

3. Write a story where one character finds the other character in their tent while camping alone.

4. Our heroine catches the hero stealing food from the restaurant where she works. Is he a bad guy or is there more to this story? What happens when she realizes she is falling for him?

5. A mysterious stranger leaves an item at the main character’s front door with a note attached saying “For a rainy day”.

6. Our hero is a jet-setter whose father has died and just left all of his possessions to someone else. He’s about to demand the rights to his inheritance when he realizes maybe he likes this person.

7. Write a romance story about an undercover cop investigating a person for a crime they didn’t commit. As the cop learns more about them, they realize they are innocent and they might be falling in love.

8. The heroine’s father warns her that she’ll be in terrible danger if she accepts the hero’s marriage proposal.

9. Our two characters are shipwrecked after an unexpected storm. They find themselves on an island where they are forced to spend their first night together under the stars.

10. An impromptu dance competition is announced at the bar where two characters are enjoying an evening of drinks. Do they have what it takes to win the contest and at love?

11. The hero is the brother of the person our heroine has had a crush on for years – who is also her best friend.

12. Write a love story where two single parents drop their kids off at the same daycare every morning. When they run into each other, will they be ready to give love a second chance?

13. She has a secret thinking spot on the roof of a nearby building. When she goes there after learning she lost her job, she discovers someone sitting there.

14. Our characters are both recovering addicts. They both have had problems with alcohol and drugs – will they be able to stay clean long enough for true love to find them?

15. Our characters are on vacation in the countryside of a foreign country when they accidentally crash their cars into each other, resulting in them being sent to the same hospital where they share a room for a week.

16. Our hero and heroine meet in line at the grocery store almost every week. After constantly running into each other, he finally asks her out.

17. The heroine’s wedding is cancelled the day before she was supposed to walk down the aisle. She isn’t sure how to pick up the pieces so goes to the beach to sort herself out, where she finds herself falling for someone new.

18. The might be lawyers on opposite sides of many cases, but they can’t deny that there is something between them…

19. The two of them are in a band together, hoping to get their music heard by the world. They start falling for each other, but will it rip the band apart?

20. Our main characters are both struggling to find their places in the world – one feels like their parents never supported their dreams, and the other left their hometown behind without any plans to return. Together, they learn what it’s like to be true to themselves for the first time.

21. They’ve lived together in the same apartment building for years and have a somewhat passive aggressive relationship with each other. It sparks into something more when he asks her to try his new hot sauce recipe.

22. Our two characters find themselves thrown together and in love after they meet while on vacation in a tropical paradise – only to discover that they live in different countries on separate continents. Can they make it work?

23. He likes her… she likes him… but he’s a total ladies’ man. Can she ever get over this fear and see him as more than a player?

24. They are both running from something in the woods and help each other to escape and survive a dangerous situation. What are they running from and could it make them fall in love?

25. She thinks she’s found the perfect guy – until she discovers he has a secret identity. Will he tell her on his own or will she call him out for it?

26. After a mix-up with their reservations, the characters find they both booked the same rental for the week. Rather than forfeit the deposit and ruin their plans, they decide it to share the space together. Will temporarily living together spark romance or will it be a disaster?

27. The story begins with our heroine rescuing the hero from a life-threatening situation. After they meet, sparks begin to fly. What we don’t realize until much later is she’s the one who caused the accident in the first place.

28. The protagonist is a famous chef who is loved by everyone in the neighborhood – except the frustrating food critic who keeps writing terrible things about their cooking. Can the chef woo them over?

29. Our characters meet when both of their cars break down in the middle of nowhere, and they need to wait together until their cars are repaired.

30. The two of them are sharing the back seat of a limousine after a logistics mix-up at their job when things take a turn for the passionate…

31. They have been friends since they were kids vacationing together every summer – but now it’s getting serious. They might not be just friends anymore…

32. The heroine has been hired by the hero’s start-up company to test his new product for attracting love. However, the product is so effective that she finds herself falling for him!

33. He is a famous actor and she is a waitress at a restaurant he frequents – but they both know that he’s tired of the glitz and glamour and wants to settle down. Can she show him that romance is real?

34. One of them is a real estate agent and the other is a home buyer looking for the perfect house, but they end up finding so much more than either of them expected…

35. They go out on a blind date with the hopes of finding love. But what if one of them ends up being the other’s boss and part owner of the company?

36. They had a casual romance in high school, but they both went their separate ways and have both changed a lot. When fate has them meet again, will it spark the magic from their old relationship?

37. They’ve both reached fame in their careers – but when the cameras are on at all times, how can they be honest with each other and their feelings?

38. Frustrated with life on earth, our hero and heroine volunteer to go live on the space station as part of an experiment for two years. They might have escaped all their problems on earth, but can they actually make a relationship work?

39. The two main characters work together at a local animal shelter and they both have secrets to hide about themselves and their lives. When their paths cross on a daily basis, can they resist the pull to tell each other everything?

40. The story begins with two high school sweethearts who are reunited years later only to discover that they are both unhappily married to someone else. Is it too late or will their love prove to be stronger?

41. He’s a famous musician with all kinds of problem. His life is falling apart and now he starting to fall for the person who tends the gardens at his mansion.

42. They’re both on the run from the law. When they cross paths to form an unlikely bond, can they both get out of their current situations to make it work?

43. He wants his lost love back, but how can he convince her he’s changed?

44. The two of them are on a business trip in a foreign country when there is unrest in the streets – can they make it out alive?

45. A famous actor and a famous actress are both staying at the same hotel during the filming of a romantic movie. Could the sparks be more than just what’s in the script?

46. She has had a crush on him for years, but he never notices her. Will he finally realize that true love is right under his nose?

47. Our main character is always setting up their friends on dates and playing matchmaker – what happens when someone tries to match them with someone new?

48. One of them is a soldier, the other an army nurse. They meet on a helicopter ride after being evacuated from a dangerous situation.

49. They broke up years ago but then run into each other after not talking to each other anymore. When they stop and actually listen to what the other person has to say, do they realize that maybe they never really stopped loving one another?

50. Our main character’s dog is missing – but will they find love in an unexpected place instead?

51. Write a love story where one person is a tech mogul and the other person thinks technology is evil. When they start to fall for each other, will technology get in the way?

52. They are both running for mayor in their small town. Only one person can win the election – but can they both win in love?

53. Write a romance story where one character believes that love isn’t for them, so the other person must prove them wrong by showing them how wonderful love can be.

54. Two people meet after finding out they’ve both been dumped. As they try to plot their revenge on their exes, they discover maybe they have feelings for one another.

55. Our main character’s father is determined to find them a match and has arranged for them to have a new date everyday. Will they ever meet the one?

56. When two people who have never met before get into an argument, they end up trapped in the same room together for hours on end. Will this argument push them together or tear them apart?

57. Our main character finds themselves having vivid dreams that feel real about someone from their past. Use this romantic writing prompt to write a love story that transcends the test of time.

58. They are both avid readers who frequently go to the library but one of them believes they can read people’s future through their books. When they finally meet will they be able to read the other’s mind?

59. Our main character is an adrenaline junkie living life on the edge. When they meet someone who wants to tame them, will they be able to gain some balance in their life?

60. She lives in a world where men are forbidden. When she finally meets one face to face, will she be able to resist her feelings or fall into temptation?

61. Write a story where the main character is the president’s daughter. Can she have a relationship with the son of a political rival?

62. Two discover that both their horoscopes describe what their ideal mate would be like and how they will meet – and it’s each other!

63. One of them is a hard working chef and the other is a photographer who wants to take pictures in the kitchen. When they meet, they find that they have more in common than just their love of food.

64. When our main character gets a new puppy, it turns out to be more than they bargained for. After the dog tears up their neighbor’s flower bed it might just turn into romance.

65. She’s an actress and he’s a cop on location providing security for the movie – but what happens when reality mixes with fiction?

66. Two lovers forced apart by war are reunited only to discover that one of them has been injured physically and the other mentally. Can they get past their scars and move forward?

67. Two people who have gone through terrible things in life meet in a support group and learn how to live again together.

68. The Civil War has just broken out – but one of them is from the north and the other is from the south. Will the war tear them apart or bring them closer together?

69. In a post-apocalyptic world, our two characters are both on the run. When their lives cross paths, they decide teaming up could benefit them both – but does their alliance turn into something more?

70. After accidentally sending an email to a stranger, they become online pen pals. When they meet for the first time in real life, will it be love at first sight or disaster?

71. Their tempers have both gotten them in trouble in the past. When they meet at an anger management class, will they finally learn to control their anger and let love in or will it all blow up?

72. Two con artists meet and decide to team up. They have great chemistry but will they ever be able to fully trust each other?

73. After a tornado devastates a small town, our two characters are drawn together by their grief. Can they rebuild a new future together?

74. When two detective partners need to catch the bad guy, they go undercover as a married couple. Could it be more than just a ruse?

75. Write a romantic love story where two friends start having dreams about each other. Will will these dreams be prophetic or turn into a real life nightmare?

76. When our hero finds himself trapped in another dimension, he takes refuge in an abandoned warehouse only to discover that there is another guest who also happens to be beautiful.

77. The two are travelers who both stop at a diner at the same time. When they are served something otherworldly, they suddenly find themselves with the ability to see ghosts – and each other’s pasts.

78. After finding a wallet in the parking lot, the main character is determined to find out who it belongs to and return it. After a long goose chase of research, they finds themselves falling in love with them. When they finally meet, is the person everything they imagined?

79. A group of people are forced to live in a small bunker together when nuclear war breaks out. Can they find love with each other or will they all turn on each other?

80. Our main character starts seeing a vivid symbol in mysterious places. They try to brush it off as nothing until meeting a stranger who has a tattoo of the symbol. Could it be fate?

81. During their first date, two people receive terrible news. Can they still find happiness together despite all of their problems?

82. After being ditched by their friends at the prom, two loners meet and decide to spend an exciting evening together.

83. While skeptical of psychics, our protagonist is also desperate to find love. After being told of a terrible misfortune about to happen, will it turn out it makes them meet the one?

84. Two people from different social classes find themselves attracted to one another. Can they make it work or will it be torn apart by their differing backgrounds?

85. Two long-time friends find themselves thrown together by a terrible accident. Can they be there for each other or will their differences tear them apart?

86. A young couple find themselves responsible for protecting a powerful and ancient weapon. Will they be able to keep it together and stop the evil that is trying to destroy it?

87. A woman confronts her ex-boyfriend at the wedding of a mutual friend – and their hate for each other is unleashed. Can they make up or are they determined to destroy each other?

88. Our hero meets a woman who teaches him about true love and everything he’s ever dreamed of finding in a relationship. Before they can be together, however, she disappears – only to return mysteriously years later.

89. Burned out by the dating scene, two people decide it’s best to sign up for a service that sets up arranged marriages. Will they be able to make it work?

90. They might both be rich and beautiful, but they always feel like the people they date only care about their looks and money. One decides to pretend to be poor while the other wears a disguise. Have they finally met someone who loves them with no regard to money or looks or will the truth be too much to handle?

91. They just met and really hit it off but one of them has to leave for a work project overseas for the next 5 years. Can they make a long distance relationship work?

92. Two people who hate each other become stuck on the same ocean liner together and must work together to survive a violent storm.

93. He might only be 28 and has a successful career, but he’s starting to go bald. Is it too late for him to find a partner?

94. As journalists for their school’s newspaper, they are always on assignment together. Could an innocent stop for breakfast one morning turn their casual relationship into something more?

95. The older couple in a photograph she discovers looks familiar – but she doesn’t know who they are. One of the people looks a little like her, only older. Could it be a view of the future to come?

96. Two people who have known each other since childhood must fight to survive against an army of zombies that are trying to turn them into meals. Can they make it out alive or will their pasts consume them?

97. She is out of work and lives in a trailer park with her sister. She decides she will marry someone rich and sets off to win over the heart of the local millionaire. Will she learn there’s more to love than just money?

98. They have been growing apart for years – but when they each meet someone new, they realize that maybe it’s time to stop running and face the past head on.

99. When you are born, you are assigned three potential love matches. You meet them all on the same day at the same time on your 21st birthday and must choose one by the end of the night to spend the rest of your life with.

100. They are both from different cultures, but when they meet each other for the first time, they are instantly drawn to each other. Can their love survive all the forces that want to tear them apart?

101. She is kidnapped and sold into slavery, but he will do anything to find her.

102. When he ends up in prison, will she find a way to help him or will his past always be too strong for her to overcome?

103. The two of them have been best friends since they were kids, but when they go into business together, their love for each other may become more than it was before.

104. Write a romantic love story that is inspired by whatever you ate for lunch yesterday.

105. A man travels back in time to find his true love and change the way things ended.

106. She has been sent on a mission by the king to find and return the prince before something terrible happens to him.

107. He is one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy – but when he meets someone who can be considered his greatest catch yet he realizes he is in love with them.

108. Two leaders of planets on the way to extinction decide to join forces and create a new species of people to continue their worlds. Will their attempts to play matchmaker and procreate work?

I hope these romantic writing prompts and love story ideas inspire you to write something great. If you do happen to write a story with these prompts, you know we would love to check it out so please let us know about it in the comments below!

Looking for even more great story ideas and writing prompts? Check out these other resources at ThinkWritten!

• 365 Creative Writing Prompts for Everyday
• 42 Fantasy Writing Prompts
• 101 Poetry Writing Prompts

Do you have any other romantic love story ideas to add to this list? Share your own romantic writing prompts in the comments below!

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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How to Write a Love Story: The Definitive Guide to the Most Popular Type of Story

by Joe Bunting | 0 comments

Love stories appear everywhere in the films we watch, books we read, and shows we binge.

Sometimes these love stories are the center of the plot, like in Pride and Prejudice or The Notebook, popular examples of romance novels and film. Sometimes they're a subplot, like in The Hunger Games or  Ready Player One.  Other times they're hidden, looking more like a journey of friendship than a traditional romance, like in  The Shawshank Redemption  or  Good Will Hunting  or even  The Blind Side .

Love stories make up a popular genre in and of themselves, the romance genre, but they also are at the heart of many of the most well-regarded stories in history, including Homer's  Iliad , Ernest Hemingway's  The Sun Also Rises , and also more recent, prize winning novels like  All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer and  Less  by Andrew Sean Greer.

Which is all to say, if you want to write novels or screenplays, you probably need to know how to write a love story.

In this guide, we're going to explore love stories of all kinds, from the ones that end “happily ever after” to tragic love stories and even stories that don't look like love stories but actually are. We'll talk about the elements of love stories, their structure and arcs, the best love story examples to study, and finally how to actually write one of your own.

Here's a table of contents for this guide:

Table of Contents

Love Story Definition Elements of Love Stories 1. The Value Scale of Love Stories 2. High Stakes 3. Love Story Character Archetypes 4. Obstacles 5. Tropes Love Story Masterworks to Study How to Write a Love Story: 7 Steps

But first, what  is  a love story, really?

What Is a Love Story: Love Story Definition

A love story is a narrative centered around the progression of two characters' relationship as they deal with internal and external obstacles to be together. Love stories explore the value of belonging and love, usually romantic love, and deal with the emotional and interpersonal forces of attraction, connection, desire, trust, vulnerability, betrayal, and commitment.

That being said, not  all  love stories are about romantic love. Some involve friendship, community, and belonging, and we will explore these types of stories as well.

So there you go. That's  what  a love story is, now let's talk about their different components.

Elements of Love Stories

There are nine types of stories, and each type has its own unique elements, structure, and conventions that readers expect . Love story is no different.

If you want to write love story, it's important to understand the expected elements, even if you choose to circumvent them. While story types are extremely flexible, allowing infinite variations within the established forms, there are almost always a few of the following things in  every  successful story within this type.

Let's look at the elements and conventions of love stories:

1. Core Value Scale: Love/Belonging vs. Hate/Isolation

Maslow's hierarchy of needs places love and belonging on the third level of universal human values.

To have your needs met, to be truly fulfilled, humans must have a sense of belonging, of tribe, family, and connection with each other. Belonging has a deep link to feelings of safety, since being part of a tribe meant protection and shared resources to our early ancestors (not to mention any characters stuck in a dystopian plot!).

But historically, humans have also believed that we can't be fully ourselves, to reach our true potential, until we find not just our group but our  partner , usually a romantic partner.

In fact, the way that storytellers have usually shown belonging within a group or society as a whole is through the relationship between two people, in the form of romantic love.

Mixed in with this human need and value of belonging are the forces of desire and sexual attraction, which is what makes this story type, and often storytelling itself, so vibrant, complicated, and exciting!

Of course, many great stories don't  involve romantic relationships: think Frodo and Sam in The Lord of the Rings or the relationship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione in Harry Potter or the caring love between Jean Valjean and first Fantine and then her daughter Cosette. These are all still powerful love stories, that follow the love story plot type, while also not being romantic.

Love story truly is one of most powerful and flexible plot types.

Love story value scale: love vs. hate

Sub values: attraction/desire vs. repulsion, trust/commitment/vulnerability vs. betrayal

2. High Stakes

All stories must have stakes, things at risk if things don't go well in the story.

For a romance story, the stakes usually center around isolation and loneliness, as well as losing their soul mate, the loss of future happiness, and potentially even ruining their lives.

For historical romance stories about women, there was also a real physical threat, since the loss of a prospective partner could mean financial destitution, ruin, and the lack of physical safety.

Whatever the stakes are for your story, they must be significantly high enough and the consequences must be clearly shown if the character doesn't  achieve them.

3. The Character Archetypes of Love Stories

All stories are about characters, and in love stories, there are certain types of characters who have appeared so many times over so many years, even centuries, that they've become character archetypes, patterns for characters that are near universal in storytelling.

You  should  have one character (and sometimes more) for each of these categories (i.e. protagonist, love interest, rival, and sidekick), but you certainly don't need to use these or  any archetypes. Hopefully, though, they will help inspire a character of your own and clue you into the common patterns and structures in love stories.

Below are some of the common character archetypes specific to love stories.

Protagonist Archetypes

First is the protagonist, the character the story is about. This character appears in every  story, not just love stories. While I usually only recommend having one protagonist, because it drastically increases the complexity and difficulty of the writing process, love stories are the only type that I'm begrudgingly ok with having two protagonists, the couple. There are also some common archetypes for protagonists, including, but not limited to:

• The Idealist. A character who believes in “true love” and “soul mates” and has been desperately waiting to find theirs.
• The (Loveable) Rake. A character with plenty of romantic experience and who has a long history of using their charm and self-confidence to pursue (and possibly manipulate) their love interests, but one who also has a vulnerable, even soft-hearted side few ever see that makes them sympathetic. (Without the vulnerable side, they would make a better villain than a protagonist!)
• The Lone Wolf . A character with a dark past and history of emotional pain who has become distrusting of people as a result and must let their guard down in order to experience love and connection.
• The Knight in Shining Armor . A protective, loyal, and competent character who may attempt to rescue their love interest in the process of the story.
• The Rebel, With or Without a Cause . A character who is independent, unconventional, and perhaps cynical, and finds themselves challenging the expectations of society and potentially the love interest. This type often blends with other archetypes.

Love Interest Archetypes

Of course, for it to be considered a love story, the protagonist must also have a love interest. This may be a co-protagonist in some stories or romance books.. Here are some common character archetypes for love interests:

• The Girl or Guy Next Door. A familiar yet newly exotic character who has recently emerged to capture the protagonist's attention.
• The Out of Reach Love Interest. A character who, due to their status, wealth, or other factors, seems unattainable (but of course, they eventually fall for the protagonist, since this is a love story!).
• The “Best Friend.”  A longtime friend who, at some point in or before the story, begins to foster romantic feelings

Rivals Archetypes

Almost all all compelling romance stories have a rival, either a second love interest to make the protagonist's choice more complicated, or someone also pursuing the love interest, increasing the obstacles. The presence of the rival creates a love triangle, one of the central elements of love stories, which we'll talk about in a moment. Here are some common archetypes for the rival:

• The Ex . A former romantic partner who reappears just at the right time to cause emotional mayhem.
• The (Unlovable) Rake . A charming but manipulative character who attempts to seduce either the protagonist or love interest for selfish reasons.
• The Unrequited Love . Someone likes someone else, but they don't feel the same way. Drama!
• The “Perfect” Match . A character who  seems  perfect for the protagonist, but who just doesn't have the right “spark.”

Nearly all love stories have a sidekick character, a friend of the protagonist who characterizes and aids the protagonist and usually gives to story some humor. Often these sidekick characters will even have their own subplot story arc . Think about Mercutio in  Romeo and Juliet or  Jane from  Pride and Prejudice . Sidekick characters can have their own archetypes in love stories, including:

• The Promiscuous Sidekick . The promiscuous sidekick is more experienced (or at least more interested) in romantic pursuits, particularly of the more carnal variety, and is usually pared with a more inexperienced protagonist to draw them out and challenge them. Example: Casey from 27 Dresses .
• The Idealist Sidekick . Believing in “true love” and “soul mates,” the idealist is best paired with a protagonist who is more cynical. Example: Casey Sedgewick from  Hitch  (what's up with all the sidekicks named Casey?).
• The Funny and Supportive Sidekick . Caring, kind, and always supportive, this sidekick is best paired with a protagonist with a difficult past.
• The Nervous Sidekick . Rule-following and concerned, this supportive sidekick should be paired with a protagonist who is more daring. Example: The Nurse from  Romeo and Juliet .

Again, you don't need to use any of these specific character archetypes, but you should create at least one character for each of these broad categories: protagonist, love interest, rival, and sidekick. Feel free to use the above archetypes as inspiration or invent your own!

Which of these character archetypes are your favorite? Which do you have in your story?  Let us know in the comments .

4. Obligatory Scenes

Every story type has certain scenes that the audience expects, scenes that if you don't provide, romance readers will be disappointed. These scenes provide emotional payoffs, contribute to character development, and advance the narrative in a way that is both satisfying and familiar to the audience.

However, there is a tension there, too, because you must both provide something that is both familiar and  new  to the audience.

These obligatory scenes vary based on the story's arc, as well, but here are the obligatory scenes that need to exist in most love stories:

Obligatory Scenes in a Traditional Love Story

• Meet-cute (inciting incident): The “meet-cute” is a hollywood term for the first meeting between the protagonist and love interest that sets up their relationship. These scenes are often funny or awkward and evoke strong feelings in the characters either of attraction or anger. At the same time, the meet-cute is often where the first obstacles to the couples potential relationship emerge (see below for obstacle examples).
• First connection : A moment when the characters share a meaningful connection or experience, hinting at the potential for a deeper relationship.
• The breakup : As the couple grows closer, there is an event or realization that causes creates tension and highlighting the seemingly insurmountable obstacles to the relationship.
• The realization : Now separated after the breakup, one or both of the couple realizes any obstacles are meaningless in the face of their need and desire for their partner.
• The proof of love (climax) : One or both of the characters undergoes a dramatic declaration or proof of their love, resolving or proving their willingness to resolve the obstacles in the way of their relationship.
• Last kiss (denouement) : In the final scene of the story, the couple close with a final kiss, showing how they have overcome their obstacles and begun a bright future together.

Keep in mind that these obligatory scenes almost completely describe a specific love story arc called the Cinderella Arc, which is the most common arc for romantic comedies. See the story arc diagram below.

However, love stories come in all shapes (or ways to map their story arcs ), including man in a hole (or double man in a hole), rags to riches, icarus, and Oedipus. Some of the above obligatory scenes might be tweaked or even removed depending on the story's arc.

For example, a man in a hole love story plot will feature a seemingly happy couple, who through circumstance or betrayal, find themselves facing new obstacles in their relationship.

Obligatory Scenes for a Relationship Testing Plot

Here are the obligatory scenes for a man in a hole love story arc:

• Obstacles arise ( inciting incident): A happy couple faces new challenges in their relationship, either through outside circumstances or internal betrayal, but in their naïveté, optimism, or loving commitment, they resolve to deal with the obstacles.
• The breakup : After attempting to deal with the obstacles,  they appear to be insurmountable, and the couple breaks up.
• The realization : Now separated after the breakup, one or both of the couple realizes they must overcome the obstacles in the face of their need and desire for their partner.

As you can see, this structure is fairly similar, but the different inciting incident causes a change to the shape of the story and the feel of the following obligatory scenes.

Also, if you're writing a tragic love story, you might just have a different denouement, changing the “last kiss,” for example, to a last goodbye, or something similar.

The point is that these obligatory scenes are flexible enough to tell any love story but also will deliver the emotional payoffs your audience expects.

4. Obstacles

As with real life relationships, couples in love stories face obstacles that keep them from experiencing the sense of belonging and intimacy they desire. All love stories include obstacles, and some include many different obstacles. Here are the types of obstacles your characters might face, but draw from your own real life experiences too:

External Conflict or Obstacles:

• Social barriers: Differences in class, religion, or culture.
• Distance : Physical distance can test the characters' commitment and communication skills.
• Love triangles or rivals : There's nothing like a good love triangle! Rivals create competition for one of the character's affections, which may create jealousy, force a choice between potential partners, or cause one character to betray the other.
• Disapproving friends or family:  Friends and family may not support the relationship, causing tension (and if you're the Capulets and Montagues, lots of death!).
• Work or personal responsibilities: Careers, duties, or goals that conflict with the characters' ability to prioritize their relationship.
• Physical limitations or deformities : physical limitations like paralysis ( Me Before You ), impotence ( The Sun Also Rises ), or illness ( The Fault in Our Stars ) will create major obstacles in a relationship, but physical scars or perceived deformities can also cause issues, like Cyrano's nose or the phantom of the opera's burned face (these also tend to create internal obstacles like insecurity in one or both lovers).
• External events : natural disasters, evil vampires, car accidents, or sociopathic killers at the office Christmas party are all examples of external events that can act as obstacles to a love story.

Internal Obstacles:

• Emotional baggage : Past trauma, heartbreak, or unresolved issues can affect the characters' ability to trust or be vulnerable.
• Insecurity or self-doubt:  One or both characters may wrestle with unworthiness or uncertainty about the relationship's viability.
• Miscommunication or misunderstanding: Conflicts about misinterpreted actions, words, or intentions can create emotional distance between the characters.
• Personal flaws: issues like mental health, addiction, or career pressures can create conflict .
• Conflicting ambitions : Characters who have life goals, career aspirations, or values that challenge their compatibility and future together.
• Infidelity or attraction to another person : Cheating or breaches of trust, whether fulfilled or felt internally.

There are as infinite number of obstacles in stories as the ones humans face in our own relationships. Use the above as inspiration or as a prompt to dive into your own experiences and the experiences of those you know to find obstacles for characters to face in your story.

How your characters deal with the obstacles to their relationship will ultimately determine whether your story ends happily or tragically.

What obstacles are your characters facing?  Let us know in the comments !

5. Other Conventions or Tropes in Love Stories

Tropes are familiar patterns that recur in stories. Tropes don't appear in every  story of a certain type, but they're common enough that audiences easily recognize them.

This means that tropes can be overused, even turn into clichés, but can also provide a sense of comfort and enjoyment for the reader when employed effectively or subverted.

Here are some common tropes or conventions in love stories:

• Opposites attract: Two characters with contrasting personalities or backgrounds find themselves drawn to each other despite (or because of!) their differences.
• Secrets, “if they only knew…”: Secrets that, if revealed, could significantly impact the characters' relationship.
• Secret identities: One or both characters conceal their true identity, creating complications, often humorous ones, in their romantic relationship (Shakespeare loved this one!).
• Mistaken identities:  Similar to secret identities, characters are mistaken for someone else, leading to unexpected romantic complications.
• Forbidden love or “star-crossed lovers”: A romance that is seen as unacceptable or ill-fated due to family, group, or cultural barriers.
• Fake It Till You Make It: Characters pretend to be in a romantic relationship, only to develop genuine feelings for each other.
• Back in (Small) Town: A character returns to their hometown and either rekindles an old fling or meets someone new.
• Friends-to-lovers: Characters who start as friends gradually develop romantic feelings for each other.
• Enemies-to-lovers: Characters who begin the story in conflict or in a rivalry but eventually fall in love.
• Second Chance Romance: Former lovers reunite, often after overcoming past issues or misunderstandings.
• Love at First Sight: Characters instantly fall in love upon their first encounter, setting the stage for a passionate and whirlwind romance.
• Cinderella Story: A character from a lower social or economic background falls in love with someone from a much higher background.
• Disaster romance: A catastrophic event, like a volcano erupting in Los Angeles or assassins trying to murder them or while being chased by the soldiers of half of a kingdom, serves as the catalyst for characters falling in love.

Remember that you don't need to use all or  any  of the above tropes. Use them as inspiration, not as rules, and even if you  do  use them as inspiration, make sure to transform them somehow to serve your writing style and unique voice.

Masterworks: 27 Love Story Examples to Study

Good writers read. They study other great books within their genre , stealing and transforming what works, and subverting or putting their unique touch on the rest.

Here are twenty-seven love story masterwork novels and films of all different types that you can study to improve your own story:

Traditional Love Story

The following are traditional love stories that either end happily or tragically:

• Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet navigates societal pressures and her own prejudices to find love with Mr. Darcy.
• Romeo and Juliet: Two young people from families with a vendetta against each other fall in love and vow to be together despite everything.
• Jane Eyre: An orphaned governess falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester, and must navigate his secret past.
• Gone with the Wind: During the American Civil War and Reconstruction, Scarlett O'Hara fights to survive and find love.
• The Notebook: A poor boy wins the heart of a rich girl and fight to stay together despite family opposition and later, the challenges of aging.
• Outlander: A World War II nurse is transported back in time to 18th century Scotland, where she falls in love with a Highland warrior and navigates political and personal challenges.
• Titanic: A wealthy young woman falls in love with a poor artist aboard the Titanic , but their romance is challenged when the ship begins to sink.
• Casablanca: In Morocco during World War II, a cynical nightclub owner must decide between his lost lover and his moral and political ideals.
• When Harry Met Sally: Can men and women be friends? Two friends attempt to be friends and possibly more over the course of many years.

Love Stories About Group Belonging

Some love stories are as much about belonging to a group as romantic love with an individual. After all, belonging is one of Maslow's main levels in his hierarchy of needs, and the way that writers throughout history have illustrated belonging with a group is through belonging within romantic love. Here are a few stories that show this kind of love story about belonging to a group:

• Ian Miller and Toula's Greek Family in My Big Fat Greek Wedding : Ian, a non-Greek man, struggles to win over his fiancée Toula's large, traditional Greek family, eventually finding acceptance and a sense of belonging.
• Vianne and the French town in Chocolat : Vianne, an unwed mother of a young daughter, gradually transforms the rigid attitudes of a small French town through charm and delicious chocolates.
• Jess and her family in Bend it Like Beckham : Jess, a British-Indian teenager, goes against her family's traditional expectations by pursuing her dream of playing soccer, ultimately gaining her family's support and helping them embrace a new worldview.
• Michael Oher and the family in The Blind Side : A wealthy, white family takes in Michael, a homeless African-American teenager, providing him with love, support, and opportunities that lead to his success in football and a sense of belonging within their family.
• Hassan Haji and the French restaurant world in Hundred Foot Journey : A prodigy chef, Hassan, faces cultural barriers and competition as he enters the French culinary world, eventually finding success and acceptance as his talent and cultural background win over skeptics.
• Joe Rantz and the Washington crew team in  The Boys in the Boat : An abandoned young man must overcome the hardships of the Great Depression to bond with his team as they take on the world at the 1936 Olympics hosted by Nazi Germany.

 Love Story Subplots

Love stories don't have to be the main plot. Many of the most popular films and novels contain a love story as a subplot , including:

• Hunger Games : The love story subplot in the Hunger Games centers around the protagonist, Katniss and her relationships with Peeta and Gale, two boys she is attracted to for different reasons and must navigate while fighting for survival in the Hunger Games.
• The Lord of the Rings : In The Lord of the Rings , there are several romantic subplots that involve characters like Aragorn and Arwen and Faramir and Eowyn, but the main love story is not about romantic love but the deep friendship and loyalty between Frodo and Sam.
• Harry Potter : The love story subplot in Harry Potter revolves around the relationship between Harry and Ginny Weasley, but throughout there are subplots involving the bonding and friendship between the major characters, especially Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
• Inception : The movie explores the relationship between Cobb and his wife, the deep passion, tragic ending, and final coming to terms.
• The Godfather : The love story subplot in The Godfather involves the relationship between Michael Corleone and Kay, whom he marries despite his involvement in organized crime and the loss of his Italian wife, Apollonia.

Friendship Love Stories

Love stories are also not always about romantic love. Here are several love stories that involve friendship or love between a parent figure and child.

• Good Will Hunting: A genius MIT janitor is mentored by a psychologist and must confront his traumatic past and fear of intimacy.
• Nina, Sofia, and Count Rostov in A Gentleman in Moscow : An unlikely bond forms between the house-arrested Count Rostov and a precocious young girl, Nina (and later, her daughter Sofia), as they navigate life after the Communist Revolution in Russia.
• Jean Valjean and Cosette in Les Miserables : Ex-con Jean Valjean raises Cosette, the daughter of a dying friend, forming a deep father-daughter relationship, all while being investigated and chased by Inspector Javert.
• David and Jonathan in the Bible : David and Jonathan develop a deep friendship and remain loyal to each other despite the conflict between David and Jonathan's father, King Saul.
• Gus McRae and Woodrow Call in Lonesome Dove : Lifelong friends and retired Texas Rangers Gus McRae and Woodrow Call leave Texas with their cattle for Montana, encountering dangers and challenges along the way.
• Lt. Cross and Tim O'Brien in The Things They Carried : Lt. Cross and Tim O'Brien form a complex friendship as they navigate the horrors of the Vietnam War, grappling with guilt, loss, and the weight of their shared experiences.
• Andy and Red in Shawshank Redemption: A man wrongfully convicted of murder forms an unlikely friendship with a fellow inmate as he works to clear his name.

How to Write a Love Story

Now that we've looked at the elements of love stories and many different love story examples, how do you actually write one?

1. Start with characters you (and your audience) can relate to.

Great stories are about great characters! Begin by creating characters who can carry the plot of the story.

There are at least four that you will need, and you can use the character archetypes above to inspire or develop each of them further.

Main Characters

1. Protagonist. The protagonist carries the weight of the story, centers the plot, and drives most of the action. Make sure they are someone who makes choices and is sympathetic while not being perfect.

2. Love Interest . Love stories by nature must have a love interest!

Secondary Characters

3. Rival.  Almost all love stories have love triangles! By adding a rival to your love story, you raise the stakes, create conflict, and add tension.

4. Sidekick. We all need a good wing man or woman. Sidekicks help progress the plot, characterize your protagonist and love interest, and often give the story some much needed humor. The protagonist of a love story nearly always has a sidekick, but the love interest may have one as well!

Not sure how to create great characters? Here are some resources that will help you in your characterization:

• Sympathetic Character: 10 Writing Techniques That Make Readers Care
• Character Development: Create Characters That Readers Love
• Proust Questionnaire: 35 Questions To Ask Your Characters From Marcel Proust

2. Create obstacles for the protagonist and their love interest.

All relationships have obstacles that we must overcome to experience true intimacy and belonging, and the relationships in love stories are no different.

Create at least one of each kind of obstacle:

• External Obstacles: social barriers, distance, love triangles or rivals, disapproving friends or family, work or personal responsibilities, physical limitations or deformities, or external events.
• Internal Obstacles: emotional baggage, insecurity or self-doubt, miscommunication or misunderstanding, personal flaws, conflicting ambitions, or infidelity or attraction to another person.

See the love story obstacles section above for more details on these types of obstacles.

3. Choose your story arc.

The arc of your story has dramatic implications on every facet of your story.

For example, are you going to have a happy ending or sad ending? Does the couple start out together or do they meet at the start of the story? Does the couple have a break up in the middle or do they gradually grow closer throughout the plot?

There are six different story arcs, six shapes that stories make, and all of them can be used in love stories. To learn more about each of them, you can read our story arc guide here .

Which story arc is right for your story?

4. Write your story as a one sentence premise.

A premise is a single sentence summary of a story (you can learn more about what a premise is and how to use it in our full premise guide here ). Creating one  before  you start writing your story is one of the best things you can do to make sure you actually  finish .

There are many benefits of summarizing your story in the form of a premise, including:

• Simplifying your story to its core elements
• Creating a strong foundation for the rest of your story
• Helping you break through writers block
• Giving you the chance to get feedback before you start writing
• Helping you get published by giving you an “elevator pitch”

For a love story, here's a formula you can use to write your premise:

When _____ (protagonist) _______ (situation, e.g. meets the love interest), they must overcome _____ (obstacles) in order to ______ (their goal).

Give it a try!

5. Outline the obligatory scenes.

All love stories have obligatory scenes, scenes that if you don't include them, your audience will feel like something is missing.

We discussed these in detail above, but here are the obligatory scenes in a typical love story (see above for more details on each):

• First connection
• The breakup
• The realization
• The proof of love

There are also variations depending on your particular arc.

These scenes typically follow the six elements of plot, which are:

• Exposition . The character's normal life at the start of the story.
• Inciting incident . An event that upsets the status quo, e.g. the meet-cute.
• Rising action/progressive complications . As the story progresses, things get more complicated! If there is a break up, it will occur in this section.
• Dilemma . The character must make an impossible choice. In a love story, this choice is usually whether or not to face the obstacles and do anything they can to be with the love interest.
• Climax . The character makes their choice, faces the obstacles, and experiences the consequences of that choice. If there is a proof of love scene, this is where it will occur.
•   Denouement . The story ends by illustrating the new normal. In a traditional love story, this is often where the couple ends with a kiss.

For more, view our full guide on the elements of plot here .

Now, just outline each obligatory scene in one sentence. It doesn't need to be elaborate. Just a quick description will be great to help you create a strong foundation for your story.

6. Decide your subplot.

Most novels and films don't just have one plot, they have three. If your main plot is a love story, you will likely need to include a subplot to flesh out the middle of your story and create further complications and obstacles for your characters to overcome.

Love stories can include any story type as a subplot, including:

• Performance
• Coming of age

*Yes, you can have a love story subplot in your love story! Just look at  Pride and Prejudice .

No idea what these mean? That's ok! See a detailed list of the types of stories here .

Different subplots will interact better with different arcs, so choose your subplots carefully.

7. Then, write the first draft!

Once you've written your premise, outlined your obligatory scenes, and chosen your subplots, you're ready to write the first draft.

Easy, right?

Well, maybe not. But we have resources that can help.

First, here's a complete guide on how to write a novel that you should bookmark and save (it's long!).

Next, consider taking a program like 100 Day Book to get the coaching and accountability you need to actually finish your book. We'd love to help you turn your love story idea into published book!

Check out 100 Day Book here.

In the meantime, good luck, and happy writing!

Today, let's start a character sketch for your own love story or subplot. Look back at the section on character archetypes above and pick one: t he Idealist, t he (Loveable) Rake, t he Lone Wolf , t he Knight in Shining Armor , t he Rebel, With or Without a Cause . Set your timer for fifteen minutes . Start by describing two things: what this character is afraid of (and why) and what they want (and why). If you finish fleshing out those details, go ahead and begin a scene where they interact with a potential love interest.

When time is up, share your practice in the Pro Workshop here for feedback, and comment on three other writers' work too.

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

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WSJ Bestselling author, founder of The Write Practice, and book coach with 14+ years experience. Joe Bunting specializes in working with Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, How To, Literary Fiction, Memoir, Mystery, Nonfiction, Science Fiction, and Self Help books. Sound like a good fit for you?

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120 Romance Writing Prompts & Love Story Ideas

• March 30, 2024

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What are romance writing prompts, how can i utilize romance writing prompts, plot-based prompts, character-based prompts, setting-based prompts, theme-based prompts, conflict-based prompts, dialogue-based prompts, genre-blending prompts, image-based prompts, flash fiction prompts, prompt chain, we also recommend.

Writing romance can be tricky, especially when developing the storyline of two people falling in love, and that is where romance writing prompts can help. Key elements include a love story and a satisfying ending.

The use of romance in storytelling can make the story better, and more believable and also create a deeper connection. Even in non-romance genres like thrillers or horror, romance adds a new layer of excitement and intrigue. It’s one thing to protect yourself from danger, but protecting a new love raises the stakes and makes the story even more gripping.

If you’re looking for a spark of inspiration, we’ve compiled a list of 120 romance writing prompts and love story ideas to help get your creative juices flowing. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these prompts are sure to ignite your imagination and help you craft the perfect love story. So grab your pen and paper and get ready to dive into the world of romance writing!

Romance writing prompts are starting points for love stories, sparking ideas for characters, settings, and conflicts. They can be simple sparks like “enemies to lovers” or detailed scenarios like “fake relationships become real.”

These prompts help writers overcome writer’s block and ignite their creativity. Now you know what romance writing prompts are, let’s take a look at the various ways you can utilize them.

You may want to check out How to Balance Multiple Clients As a New Freelance Writer  

Here are a few ways you can use romance writing points positively:

• Generating Ideas: You can use prompts to brainstorm story concepts and plotlines for your romance novel or short story.
• Character Development : The use of prompts helps in creating well-rounded characters with intriguing backstories, motivations, and personalities.
• Overcoming Writer’s Block : When you’re stuck, prompts can provide a starting point to kickstart your creativity and get your writing flowing again.
• Exploring Themes: Prompts can help you delve into themes such as love, trust, sacrifice, and redemption, adding depth to your narrative.
• Plot Development : Use prompts to craft engaging plots, incorporating twists, conflicts, and resolutions that keep readers hooked.
• Experimentation : Step out of your comfort zone by using prompts that challenge you to explore different sub-genres, periods, or character dynamics.
• Writing Exercises : Regularly practice your writing skills by utilizing prompts, and editing them to suit the context for which it is meant to fit into.
• Stimulating Creativity : Allow prompts to inspire unconventional or unexpected storylines, characters, or settings that breathe freshness into your writing.
• Setting Goals : Set writing goals or challenges for yourself, such as responding to a certain number of prompts each week, to maintain momentum and discipline in your writing practice.

Related Post: 107+ Creative Writing Prompts For Middle School Students

120 Romance Writing Prompts

Our long list of romance writing plots will be divided into various sections based on uses:

• A chance encounter at a bustling train station leads to an unexpected romance between two strangers.
• In a post-apocalyptic world, two survivors from rival factions find themselves drawn to each other despite their differences.
• An arranged marriage between two reluctant heirs turns into a whirlwind romance as they navigate political intrigue and personal desires.
• A mistaken identity at a masquerade ball leads to a forbidden romance between a noblewoman and a commoner.
• Two childhood friends reunite years later, only to discover that their bond has evolved into something deeper.
• A mysterious love letter found tucked away in an old library book sets off a quest to uncover the identity of the author and the recipient.
• A high-stakes competition brings together rivals who must team up to win, leading to unexpected sparks between them.
• On a road trip across the country, two strangers find love and adventure as they explore new destinations together.
• A forbidden romance blossoms between a vampire hunter and a vampire, forcing them to confront their loyalties and desires.
• After inheriting a haunted mansion, a skeptic and a paranormal investigator form an unlikely bond as they uncover the truth behind the ghostly occurrences.
• A time-traveling romance unfolds as a modern-day woman finds herself transported to a different era and falls in love with a historical figure.
• A workplace rivalry heats up into a passionate romance between colleagues vying for the same promotion.
• A reclusive artist with a troubled past finds solace and love in the company of a free-spirited traveler passing through town.
• An ambitious CEO struggling to balance work and personal life unexpectedly falls for their quirky and carefree new assistant.
• A retired detective haunted by past failures teams up with a spirited journalist to solve a cold case, leading to an unexpected romance.
• A struggling musician seeking inspiration meets a mysterious muse who sparks creativity and passion in their music.
• A cynical divorce lawyer crosses paths with an idealistic wedding planner, leading to a clash of ideologies and unexpected romance.
• A single parent navigating the challenges of raising a child alone finds love and support in their child’s dedicated teacher.
• A reserved librarian with a love for classic literature meets a charming book critic who challenges their perceptions of romance.
• A world-weary traveler seeking adventure crosses paths with a sheltered innkeeper yearning for excitement, leading to a transformative journey together.
• An introverted scientist conducting groundbreaking research finds love and companionship in the unlikeliest of places – a quirky coffee shop frequented by locals.
• A fiercely independent adventurer reluctantly accepts help from a kind-hearted stranger during a perilous journey, leading to an unexpected romance.
• A jaded celebrity hiding from the spotlight finds solace and understanding in the company of an anonymous fan with whom they share a genuine connection.
• An aspiring writer struggling with writer’s block finds inspiration and love in the form of a mysterious muse who appears only in their dreams.

READ ALSO: Is Freelance Writing the Best Online Business to Start With? The Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

• Amidst the rolling hills of Tuscany, two strangers find love and healing while volunteering at a local vineyard.
• In the bustling streets of Tokyo, a chance encounter between two tourists sparks a whirlwind romance as they explore the city together.
• Against the backdrop of a quaint seaside town, two childhood friends reunite for a summer vacation and discover a long-buried attraction.
• In the glittering world of haute couture fashion, a struggling designer finds love and creative inspiration in the arms of a mysterious model.
• Among the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, a city-dweller seeking solace finds unexpected romance in the arms of a rugged outdoorsman.
• Within the enchanting halls of a magical academy, two students from rival houses find themselves drawn to each other despite their differences.
• In the neon-lit streets of a cyberpunk city, a jaded hacker and an idealistic activist team up to fight against corruption and find love in the process.
• At a remote mountain lodge nestled in the Alps, two strangers seeking solitude find unexpected romance amidst the breathtaking scenery.
• In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, an intrepid explorer and a native guide embark on a dangerous journey that leads to unexpected love.
• Amidst the hustle and bustle of a bustling New York City subway, two commuters find themselves drawn together by fate and embark on a romantic adventure.
• Within the serene beauty of a tranquil lakeside cabin, two old friends rediscover their connection and kindle a romance by the fireside.
• In the mystical realm of a fantastical kingdom, a princess and a humble stable hand defy convention and find true love amidst courtly intrigue.
• A second chance at love: Two former lovers reunite years later, discovering that their feelings never truly faded.
• Forbidden love: A romance blossoms between two individuals from feuding families, forcing them to choose between love and loyalty.
• Opposites attract: Despite their differences, two people find love in unexpected places, discovering that sometimes opposites make the perfect match.
• Love conquers all: In the face of adversity, two lovers stand united, proving that love is the strongest force of all.
• Friends to lovers: A longstanding friendship evolves into something more as two friends realize their feelings run deeper than they thought.
• Healing hearts: Two wounded souls find solace and healing in each other’s arms, learning to love and trust again.
• True love’s kiss: A magical encounter leads to true love’s kiss, breaking a curse and uniting two souls destined to be together.
• Star-crossed lovers: Fate conspires against two lovers, testing the strength of their love as they fight to be together against all odds.
• Love in unexpected places: Romance blooms in the unlikeliest of places, proving that love can be found where you least expect it.
• Forbidden desires: Two people struggle to resist their forbidden desires, torn between societal expectations and the call of their hearts.
• Love at first sight: A chance encounter sparks an instant attraction, leading to a whirlwind romance that defies logic and reason.
• Everlasting love: Through the passage of time, two souls remain bound together by an eternal love that transcends lifetimes.
• A misunderstanding threatens to tear apart a budding romance, forcing the protagonists to confront their insecurities and fears.
• A long-distance relationship puts strain on a couple’s love, testing their commitment and trust in each other.
• Past traumas resurface, casting a shadow over a blossoming romance and forcing the protagonists to confront their demons.
• A rival suitor vies for the affections of one of the protagonists, leading to jealousy and conflict within the budding romance.
• Cultural differences create obstacles for a couple in love, forcing them to navigate societal expectations and family pressures.
• External forces conspire to keep the protagonists apart, testing the strength of their love as they fight against all odds to be together.
• Personal ambitions clash with romantic aspirations, leading to tension and conflict as the protagonists struggle to find a balance between love and career.
• A secret from the past threatens to unravel a seemingly perfect romance, forcing the protagonists to confront painful truths and lies.
• Family obligations and responsibilities pose challenges for a couple in love, testing their commitment and loyalty to each other.
• A moral dilemma divides the protagonists, forcing them to choose between their love for each other and their principles.
• Unexpected obstacles arise during a romantic getaway, putting the couple’s relationship to the test as they confront danger and adversity together.
• A rival love interest from the past reappears, stirring up old feelings and complicating the protagonists’ current relationship.
• “I never believed in love at first sight until I met you.”
• “You’re the one who makes me believe in happily ever afters.”
• “I never knew what I was missing until I found you.”
• “I’m willing to fight for us, no matter what it takes.”
• “You’re my greatest adventure, and I never want it to end.”
• “I never thought I’d find someone who completes me the way you do.”
• “I’m not afraid to love you, even if it means getting hurt.”
• “You’re the missing piece I never knew I needed.”
• “Every moment with you feels like a dream I never want to wake up from.”
• “I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth if it means being with you.”
• “You’re the calm in the chaos, the light in my darkest moments.”
• “With you by my side, I feel like I can conquer anything.”
• In a dystopian future where love is outlawed, two rebels risk everything to be together.
• In a steampunk world of airships and clockwork contraptions, two inventors find love amidst their shared passion for innovation.
• In a world where magic is real, a forbidden romance between a witch and a vampire threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of power.
• In a post-apocalyptic wasteland overrun by zombies, two survivors find solace and love amidst the chaos and destruction.
• In a fairy tale kingdom ruled by an evil queen, a courageous knight, and a cunning thief join forces to overthrow tyranny and find love in the process.
• In a cybernetic future where humans and robots coexist, a human detective and an android AI form an unlikely partnership and uncover a conspiracy that leads to love.
• In a world where superheroes and supervillains clash, a hero and a villain find themselves drawn to each other despite their opposing ideologies, leading to a forbidden romance.
• In a spacefaring civilization on the brink of war, a diplomat from one faction and a soldier from another must put aside their differences and find love amidst the turmoil of intergalactic conflict.
• In a historical reimagining of the Wild West, a gunslinger and an outlaw-turned-sheriff find love as they navigate the lawless frontier.
• In a mythical land of dragons and sorcery, a dragon rider and a sorceress team up to save their kingdom from a dark force and find love in the process.
• In a world where virtual reality is indistinguishable from real life, two gamers find love in a virtual MMO and must navigate the challenges of online romance.
• In a time-traveling adventure across centuries, two-time travelers from different eras find themselves drawn together by fate and must fight to preserve their love across the ages.

READ ALSO: Best Fantasy Writing Prompts in 2024: 200+ Ideas to Create Magic

• A faded photograph of a couple dancing in the rain sparks the idea of a nostalgic love story set in a small town.
• A serene painting of a secluded beach at sunset inspires a tale of love blossoming between two strangers on a tropical getaway.
• A vintage postcard of a Parisian street sets the stage for a romantic adventure as two wanderers explore the City of Love.
• A captivating black-and-white image of a couple sharing a quiet moment in a bookstore prompts a story of literary love and connection.
• An evocative photograph of a misty forest becomes the backdrop for a mysterious and enchanting love story between two nature enthusiasts.
• A vibrant illustration of a bustling market square inspires a romance between a street artist and a passerby in a lively urban setting.
• A dreamy watercolor depiction of a starry night sky encourages the creation of a celestial romance between two stargazers.
• A charming sketch of an old-fashioned train station serves as the inspiration for a classic love story unfolding on a journey by rail.
• A captivating photograph of a couple sharing an umbrella in a city park sparks a romantic narrative set against the backdrop of changing seasons.
• A whimsical illustration of a hot air balloon ride becomes the catalyst for a high-flying romance between two adventurous souls.
• An artistic rendering of a cozy cabin in the snow inspires a heartwarming love story set in a winter wonderland.
• A mysterious painting of a masked ball gives rise to a tale of hidden identities and masked desires in a historical setting.

READ ALSO: 50 Exclusive 3rd Grade Writing Prompts that are Printable for Free

• In just 300 words, craft a poignant love story that unfolds during a chance encounter at a deserted train station.
• Write a flash fiction piece that explores the magical connection between two strangers who share a fleeting moment under the stars.
• In 250 words, tell a story of love blossoming between two neighbors who communicate through messages written on a shared apartment wall.
• Create a concise yet impactful narrative about a forbidden romance set in a dystopian world where love is forbidden.
• Craft a flash fiction piece that captures the essence of a second chance at love, with characters rediscovering each other after years apart.
• In 200 words, tell a story of unexpected romance sparked by a mysterious love letter found in the pages of an old library book.
• Explore the theme of love and sacrifice in a flash fiction piece that delves into the challenges faced by a couple separated by circumstances.
• Write a brief yet powerful love story set in a post-apocalyptic world, where two survivors find hope and connection amidst chaos.
• Create a flash fiction piece that revolves around a magical encounter, leading to true love’s kiss and the breaking of a mystical curse.
• Craft a concise narrative about the transformative power of love, as two individuals find healing and solace in each other’s arms.
• In just 300 words, tell a story of love and resilience as a couple faces external challenges that threaten to tear them apart.
• Write a flash fiction piece that explores the theme of love in unexpected places, with characters finding romance in unlikely circumstances.
• Start with a prompt where two strangers meet on a crowded subway train and share a brief but meaningful interaction.
• Follow up with a prompt where one of the strangers, unable to forget the encounter, searches for the other person.
• Introduce a twist by revealing that the other person was intentionally avoiding the first stranger for a mysterious reason.
• Explore the backstory of both characters through prompts that reveal their pasts, motivations, and secrets.
• Bring the characters together again in a climactic moment where they confront their feelings and the obstacles keeping them apart.
• Resolve the conflict and conclude the chain with a prompt that depicts the characters’ happily-ever-after or leaves their future open to interpretation.
• As the characters delve deeper into their connection, introduce a new challenge or obstacle that threatens to drive them apart.
• Explore the emotional turmoil and internal conflicts faced by each character as they struggle to reconcile their feelings with the realities of their situation.
• Heighten the tension by introducing a third-party antagonist or external force that further complicates the characters’ relationship.
• Force the characters to make difficult choices that test their loyalty, trust, and commitment to each other.
• Build towards a dramatic climax where the characters confront their biggest fears and confront the ultimate challenge to their relationship.
• Conclude the prompt chain with a resolution that brings closure to the characters’ journey, whether it’s a happily-ever-after ending or a bittersweet realization of their growth and self-discovery.

In crafting compelling Romance writing prompts, diverse prompts offer avenues for creativity and exploration. From plot-driven scenarios to theme-based challenges, each prompt type fosters character development and conflict resolution.

• brilliantio.com – 140 Romance Writing Prompts to Keep Your Imagination Flowing
• atinydreamer.com – 120 Romance Dialogue Story Writing Prompts
• 50+ Opinion Writing Prompt Ideas for Better AI Writing
• Best Fantasy Writing Prompts in 2024: 200+ Ideas to Create Magic
• 50 Exclusive 2nd Grade Writing Prompts That are Printable for Free
• 140 Exclusive Writing Prompts For Adults

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Quotes and Descriptions to Inspire Creative Writing Discover, Share, Connect

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19,890 quotes, descriptions and writing prompts, 4,964 themes

blanket fort

In that artistry of wool, within a fabric that told of patient hours of tip-tapping knitting needles, we dwelled within a castle within our home.

I wonder if the roof tiles miss the rain on these long summer days. I wonder if they miss making their together song. Or perhaps they await the tickle of bird feet and a hearth-warm breeze. Or maybe it is the variation that makes these seasons special.

"Adjective and noun associations are worthy of our consideration because by careful linkage of words such as 'black' with strong emotionally positive words (such as in 'black heavens' and 'noble black night') we can start to program subconscious bias from the brain by creating a background neurochemistry that is more positive. This keeps the prefrontal cortex more fully operational and encourages more empathy in both thoughts and behaviours. Thus society develops better through their own choices and evolves. This is part of social evolution and this kind of awareness in writers is essential."

marvellous school of neurology

"It turns out, as obviousness would have it, that our brains (especially those of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in this case) have been teaching us neurology through comic books and the movies that have come from them." Full article linked to from my profile, click "abraham" below, awesome!!

"When we make daily choices that are emotionally indifferent, the sort that the money-nexus makes faux-virtues of, we build our capacity for emotional indifference at the direct expense of our capacity for empathy, and thus the conflict between money and love is laid bare."

essential career advice for writers

"For writers in the next half century and beyond, a comprehension of how creative writing, neurology, biology and our environment interact will be essential for a successful career." - a link to the full article is in my bio and on the Descriptionari "About" page. Much love!!! Angela Abraham (Daisy)

It was a bonny path that chattered day and night, the free leaves upon it and their twig-attached brethren in seasonal conversation.

walking in the rain

I won't say I love the cold rain. I won't say I love being soaked to the skin. I won't say I'm alright with how long it takes for my boots to dry. But I will say it enlivens me and awakens a part of me that slumbers in the warm and sunny weather. I will say that jumping in puddles is fun and that I'm far too old to be enjoying such things. I will say that a part of me finds a beauty in wondering how many raindrops there are and listening for them in the meditative pitter patter.

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Examples Of The 5 Senses In Writing And How To Use Them

Using the 5 senses in writing can deeply immerse readers in scenes and stories by creating more vivid imagery in their minds. It’s a skill that can elevate books to a higher level. But so often we writers find ourselves lured into the trap of relying on sight and sound. Relying on a narrow range of sensory language isn’t always enough to bring a story to life. We can inject so much more into our stories simply by utilizing sensory details in our writing.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at our sensory organs, why we use vivid writing that appeals to the senses, look at the 5 senses and descriptive writing examples, and ways we can use each sense to elevate our stories to the next level. 

Many people experience things through smell, touch, and taste. So appealing to the senses in our writing will enrich our tales and prose with vivid imagery, which is often used to help the reader feel immersed and engaged. 

In fact, the oft-forgotten 5 senses are some of the most powerful forms of description, things that can enrich a story and give it life.

And, as we’ll see below, using a sensory description has an incredible ability to connect with us on a psychological level.

Let’s dive in. 

Choose A Chapter

What are the 5 senses in the context of writing, why are the five senses important in writing, understanding the science behind sensory description, 5 senses examples from descriptive writing, how to use the 5 senses in writing, 3 exercises to help you use the 5 senses in your writing, a list of helpful adjectives for the five senses, frequently asked questions (faq), what are the five sensory organs.

Before we dive into looking at the 5 senses in a writing context, let’s look at what the five sensory organs are:

• Special receptors in the skin that enable us to touch and feel

Combined, our five senses enable us to learn, experience and create memories. Pepsi Max, for example, always reminds me of my history lessons in college—I’d drink a can during every lesson. Think of songs too. They have an incredible ability to transport us back to moments in our past. Let’s explore things in more detail.

If you’d like to learn more about the basics surrounding the 5 senses, see more examples, or learn how to incorporate sensory description in your writing, see this quick video.

Are There More Than 5 Senses?

Now, something you may be wondering about is whether or not there are more than the 5 classic senses. It is, in fact, believed that there is more than touch, taste, sound, sight, smell. These golden 5 were defined by Aristotle because he could relate them to sensory organs. They are sometimes known as the “five senses folk model”.

But it depends on the manner in which you define a sense.

Newer approaches look at the number of sensory organs we have. And many academics now counter the sixth sense as the vestibular system . This relates to the inner ear and the impact it has on our balance and vision.

But other academics have gone further than this. Some tweak the definition to include sensory receptors. Now the skin, for instance, has at least four sensory receptors, relating to pain, temperature, touch and body awareness (otherwise known as proprioception).

So when someone asks how many senses do we have, it’s all a matter of definition. You can check out this awesome video below by SciShow which explains things in more detail.

Perhaps the main one of the five senses, sight often receives information first and therefore forms our initial judgements.

When it comes to using sight in writing, our stories and characters are often guided by this prime form of description. We describe what our characters see.

However, it would be nigh impossible to describe every aspect of a scene, and even if you did achieve it, nigh impossible to read.

Some of the most acclaimed writers, Charles Dickens, in particular, approached it by picking the right details. The little things that tell us everything. Let’s look at an example of the sense of sight in writing from Great Expectations :

“There was a bookcase in the room; I saw, from the backs of the books, that they were about evidence, criminal law, criminal biography, trials, acts of parliament, and such things. The furniture was all very solid and good, like his watch-chain. It had an official look, however, and there was nothing merely ornamental to be seen. In a corner, was a little table of papers with a shaded lamp: so he seemed to bring the office home with him in that respect too, and to wheel it out of an evening and fall to work.”

This is Jagger’s office. Though he doesn’t feature, we’ve gleaned much about who he is from details like the types of books upon the shelves and the paper-filled table, suggesting he lives a busy, professional life.

Colour is another fantastic tool when it comes to sight. Dickens was known for using colours to portray emotions or themes, such as red for frustration or anger, black for death, white for purity or goodness. Using colour, particularly with themes and the premise , can add extra layers to a story.

We explore some more 5 senses examples below to give you some ideas when it comes to sight.

Writing Prompt

Stand in the middle of your bedroom. Look all around you. Make notes of every little detail you see. Colours, shapes. Crumbs or dust on the floor. The more attentive you can be the better.

Pick out things that could relate to characterisation. The books on a shelf perhaps—what kind of books are they? Are there empty glasses beside your bed, dishes too? All of this helps to build interesting imagery, as well as contribute to other elements of the story, in this instance, characterization .

Sound is incredibly important when it comes to using the 5 senses in our writing. Dialogue dominates many stories, but so often little attention is paid to how characters sound when they talk. It’s strange when you think about how unique people sound, and a person’s voice makes such a difference to how we form views of them.

Something I learned not so long ago is that ducks don’t quack. They tend to grunt or even cackle. It’s easy to assume how things sound, but sometimes what we assume is wrong.

It’s always worth taking the time to research. In doing so you may find new and original ways to describe the sound. Using metaphors and similes, particularly if the sound is unusual, is a great way to bring clarity to descriptions.

Another often overlooked thing is silence. Silence is an excellent tool to set the tone or build an atmosphere or tension . A noiseless forest. A still, foggy street. Eerie.

Either using yourself or ideally, your character, place yourself in a location in which things are happening around you—a park, for instance. Close your eyes and listen.

Make a note of every little sound you hear, from tweeting birds to jackhammers digging up roads. If you can, make a note of how different sounds make you feel. Do fireworks startle you, for instance? Then think about why they could startle you or your character.

Of all the five senses, touch is, in my view, one of the most powerful yet underrated ones. If you can convey touch in an effective way, you’ll reap the rewards.

The scope of this sense depends on the nature of the scene, but imagine, for example, walking barefoot through a forest. The softness of moss between your toes, the cool slime of mud, the pokes and scratches of sticks and stones. Such details can draw readers deeper into the story.

We’ll look at some sensory writing exercises below, but as a brief writing prompt now, close your eyes and pick something up. Describe how that object feels. What features does it have? The texture? Sturdiness? Width? Weight?

These little details can make all the difference when trying to achieve vivid writing that appeals to the senses.

Taste is the more neglected one out of the five sensory organs when it comes to writing. Just like all of the senses, using taste can enrich your story immensely.

How many times have you said the phrase, “It tastes like …”. So many of our memories are tied to tastes. Like I said before, Pepsi Max always reminds me of history classes in college. Which tastes trigger memories for you?

If this happens to us, it happens to your characters too. It’s a great thing to include within your characterization process.

Like smell, taste can serve as a trigger for memories. For example, a husband who shared a love for apple turnovers baked by his deceased wife is reminded of her whenever he eats one.

Taste can also trigger emotions. There’ve been times when I’ve eaten food that tasted so good I bounced with glee in my chair.

A fun one. Head down to your kitchen and finding something to eat that has a bit of texture. Close your eyes, take a bite. Focus closely as you chew, as the food rolls around your mouth, over your tongue and down your throat. How does it taste? How does it make you feel?

We, at last, arrive at smell, though its place is no reflection on its importance when it comes to using the 5 senses in our writing.

The power of smells cannot be underestimated. We smell things all of the time and those scents help to shape our impressions. What can you whiff right now?

A smell helps us to form a judgement on things, such as whether something’s okay to eat. And crucially, smells can trigger vivid memories and emotions, vital tools to any writer.

Here’s one of my favorite 5 senses examples for using smell in writing from James Joyce’s Ulysses :

“ Mr Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart, liverslices fried with crustcrumbs, fried hencods’ roes. Most of all he liked grilled mutton kidneys which gave to his palate a fine tang of faintly scented urine.”  

How Do You Describe The Smell Of Rain In Creative Writing?

The technical term for the smell of rain is “petrichor”.

Rain brings with it a freshness, a crispness, an earthiness. It awakens the scents of other things like dry soil, flowers and grass. It’s something I turn to a lot when writing fantasy , especially in those scenes where characters are moving through rich, rural landscapes. 

Similar to the task above which involves a trip out to a busy place, like a park, sit down and have a good sniff. Another good place to try is a coffee shop. Lots of smells of roasting coffee and baking cakes in there.

Importantly, think about where those smells lead you in your mind. Do they trigger memories? Do associated words pop into your mind? From your character’s perspective, this is what their experience would be like too.

This may seem like a straightforward question, but it’s always best to cover the basics before advancing to more technical points.

This style of prose is essentially writing that employs the five senses to create mental images for the reader.

For example, if you want to create a vivid image of a beach, you may describe the smell of seaweed or the grainy texture of sand. 

In drawing upon these familiar sensations, we can open the portal wider for our readers to step into the scene, to feel what it’s like to be there. It’s a key part of creative writing in respect of description and something that can elevate your stories. 

So that’s what the 5 senses in writing are—they empower your descriptions and help draw readers into the story. Let’s look more at why using them is important.

Here’s a quick video explainer with lots of handy examples:

Using your five senses in your writing is an incredibly powerful way to immerse your reader in the tale.

The more the reader can understand what it’s like to be in your character’s shoes at that precise moment, be it fleeing a demon or marching to war, knowing how it feels and smells like, as well as the visual and audio descriptions, can elevate stories to a whole new level. It quite simply makes it more enjoyable to read.

From a writing perspective, incorporating each of the five senses in your writing at appropriate moments is something your readers will love.

From the perspective of the fantasy writer specifically, using the 5 senses is a terrific way to reveal the details created during your worldbuilding process.

This is especially useful when you’re trying to convey unique imagery or something that’s altogether alien to the reader. It’s something I used a lot when writing Pariah’s Lament and readers loved it. This is just one of the many 5 senses examples you’ll find below. 

We’ve covered a lot about using sensory descriptions and how they can elevate your writing to the next level. However, there are a lot of scientific studies that back up the theory.

For instance, in a study published back in 2011 by The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, it was found that we process certain words faster than others if there is a sensory experience attached to them.

Such studies aren’t new. In fact, Miller and Johnson-Laird (1976) examined how fundamental “word-percept associations” are to our language. This was expanded upon n a 2003 study by Rakova who emphasised a very important point—that the purpose of language is to express how we feel, what we see, hear, smell and taste.

Another study on sensory linguistics (which looks at how language relates to the senses), published by the University of Birmingham , examined humanity’s dependence on perceptions and how we interact with the world through feeling, seeing, tasting, hearing and smelling.

What we can see here is a growing understanding of the power and influence of a piece of sensory description. By examining these studies, writers can find a whole new appreciation for using the 5 senses in writing.

Let’s move on to look at the 5 senses and descriptive writing examples. As we’ve seen above, vivid imagery is often used to help the reader feel immersed in the story. So in this section, I’ve provided some from some bestselling books that make great use of the 5 senses, as well as some examples from my own novel.

“The tearing of flesh, as though a butcher were yanking meat from a flank. The bubbling of liquids and the soft rasping of the cutting tools.” Tooth & Nail , Ian Rankin

“Stars spun across his vision and his head felt as if it were about to burst… With difficulty, Hanno undid the chinstrap and eased off his helmet. Cool air ruffled his sweat-soaked hair.” Hannibal: Fields of Blood Ben Kane

“A cold wind was blowing out of the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things. All day, Will had felt as though something were watching him, something cold and implacable that loved him not.” A Game of Thrones, George RR Martin

“It was dark and dim all day. From the sunless dawn until evening the heavy shadow had deepened, and all hearts in the City were oppressed. Far above a great cloud streamed slowly westward from the Black Land, devouring light, borne upon a wind of war; but below the air was still and breathless, as if all the Value of Anduin waited for the onset of a ruinous storm.” The Return Of The King , JRR Tolkien.

This last one for me is a great example of a descriptive paragraph using the five senses. From the off, you not only get a vivid image of the setting (dark, dim, sunless dawn), but you can feel what it’s like to be there on an emotional level (hearts in the City were oppressed). Our senses are further teased with the description of a “still and breathless” air. 

I wanted to provide you with a few more examples of descriptive paragraphs that use sensory details from my own novel, Pariah’s Lament to give you an idea of how these principles can be used in practice. The idea is to add little details to paint a more vivid picture so that you can almost feel there in the scene.

Let’s start with a 5 senses paragraph example:

The mud of the road sucked at her tattered leather boots, a quagmire after incessant rains. Autumn circled like a hawk. The wind grabbed at her woollen green cloak and homespun dress. The hand-me-downs from her cousins never fitted, always too wide at the waist and short of length. She pulled her cloak tight about her, bundling it around her hands to keep away the biting chill.

The ringing gave way to those crashes and bangs, each one coming with the beat of his heart. His eyes flickered open. Slate-grey clouds hung above. Dust hovered in the air, rocks and debris showered down upon him. He raised his throbbing head and looked around. Men and women, hands over their ears, cowered down behind the crenellations of the wall, fear etched upon their faces, consuming their eyes, paralyzing their bodies. A few defiant individuals continued to loose arrows. For many, it was the last they shot. The Karraban thunder smashed the parapets to bits, obliterated siege engines, battered the cliff behind them and knocked from it great chunks of rock that tumbled down to crush those below. The ringing in Jem’s ears eased enough for him to hear the screams. They became the backdrop to the rumbling of the Karraban thunder. Only one thought entered Jem’s mind: flee.

The bells rang loud and panicked across Yurrisa. Hidden in the shadows of the abandoned warehouse, Edvar and the others lay in wait. He peered through a crack in a boarded window at the cobbled street. Echoing along it came a shout. Another. Steps rushed toward him, and into view burst a group of soldiers, breaths billowing mist in the cold morning air.

Laughter rippled from the table behind Edvar. The three men were tanners, the least difficult of all working men to identify: stained clothes and hands and stinking of a peculiar cocktail of rotten flesh and mint. They rubbed themselves with the latter to mask the stench of the former. Nobody could bear their presence long enough to tell them it didn’t work.

A Quick Exercise For Finding Good Examples Of The 5 Senses In Writing

If you’d like to find more sensory description examples, I recommend doing this simple exercise:

Pick up any book that you see, one ideally that you don’t mind marking with a pen or highlighter. Next, scan the pages, looking for descriptive scenes. Whenever you see a sentence that refers to any of the five senses, highlight it in some way.

The benefit of doing this is that you get examples from a variety of different writers, each with their own clever way of making their exposition more immersive.

Something you may notice is that many of them employ metaphors and similes to help you build a visual image in your mind. This is a very effective way of using the 5 senses in writing. You could say things like:

• The water smashed into the ground like the tide hitting a rocky coast
• A squeal filled the air like a pig fearing slaughter
• It smelled like an overflowing latrine pit sat in the baking sun

You can learn more about using metaphors and similes in this guide on writing prose.

Discover More Examples Of Descriptive Writing Using The 5 Senses

If you’re looking for more 5 senses examples for your writing, one of the best things you can do is to read books that pay particular attention to this. One of the standout books that explore this is Blindness by José Saramago.

There’s no shortage of sensory language examples out there for you to study. From books to writing guides like this, there are plenty of helpful resources you can learn from. 

If you re-read some of your favourite books there’ll no doubt be passages where the writer employs a sight and smell or taste or touch to great descriptive effect. Oftentimes they employ simple but effective techniques (which we’ll cover below) that draw you deeper into the scene, so much so that you feel as if you’re there. 

Often some of our favourite books are those that use to great affect the five senses. Books that transport us to new worlds and take us on epic adventures. And so often it’s the vivid descriptions that draw us in and help us walk amongst the characters.

We’ll look at some examples of the 5 senses in writing below that illustrate just how effective they can be further on below. But first, let’s look at why this is all so important.

How Do You Achieve Vivid Writing That Appeals To The Senses?

As we know, vivid writing that appeals to the senses has the ability to transform your story from something flat and full into something rich, comepelling and irresistable to read. It’s not an easy thing to do, but that’s why this guide exists, to show you and share my insights from 10 years’ experience writing. 

Here are three the most useful and simplest tips I’ve come across over the years to help you achieve more vivid writing that uses the senses.

• Practise – it sounds simple but one of the best ways to get used to including the 5 senses in your writing is to practise. Below, you can find lots of handy exercises that can help you sharpen your writing skills.
• Reading – another very effective method of sharpening your usage of the five senses in your writing is to simply read the works of top-class authors. These talented writers can use small details that appeal to the senses and immerse you in the story. 
• Explore – to boost your vocabulary when describing scenes, characters and feelings with the senses, it helps to go out and explore the world and absorb what it is you’re trying to convey. For example, if you need to describe the feeling of the bark of a tree, going out and examining and touching the different trees around you can help you come up with ideas for describing textures, smells and unique visual descriptions. Imagine stumbling across something like this below, for example. Have a go at describing the rich detail using each of the senses.

How Do I Use The 5 Senses To Write About Feelings And Emotions?

It’s difficult to describe how a character feels. People are complex beings and at the best of times, we can’t make sense of how we think and feel about a given thing. 

When writing, using the 5 senses can open up doors into the minds of our characters. In utilising them, we can avoid simply telling the reader what our character is feeling, (like, “he felt sad”) and instead, we can suggest or show it through the likes of body language, like how their shoulders are (sagging or raised).

Here are some more examples of the 5 senses when describing emotion:

• Sight – If, for example, your character is feeling a little down, you could focus on describing the way they interpret the world around them, such as focusing on the grey clouds hanging low in the sky, the wilted flowers in the garden, or the empty chair across the room.
• Sound – Incorporating sounds can help to create an atmosphere that resonates with your readers. Let’s say your character is feeling anxious. You could describe the ticking clock, the distant sirens, the creaking floorboards—things that increase the tension.
• Touch – A powerful method is to use tactile descriptions to help your readers feel what the character is feeling. For example, if your character is feeling nervous, you can describe their clammy hands, the beat of their heart in their ears, the tightness in their chest.
• Taste – Using taste really adds depth to your descriptions of emotion. If your character is feeling joyful, you could describe the sweetness of a ripe strawberry, the richness of a dark chocolate truffle, or the effervescence of champagne bubbles. Linking these things back to memories can also help to trigger a more powerful reaction. For instance, the taste of a an Indian curry that you had the night you proposed to your wife.
• Smell – Scent can also help to create a visceral experience for your readers, one that relates to them on a more emotional level. If your character is feeling nostalgic, you can describe the aroma of freshly baked cookies, the salty sea air, or the musky scent of old books.

By using the five senses in your writing you can create a multi-dimensional experience for your readers, making your characters and their emotions more real and relatable. Let’s take a look at just how powerful sensory details are when it comes to painting a picture in the reader’s mind. 

Use A Checklist To Help You With Writing With The Senses

Something I’ve done to improve my use of the 5 senses in my writing is to include them within the planning process. It’s good to save it until the end when you’ve plotted out your story or chapter, however.

What I do is read over the plan and try and place myself in the scenes. Working my way through each sense, I list everything that pops into my head.

• It’ll be unlikely that you need to spend too much time on sight , but taking the time to consider things in detail can provoke new and unique ideas. What little details can be included? Remember the power of specificity.
• Next, onto sounds . Like sights, it’s unlikely you’ll need to spend too much time on this but it’s always helpful to consider the likes of characters’ voices and any usual sounds that could be featured.
• Smells . When it comes to smells a good starting point is to list everything that comes to mind, even mere whiffs, which can be the most telling of all. Smells can provoke memories and emotions too, like the smell of perfume could remind a character of their dead lover, and that leaves you open to describe emotions.
• What can your character touch or feel? How does the hilt of the sword feel in your character’s fingers? How does the touch of a vivacious woman feel to your lonely character? What information can be gleaned from the manner of a handshake?
• Lastly, what tastes , if any, can you include? Is your character eating? Can they taste blood after being punched in the cheek? Do they enter a room where the smell is so foetid they can taste it?

Here are a few useful exercises to get into the swing of using the senses. The more you practice, the more it’ll become ingrained in the way you write and that’s why it’s one of my favorite writing tips of all!

• One place, one sense . As the title suggests, think of a place and describe everything you can using just one sense. Challenge yourself. Pick a sense you feel you struggle with. Or do one sense, then a different one. 
• Describe an object using the 5 senses. This is a nice simple exercise. Pick one object and describe it using all of your senses. Examples of objects could be chocolate (so you can taste) or a bottle of perfume (for the smell!).
• Close your eyes and pick an object up. This one was mentioned above, but it’s a powerful tool. Jot down everything you can think of.
• Pick your favourite food and eat! This one’s a bit more fun. Take chocolate for example. Savour each bite and write down everything, from taste to texture, the sounds of it breaking in your mouth, and importantly, how it makes you feel.
• Pick something alien and try to use sensory descriptions. This is a great way to challenge your use of the 5 senses because you have to create everything from scratch and to a whole new level of detail. So if you’re a sci-fi writer, this could be a great way to learn how to describe a spaceship in writing. 

Here’s a brilliant visual exercise too which I highly recommend trying. It’s quick, and easy and really does hone your skills when it comes to using the 5 senses in writing.

1. Walk And Write

This exercise I call walk and write . Take a notepad and write five headings: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. The next time you go out, even if it’s just to the shop on the corner, write down everything you experience. The touch of the rain or breeze, how the pavement feels underfoot, snippets of passing conversation you hear, the whistle of birds, how that warm and crispy sausage roll tastes. *Warning* You may look odd stopping all the time.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Take a walk outside and observe your surroundings. Use your senses to take note of what you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Write down your observations.
• Choose one of the things you noticed on your walk and use it as a prompt for your writing. For example, if you noticed the sound of birds chirping, write a descriptive paragraph that captures that sound.
• As you write, be sure to use sensory language to bring your description to life. Instead of simply saying “I heard birds chirping,” try something like “The melody of birdsong filled my ears, each chirp a delicate note in a symphony of nature.”
• Repeat this exercise for each of the senses. Choose a different observation each time and challenge yourself to use vivid sensory details to paint a picture with your words.

2. Write A Short Story With The 5 Senses

One of the most effective ways that you can sharpen your sensory description writing is to write a short story with the 5 senses. 

The way it works is simple. Plan out your story—characters, plotting, theme—and then when it comes to the writing, you’re only permitted to use the five senses. 

It can help to think of a story in which you’d likely use the sensory organs more than usual. Let’s look at a few writing prompts:

• Your protagonist awakens in a dark cave. It’s cold and damp. They must figure out what’s happened and find their way out.
• Your protagonist is fleeing through a forest. What are they running from? What awaits them up ahead?
• Your character is upon a ship and is knocked overboard. How do they survive in the turbulent waves?

These are just a few prompts that are specifically designed to help you use the five senses in your writing. Trust me, an exercise like this will have your skillset sharpened in no time.

3. Use 5 Senses Writing Prompts

Here are some 5 senses writing prompts that may help you get started:

• You’re at home, watching TV. You catch the scent of something. Something that makes you mute the TV, look around, stand up. What is it you smell?
• For three days you’ve been travelling alone through the woods. You’re two days from your destination. Tired, weary. And you’re pretty sure something is following you. The sun has long since set. The embers are dying in your fire. And you begin to hear sounds close by…
• You’ve just started a new job. The office is big, labyrinthine. On your way back from lunch on your first day, you get lost. You open a door with stairs leading down. You follow them. Get further lost. And the steps give way. You awake in darkness to the sound of something growling. You reach for your phone, turn on the torch…

There are a few examples of sensory language-based writing prompts for you. See where they take you.

You can never have enough adjectives to help you describe the five senses. Below, you can find a pretty simple list, but it serves as a great starting point. From there you can add some of your own examples of using the 5 senses in descriptive writing. I also have some other helpful writing tools here that you may find useful. 

Below, you can find answers to some commonly asked questions when it comes to sensory descriptions, as well as more descriptive writing examples using the 5 senses.

“The icy wind rattled the ancient shutters upon the windows, stirring a shudder and setting every hair on her body on edge.”

This sentence uses sensory language to describe not just how the setting looks (from the rattling ancient shutters we see it’s an old possibly abandoned house), and crucially, we get a sense of how it feels to be in that setting, which is the main objective. It feels eerie, we feel the cold. We’re spooked. 

Sensory description in fiction writing requires a writer to utilise the 5 senses – sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.

Incorporating the senses into your writing is simple. First, focus on what your characters can see in the scene. Then, one by one, think about what they can hear, smell, feel and taste. Assort your various descriptions and pick out your most powerful few.

The five senses are often used to draw a reader deeper into the scene, to feel closer to the characters. Writers do this by adding extra details focusing on the likes of touch and smell. This vivid writing that appeals to the senses can help immerse readers in our tales.

The best way is to pick up your favourite book and highlight any sentences or paragraphs that utilise the 5 senses. You’ll then have a bank of sensory details examples to call upon whenever you need them.

A sensory description is one that includes sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Exploring sensory language examples gives you a greater ability to immerse your readers in the story and experience what the characters feel.

If you have any questions or need more examples of the 5 senses in writing, please contact me.

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richiebilling

About author, related posts, 15 amazing words to describe the moon, with definitions and example sentences, mastering dialogue: the very best tips, the proven method of writing short story cover letters, 31 comments.

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When writing about the senses, authors should be careful to avoid FILTER words (saw, heard, felt, smelled, tasted) that detract from the scene. Don’t say, “I saw the sparkling water.” Instead, make it more vivid. Leave out “saw.” We know you saw it because you are describing it to us. Tell us instead more of WHAT you are seeing. “The sparkling water bubbled as a creature from below made its way to the surface.” Same goes with using “heard,” “felt,” “smelled,” and “tasted.” Omit those words and describe those senses so people can experience what the character is experience.

Terrific points! Thanks for taking the time to share!

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Thanks for sharing!

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Thanks for the link!

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This was very helpful in as a source.

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Steamy yet Sophisticated: How to Write the Perfect Kissing Scene

One of the most difficult scenes to write is a kissing scene, or really any scene when when things get hot and heavy.

Writers worry about being too obscene (will my mother read this?), or even worse, not vulgar enough (no one wants to be labeled a prude). 

Humans are private creatures when it comes to lust, and illustrating an intimate scene can still make the most seasoned writer nervous.

The perfect kissing scene is found smack dab between these two adjectives in the title — steamy and sophisticated — as it is the balance of coy and crude that can develop into a beautiful scene.

In order to craft the perfect kissing scene, it is important to look back on the work of others in order to see what works. I’m going to give you two examples and explain why both of them work.

Wait one second:

All writers absolutely need to read the best post I’ve ever written: “ 12 Steps to Write a Bestselling Novel. ”

Pause on your obsession with kissing and plunge headlong into the best guide post on novel writing.

You won’t regret it.

Dolphin-Slippery Kissing in Sophie’s Choice

Considered by many to be William Styron’s magnum opus, this story chronicles the friendship between a young Southern writer and a polish Auschwitz survivor. In this scene the young writer, affectionally named Stingo, is observing a painting beside a young jewish girl named Leslie.

“In the shadows her face was so close to mine that I could smell the sweet ropy fragrance of the sherry she had been drinking, and then her tongue was in my mouth. In all truth I had not invited this prodigy of a tongue; turning, I had merely wished to look at her face, expecting only that the expression of aesthetic delight I might find there would correspond to what I knew was my own. But I did not even catch a glimpse of her face, so instantaneous and urgent was that tongue. Plunged like some writhing sea-shape into my gaping maw, it all but overpowered my senses as it sought some unreachable terminus near my uvula; it wiggled, it pulsated, and made contortive sweeps of my mouth’s vault: I’m certain that at least once it turned upside down. Dolphin-slippery, less wet than rather deliciously mucilaginous and tasting of Amontillado, it had the power in itself to force me, or somehow get me back, against a doorjamb, where I lolled helpless with my eyes clenched shut, in a trance of tongue.”

In this selection Styron’s masterful description keeps the reader glued to the page for every swirl of young Leslie’s tongue. So let’s analyze what exactly worked …

Styron uses the element of surprise to initiate this kissing scene. The main character is still in the process of describing the odor of Ms. Leslie when she startles him with a kiss. By abruptly launching into the kiss mid-sentence, Styron is able to catch his readers off-guard. This helps allow the reader to experience the shock of an unexpected peck.

Another use of Styron’s unpredictable writing style centers around the metaphors and similes that take the reader by surprise with their effectiveness.

Who would of expected that describing a tongue as a “writhing sea-shape” trying to squirm its way out the back of your head would actually work? Or that, keeping with the nautical theme,  Styron would be able to make it sound natural when he illustrates a tongue as “dolphin-slippery”? 

Yet these depictions are such colorfully unconventional ways to describe the act of kissing, that they actually work despite their less-than-arousing sound.

Let’s take a look at another iconic kiss scene.

Star-Struck Kissing in The Great Gatsby

In “The Great Gatsby,” Fitzgerald’s story about wealthy Jay Gatsby’s ill-fated infatuation with the already married Daisy Buchanan, this scene describes a kiss between the two on a cool moonlight night.

“His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy’s white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed like a flower and the incarnation was complete.”

What makes this scene so compelling is the distinct and bizarre analogy Fitzgerald employs in order to describe the moment. A tuning fork struck upon a star? That’s utterly unique.

But remember that the majority of this kissing scene is the anticipation before the kiss. This is what writers most often forget. They go straight to the physical action and forget that the literary foreplay is the majority of the pleasure.

His figurative language in the second sentence makes the process of leaning in for this kiss almost metaphysical, as the speaker explains how this kiss will act as an act of therapy to cure all of the anxieties that plagued his mind. 

In Fitzgerald, a kiss is never just a kiss.

It can be a cure, an epiphany, a disaster, a transformation.

Kiss & Tell: 7 Takeaways From These Kisses

So what have we learned by analyzing these two scenes side by side?

• Spend some time describing in straightforward language what is happening, but don’t shy away from using strange and unusual metaphors for a kissing scene. 
• Don’t rush. Only bad writers treat a kissing scene as just the physical action between two sets of lips. A true kissing scene is the tension between two people before the kiss, the psychology during the kiss, and the reactions afterwards.
• A kissing scene isn’t just about the physical act of kissing. It’s really about the relationship between these two characters. What are they thinking? What do they really want (and it’s not always sex. It could be a connection, it could be avoiding the feeling of loneliness). 
• There is the early sexual tension, the physical act of lips meeting, and the climax can come either in the character’s thoughts about the kiss or in what they do after they’ve separated from each other (like the lightening in the Jane Eyre example below).
• Both in Gatsby and in the Siddhartha example below, the act of kissing becomes something more: it becomes a kind of revelation, an epiphany. Don’t be afraid to have your kissing scene lead your character into a profound realization.
• Is one enjoying it and the other hating it? Is one overthinking it and the other swept up in the passion? 
• In the Lolita example below, you will find an example of a kissing scene where you don’t trust the person describing the kissing. In Humbert Humbert’s version of the kiss, 12-year-old Lolita is the instigator of the kiss. But can we really trust his version of events?

Yes, your kissing scenes will be brilliant now, but what about the rest of your story?

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5 Bonus Kissing Scenes

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Before she could withdraw her mind from its far places, his arms were around her, as sure and hard as on the dark road to Tara, so long ago. She felt again the rush of helplessness, the sinking yielding, the surging tide of warmth that left her limp. And the quiet face of Ashley Wilkes was blurred and drowned to nothingness. He bent back her head across his arm and kissed her, softly at first, and then with a swift gradation of intensity that made her cling to him as the only solid thing in a dizzy swaying world. His insistent mouth was parting her shaking lips, sending wild tremors along her nerves, evoking from her sensations she had never known she was capable of feeling. And before a swimming giddiness spun her round and round, she knew that she was kissing him back.

Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse

She drew him toward her with her eyes, he inclined his face toward hers and lay his mouth on her mouth, which was like a freshly split-open fig. For a long time he kissed Kamala, and Siddhartha was filled with deep astonishment as she taught him how wise she was, how she ruled him, put him off, lured him back… each one different from the other, still awaiting him. Breathing deeply, he remained standing and at this moment he was like a child astonished by the abundance of knowledge and things worth learning opening up before his eyes.

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides

The rims of Clementine’s eyes were inflamed. She yawned. She rubbed her nose with the heel of her hand. And then she asked, “Do you want to practice kissing?”

I didn’t know what to answer. I already knew how to kiss, didn’t I? Was there something more to learn? But while these questions were going through my head, Clementine was going ahead with the lesson. She came around to face me. With a grave expression she put her arms around my neck.

The necessary special effects are not in my possession, but what I’d like for you to imagine is Clementine’s white face coming close to mine, her sleepy eyes closing, her medicine-sweet lips puckering up, and all the other sounds of the world going silent — the rustling of our dresses, her mother counting leg lifts downstairs, the airplane outside making an exclamation mark in the sky — all silent, as Clementine’s highly educated, eight-year-old lips met mine.

And then, somewhere below this, my heart reacting.

Not a thump exactly. Not even a leap. But a kind of swish, like a frog kicking off from a muddy bank. My heart, that amphibian, moving that moment between two elements: one, excitement; the other, fear. I tried to pay attention. I tried to hold up my end of things. But Clementine was way ahead of me. She swiveled her head back and forth the way actresses did in the movies. I started doing the same, but out of the corner of her mouth she scolded, “You’re the man.” So I stopped. I stood stiffly with arms at my sides. Finally Clementine broke off the kiss. She looked at me blankly a moment, and then responded, “Not bad for your first time.”

Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov

Hardly had the car come to a standstill than Lolita positively flowed into my arms. Not daring, not daring let myself go — not even daring let myself realize that this (sweet wetness and trembling fire) was the beginning of the ineffable life which, ably assisted by fate, I had finally willed into being — not daring really kiss her, I touched her hot, opening lips with the utmost piety, tiny sips, nothing salacious; but she, with an impatient wriggle, pressed her mouth to mine so hard that I felt her big front teeth and shared in the peppermint taste of her saliva. I knew, of course, it was but an innocent game on her part, a bit of backfisch foolery in imitation of some simulacrum of fake romance, and since (as the psychotherapist, as well as the rapist, will tell you) the limits and rules of such girlish games are fluid, or at least too childishly subtle for the senior partner to grasp — I was dreadfully afraid I might go too far and cause her to start back in revulsion and terror.

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

The rain rushed down. He hurried me up the walk, through the grounds, and into the house; but we were quite wet before we could pass the threshold. He was taking off my shawl in the hall, and shaking the water out of my loosened hair, when Mrs. Fairfax emerged from her room. I did not observe her at first, nor did Mr. Rochester. The lamp was lit. The clock was on the stroke of twelve.

“Hasten to take off your wet things,” said he; “and before you go, good- night — good-night, my darling!”

He kissed me repeatedly. When I looked up, on leaving his arms, there stood the widow, pale, grave, and amazed. I only smiled at her, and ran upstairs. “Explanation will do for another time,” thought I. Still, when I reached my chamber, I felt a pang at the idea she should even temporarily misconstrue what she had seen. But joy soon effaced every other feeling; and loud as the wind blew, near and deep as the thunder crashed, fierce and frequent as the lightning gleamed, cataract-like as the rain fell during a storm of two hours’ duration, I experienced no fear and little awe. Mr. Rochester came thrice to my door in the course of it, to ask if I was safe and tranquil: and that was comfort, that was strength for anything.

Before I left my bed in the morning, little Adele came running in to tell me that the great horse-chestnut at the bottom of the orchard had been struck by lightning in the night, and half of it split away.

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139 comments

How does it feel to really kiss?

Its like opening up your soul, tasting feeling and seeing every colour of the rainbow in their own sensual way, almost like catching a smile in a bottle, its softness, its sweetness… Like breathing in the person like a cool inhalation of oxygen to warm the soul.. Like nothing in the world exist but u and the person… This feeling like ur levitating off the ground floating in the air… What ur feeling cannot be put into words, nor has there get been any part of speech or figure of speech invented to describe it.. Its like an aphrodisiac, mixed with a Pandoras box effect , fireworks glowing inside u from the touch of the persons lips on u.

Woah, dude. That’s deeper than any of the kissing scenes in the article.

That was beautiful.

Wow. That’s quite deep.

Kissing feels like pressing your lips against slightly slimy cardboard and waiting to get on with the reasoning behind the kiss

You should write a book

Wooaaaahhhhhh…. that is some deep stuff but I do find myself agreeing with you.

Love it, you have enlightened me, now back to work and this time I know i need to engage senses

Damn. I’m shook from how deep that was.

that was beautiful…

this was so beautifully written it made me tear up and crave to feel it firsthand

*ahem* could I use this for the book I’m writing because I have no other ideas??

i ask the same thing cause i havnt experienced

It feels as if your whole world has been waiting for this moment. As if all the love inside your soul, as well as your body (with the right person) combine into lust and passion. The feeling of a good kiss is when your person your kissing wraps their arms around you, you feel as if you were safe but are complete aware of how you look, and wanting to impress them. A TRUE GOOD KISS, is the feeling when you feel sick to the stomach but strong as well. That, Sadie, is what I consider to be a good kiss.

I think how it feels, is when they lean in and look you in the eyes, before their lips fall on yours. The feeling of love and passion fills your soul. As if that kiss was meant to be yours. As if the person and you were meant to kiss. When that person grabs you and holds you close and kisses you so passionately, it makes you feel safe and completely venerable to that person. You feel as if your body will explode with the feeling of happiness, the feeling of being rarely safe in the persons hold. As if this pacific person was meant for you. And when it’s over, you just know. No kiss will ever compare. That is a real kiss. To me at least, Sadie.

She leads me to a small clearing. I see the starlight, those beautiful pinpricks of light in the infinite dark expanse of the universe. “Wow…” I stutter. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” she asks, slipping behind me. She hugs me around the waist, and I cringe instinctively away from the unexpected contact. “It’s… stunning” I grasp desperately for the correct word. “Turn around, I have one more surprise” she commands. I turn around, and all I see is her, her vibrant, fiery hair glowing with the silver cascade of the moonlight, the glow of the stars in her amber eyes, her delicate smile and the deep blushing on her face. “You were right, babe, it’s beautiful” I say, and her cheeks redden further. “There’s more” she says, and leans in quickly. Her lips touch mine gently and affectionately. My mind immediately crowds with a million thoughts, but I push them away for the moment, desiring nothing more than to enjoy this moment. Almost immediately, she recoils shyly and blushes uncontrollably. I stand in shock, the swarm of thoughts flowing into my mind. She begins to retreat, fearing that she may have taken things too far, too quickly. I move quickly to her, brushing away her hair. I lean in and gently guide her head toward mine. Our kiss lasts mere moments, but it feels great. Thousands of thoughts are forced away to make room for one single idea. Hold on to this moment forever. I release and rest my forehead against hers. “I love you, babe.” I say, barely more than a whisper. She blushes more. “I love you too” she whispers. Our lips connect once more. Each moment, the feeling of her soft, perfect lips becomes more and more provocative. It is in this moment that I truly realize that I am hers and she is mine. I was meant for this, I was meant for her. This is the first time that I have ever felt that I truly belong. I swear to god, we actually transversed the infinite planes to one in which time does not exist, because I am sure that if we were in the world, my passion for her would be enough to stop time, to hold this moment, to hold her, for ever. I wish to stretch this moment out into a thousand, just to feel her body against mine. She is Ember, she is my Ember, and I belong entirely to her. The world is gone, and we float through an infinite expanse of nothing, just the two of us, Abby and Ember. We love each other and that’s all that we need. We can stay here through all time and eternity. Sadly, the world of the living was not done with us yet. We release our lip lock. “That was… that felt amazing…” I stumble for words again. “I love you, Abby” she says, and I lay down on the ground. She sets her head on my breasts. After hours of thinking, I finally accept the embrace of sleep.

@Sadie and some others asking what a kiss feels like:

You are, very understandably, asking the wrong question. A kiss is never just a kiss. It’s the circumstances that determine what kissing feels like (and the meaning of the kiss is where your story lies). The first time I kissed a boy, I did it because I wanted to know what it would be like. I’d just turned 13 and worldly deciding it was time, but then the kiss turned out to be a huge disappointment. Wet, gross, my nose awkwardly bumping into his; it wasn’t what I’d imagined at all. The way my classmate’s tongue swirled in my mouth reminded me of the spinning cycle of a laundry machine. Was this what the fuss was all about? I wasn’t in such a hurry to grow up after that.

Fast forward to my first real party as a freshman in college where I kissed a man to distract him from his efforts to rape me. He’d drugged me and I woke up as he was taking my clothes off. I asked him to stop, but he didn’t. The ice-cold fear shooting through my veins overruled the nauseating revulsion of his unwelcome mouth on mine as I frantically bought myself time to think up an escape.

Every kiss in my life was different. I clearly remember the first kiss by a man I was deeply in love with despite my resignation that he would probably never want me. I barely registered the shock of his warm lips on mine because my world imploded, a signal sounded and doors closed between us. When the train slowly left the station, I couldn’t even feel my legs and floated to my seat in the happiest of dazes.

I’ve trembled in fear when I could no longer deny a man who’d been patient through many dates with me. I was terrified a kiss might lead to real feelings for him because I was nowhere near ready for a relationship and the impulse to flee, to actually run out of my own apartment, was battering at me but I locked my knees and braved the kiss anyway.

Speaking of knees: they gave out when my secret lover kissed me behind a curtain at a very public party as he whispered promises in my ear about what would follow later that night.

I’ve hated the kisses that I felt obligated to give, the taste of them like overripe oranges. But I’ve also begged for kisses from the men I loved, both for sloppy ones in the shower and sunlit ones in the morning. I’ve danced like a stripper after midnight to gain the affections of complete strangers when I was drunkenly trying to get over an ex, the anonymous arms around me healing the crumpled pieces of me fearing I’d never be noticed again. Sometimes I missed a man so much, kissing him felt like I was taking my first full breath in days. I’ve tearfully kissed men goodbye. One kiss shattered me with the sudden realisation that the man I loved meant for it to be the last. I’ve steeled myself for kisses intending to leave all my walls firmly intact, deliberately concentrating on perfect technique instead. I’ve kissed men intending a quick peck only to be swept up in a wave of heat. Last year I said “I do” before kissing my husband, all the while gripping his hands- both to let him know I truly meant it and to hold on for dear life. You’d think that almost 2 decades’ worth of kisses would qualify me to tell you what it really feels like, but I couldn’t possibly. Because a kiss is never just a kiss. Trust me on this. A kiss can be a pledge of love or a declaration of war, and sometimes it’s both.

Some writers reduce kissing to a purely physical act, and the result is a bad scene because kissing simply isn’t. Walking or cycling or eating an apple tends to feel roughly the same every time. Why? Because basic stuff like eating or moving from point A to point B usually doesn’t MEAN very much (unless it’s the first time walking after losing your legs in a car accident or there’s suddenly a worm in your apple on a bad day). Kisses never really feel the same because they always mean something. Even if it’s just a hasty smack and a “drive safe” between a husband and a wife, a kiss means something.

I think it’s helpful to see kissing as a way to communicate. Think about it: you never really have the same conversation twice either. If someone were to ask you; “what does talking really feel like?”, you’d probably pause. Because talking is never just… talking. Sure, you’re moving your lips, forming words, noises come out, language is chosen, but that’s not what it FEELS like to have a conversation, nor what a conversation is really about. What talking feels like depends rather heavily on the situation and the person you’re having the conversation with. Kissing is just like that; it’s interaction. It’s human connection. That’s why metaphors work so well when describing kisses. I never really know where my hands are during a kiss, but my brain always automatically processes what the kiss means. So when writing, I’d prioritise meaning over logistics and even sensory input every time. Without meaning, your readers won’t feel much either. Ask yourself: why does this kiss matter to these characters?

Also: never underestimate a hug or a brush of fingers or other non-verbal interactions. With the right meaning attached, they can be ridiculously powerful. I think it’s one of the great misconceptions of our time that we seem to think that only stuff in the bedroom counts. Also quite idiotic: all the times we label that same stuff as ‘casual’. It rarely ever is.

Just my 2 cents as I’m trying to figure out how to work the first kiss in the story I’m writing. I thought the article was really helpful. It reminded me of the basic fact that the meaning of the kiss always takes precedence.

Oh wWOOOOOOWWWW!! NOW THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. This is beautiful.

God, I needed to write a comment after reading such an enlightening comment. Thank you so much for your thorough examples and explanations, know that somewhere on this planet someone will keep this in mind when they write their kissing scene <3

It depends a lot on the person.

I personally do not feel much stimulated by kissing, for me my partner’s stimulation turns me on af.

It feels warm, soft & very intimate.

Kissing is like communicating with your partner. It makes you feel certain emotions you have never felt before. It is like connecting with your partner’s soul, and feeling the warmth of your partner’s breath. It helps build a stronger bond with your partner, and makes them feel welcomed.

I think it’s like a really awkward moment of sucking face.

Your breath is all entangled (you can’t breath well because you’re so close) and you’re choosing to trust your partners oral hygiene (like don’t they ask themselves??)

But my friends in relationships say it’s addictive.

In truth, a little awkward. A chaste kiss is just a mouth against a mouth – warm, but not really something one has to get very descriptive about. Open-mouthed kisses without tongue are probably my favorite (wow, I never thought of that until now, actually!) because they’re not as invasive as a kiss with tongue but not as chaste as a closed-mouth kiss. This kiss feels soft, unless there’s lip biting involved (which is hot until someone starts bleeding). Warm, of course. It’s almost like a caress. As for kisses with a lot of tongue, I can’t be trusted to describe such a kiss without letting my bias show significantly.

I’m very late to this party, but this is a great article! It definitely helped me while writing these type of scene’s in my story and the examples given from stories were also very helpful.

what’s your story?

So you think that YOU’RE late? I am like late late lol. but nevertheless, the article was helpful no matter how late people come to it.

Yo, you think YOU’RE late? If you’re late late – I’m late late late late late! Gotta agree though, this article has helped out my writing loads.

You think YOU’RE late? if you’re late late late late late, I’m late late late late late late late! Yeah, this helped though

You think YOU’RE late?

You think You’re late? If you’re….. oh, never mind.

I agree with all, this is a fantastic article and has literally just helped my kissing/love-making scene. Thank you.

lmfao what?

Oh, you poor, oblivious souls. These days, Late takes poor, unsuspecting humans and infects them with the plague you know as the opposite of “punctuality”. No cure has been found for Late, unfortunately.

So this is part of a musical that I wrote for fun but…. So Kate and Thomas are married and she has been abused in the past so she locks him in the bathroom once she sees the bed because she gets scared. He escapes through the door that leads outside and has made his way back into the room (Thomas tries to sneak away but Kate spots him)

Kate(spoken): T-Thomas….. I—– (turns away as if to leave) Thomas(running over to her and kissing her, silencing the apology. She pulls back and he lets her): Shhhh…..it’s okay. He did more than just shove you a couple times didn’t he? What did he do to you? I want to know everything. ( Kate stares at her hands) Kate (whispered): Knives can fly (Thomas takes her hands in his and rubs them tenderly in a circular motion): Look I can wait until you’re ready to talk but I’m also not leaving this room until you tell me everywhere he hurt you and how he did it. Kate(whispered): okay (Her shoulders are trembling and he grabs them gently but firmly to steady them) Thomas( soothing): now where do you want to start? …… So the musical continues and he gets her to tell him everything. She is also subconsciously buttoning her blue jean jacket up as she talks …… * so to make this easier I’m turning the rest into a story format on here* Thomas shakes his head in anger,” that man better be praising the Lord that he is in jail because if not HE’D BE DEAD. Kate begins to tremble and pulls away.”Thomas, please you’re scaring me,” Thomas relaxes and a look of worry crosses his face. “Sorry baby, I just got a little mad. Look I can sleep on the couch until you’re ready” he starts to leave but she stops him “Don’t” her voice is steady now, no longer afraid. “We don’t have to, baby” he again goes to leave but she stops him again. ” Please,” she kisses him and he immediately pulls back, worry written all over his face. ” Katy-cat” ” I want to ” (I can’t italicize but the want is emphasized) she kisses him again. Thomas pulls back and stares her in the eyes, ” are you sure?” She hesitates the fear visible in her eyes for a brief second before determination takes over. ” Yes….just….go slow” His voice grows gentle but firm as he says ” okay. If you start to panic, I’m gonna stop immediately and go sleep on the couch. Deal?” “Yes” Thomas scoots closer and starts to unbutton her jacket. [The stage darkens. The last thing visible is Kate’s jacket falling to the floor]

That’s really good. Great job!!

Thanks….really helped.. I’m 15 writing my first novel that is romance but fiction based….looking for someone to sponsor me to act it probably during the August holiday.

17 and working on my own stuff my dude. Keep writing, be as consistent as you can manage. You got this.

15 and writing a novel too. It’s nice to see all the positivity around

14 and trying but keep getting distracted. I am hoping all of you get it done and published.

17 and about to write a romantic and dangerously feisty scene. Helping a ton!

13 and trying as well. It’s a fantasy but there’s lots of romance :happy-face:

I write books in my free time, and they’re romance books, so yeah, this article was pretty useful for future references, thanks so much. does anyone know how to get a book published?

Honestly, anything that uses the phrase ‘gaping maw’ and ‘dolphin slippery’ should not be used as a template for a good kiss scene. Unless you’re into making out with Lovecraftian monsters those aren’t phrases you use to describe kissing. Vore, maybe. Kissing, no.

Thank you. I read that and my nose wrinkled like “whaaaa???” Is it surprising, yes. Is it a scene that would make a reader sigh in bliss. Absolutely no. Wow. That is a descriptor I would 100% stay away from.

Damn it was just mind blowing!!

Yessssss @TheBoi yesssss! Like yesssssssssssssss

“Are you going to be okay?” I whispered. “Yeah. Let’s just get it over with.” She took off her sweater. “Okay.” I breathed. She wrapped her arms around my neck and teased me with her big green eyes. “Okay,” I repeated. I awkwardly put my arms around her waist. We stared into each other’s eyes for an awkward second. I leaned down, and she brought her head up. Our lips connected. She deepened the kiss. With one hand, she took the hat off my head and dropped it on the ground. She ran her hands through my dark pink hair. I had dyed it because I constantly had trouble with being kind. I had little sympathy for people, so the color pink reminded me that some people do hurt like I do. It reminded me to have compassion for others. I got made fun of a lot for having such a “girly” hair color. I never listened, though. It was a decision that I made to better myself, even if I got beaten up for it. We both shifted so that Ash was on my lap. I tugged at the bottom of her crop top. My hand slid up her spine. I felt a tremor go through her body. My hand slid back down her spine, resting at her hip. I unconsciously tilted my head to deepen the kiss. We kissed more and more passionately by the second. After a moment, I unintentionally slid my hand down and lightly touched her on the back of her thigh. She stopped moving. “Stop.” “What?” I pulled away. “What’s wrong?” “Just stop.” She pulled away and got up. Without looking back, she ran away. I stared after her in disbelief. It took a moment for it to click. “Oh, no. I’m a terrible person.” I put my head in my hands. “What did you do?” Victoria’s expression hardened. I beckoned to her. I whispered in her ear, “I touched her where he did.” She stared at me, horrified. “You are a terrible person.”

This is an excerpt of a story that I’m working on. This part is when one of the main characters, Alexei, and his best friend, Ashlynn, are playing Truth or Dare with their class at a party. Before they were playing, Ashlynn got assaulted by a classmate. Alexei knocked the classmate out in an attempt to protect Ashlynn. But anyway, Alexei gets dared to make out with Ashlynn, whom he affectionately calls “Ash.” At first he blatantly refuses, but Ashlynn insists that it doesn’t bother her, and so they make out. Victoria is Ashlynn’s other best friend, by the way.

That’s amazing!! I’m an aspiring (fan) fiction writer and hope to actually be as good as that one day ahahaha….

Same haha, i write alot of fanfiction but i’m moving on to an actual novel soon.

wow!! me too this article helped me a lot. im 13 and i write lots of fanfictions on wattpad and kissing scenes are the hardest to write.

Damn. I want more

I’m having a hard time writing my first kissing scene. This helps lot!

ok…? once i had a dream where i was playing Spin The Bottle (not that I’d ever do that in real life) with some acquaintances of mine, and I had to kiss this one guy that i don’t like very much. it was a pretty weird dream.

Lev snickered slightly as he put his forehead to mine. Our lips were so close I could have easily kissed them. I felt his breath on my lips and closed my eyes, cherishing the moment. He leaned in closer and placed his lips upon mine. We were like that for a minute until he heated things up a little. He Kissed me harder as he gently tugged at my hair. “L-lev!” I exclaimed, pulling away a little and gasping for air. My eyes met his and I relaxed. His Green eyes gave me a lustful look.

What do you think?

That’s cool!!!

personally i don’t believe in the zodiac, but if you use the zodiac kissing/cuddling/flirting styles that match your character it can really help, or at least i think so here’s a part of my writing: Bill and Ford sit on the grass. Bill presses his forehead against the side of her face. Stanford just pokes him in the cheek. Bill smiles and closes his eyes pulling Ford closer. She pushes him back a bit.

“Aw, what’s wrong?” Bill asks with a fake pout.

“Nothing.” She says softly while laying her head on his shoulder and scratching the back of his head. Bill begins to pick the wild buttercups and and evening primroses to weave a crown which he put on her head. Ford gently pecks him on the cheek and chuckles softly. He pulls her in closer again and kisses her. Her eyes widen at the surprise but she soon became familiar with his fiery aggressiveness. As they fell into the grass Stanford broke from his iron grip and started giggling.

“I know you’re incapable of fun, but you should try laughing more, its so cute.” He smiles.

She just chuckles some more. “I don’t know how to respond to that.” He grabs her chin and kisses her again, this time she expected the bite. He presses his forehead against hers and looks at her. “Your eyes are like swirling galaxies.”

“I’ve heard it before.” She says pulling his tie and poking his nose.

“I should become an an astronomer because I can’t stop studying them.” She hits him on the back of the head before giving him another peck on the cheek.

“Do you know how hard it is when you have no one to talk to? When you are the only one that is different? Do you know what it feels like when nobody is there to love you? I don’t think I can do this anymore.” Vladimir put his hand underneath my chin and made me look at him. His bright green eyes lit up by the mini him. “No one and nobody?” I could feel his fire burn through the coldness that I was feeling. His hand that was on my chin moved to my cheek and his other moved up my arm. He trailed his fingertips on my forearm barely even touching me. It made me shiver, he didn’t look away from me when a car honked. I was scared lost in the pools of his eyes, I didn’t know if I wanted my first kiss to be with the person I’m not even supposed to be attracted to. Before I could even think of his brother finding out his lips parted mine. It was gentle at first he wasn’t sure if I wanted it, then it got firmer as I didn’t pull back. His hand went behind my neck and pulled my closer to his face, the other hand laying my on the ground. I don’t know if I was expecting fireworks, but this felt different than what I had imagined my first kiss would feel like. My hands wrapped around his neck before I could even think about anything. This is what I wanted. I didn’t want his brother, I wanted him. I felt the sand in my hair as he rolled my on top of him. This is apart of my fiction story where this girl is engaged to the prince, but found out that she is more attracted to his brother. This had happened before with the brothers where Henry’s (The one that the girl is engaged to) ex-wife thought she was in love with Vladimir and Henry had her killed after he had found out that she was sleeping with Vladimir.

I love it so much! Is it being published? I would love to read it.

“Can I kiss you?” I bit down on my bottom lip, nodding. “Close your eyes.” I shut my eyes, tilting my head slightly. Her hand moved to the small of my back, steadying me. She tilted her head, and I felt her hair brush my elbow as her lips met mine. I moved my hand down her face, resting it on the back of her neck. She wrapped her arm around my waist as she moved her mouth against mine, anxiety and worries making way to numbness. It was the kind of kiss that was so intoxicating your brain couldn’t handle thinking about anything else. We only broke when we needed to breathe, and I briefly basked in the image of her heavy-lidded eyes and slightly messy hair before our lips met again. She deepened the kiss, pulling me on top of her so that my legs were straddling hers. It was so much and not enough all at once. A high pitched scream broke us apart, ringing through the entirety of the school grounds.

The second the door closed, Henry was on Michael in a heartbeat, pinning him against the wall. Already it was far out of bounds of public modesty. Michael could feel Henry ever so slightly brushing his tongue over his bottom lip, requesting entrance. Michael denied. Rejected but not disheartened, Henry moved down to Michael’s neck. A small moan slipped out from between his lips as Henry nipped just below his ear lobe, before he made his devious way down to suck a lovebite on Michael’s sunkissed skin. His slender fingers were gently caressing the curve of Michael’s hip, while the other was softly grasping his jaw. Henry suddenly had the power to turn his husband’s legs to jelly, leaving him undone with just a few kisses and some very strategic touching. Michael felt helpless, his eyes shut and his head lolling backwards against the wall in a trance of tongue. At last, Michael gave in to Henry’s wordless requests, and as his sweet lips toyed with his, he was finally granted entrance. Michael struggled to keep his footing as Henry’s tongue softly mapped every inch of his mouth. As they broke apart for air, Michael took the opportunity to sensibly suggest that it probably wasn’t the best idea to get intimate in the hallway, as much as he wanted to. Henry agreed.

“Do you want to take this upstairs, or finish it later?” He smirked, before turning to inspect the delicious red mark he had left on Michael’s neck. He seemed proud of his work, and Michael couldn’t disagree. He was shaking, and felt like if the wall behind him wasn’t there, then he would have collapsed ages ago.

Michael considered his options for a few seconds. He could either go upstairs and be rendered subject to Henry’s magic, or walk away and start cooking dinner, and risk his kids seeing the red mark on his neck. He didn’t think he had enough mental strength for the latter.

“Let’s go up…”

Michael went up the stairs first, so that Henry would be there to catch him if his knees gave way. When he reached the landing without falling, he couldn’t say he wasn’t a bit proud of himself. He opened the door on the left to their bedroom, and Henry stepped in after him. He slowly shut the door behind himself, a kind of hunger in his eyes which Michael couldn’t quite place. It was almost predatorial, but he liked it.

“Come here. Gosh, your lips look…. delicious.”

Michael obliged without word.

“Gosh, your lips are delicious.” Henry murmured, sending sparks and shivers up Michael’s spine.

i can’t stop reading this, it’s really well written. i always reference it when writing because of how good and descriptive it is. great job!

That’s soooooo awesome!!! If that book is coming out, I will buy it. I have been looking trough the comments for so long and this is until now the best of all. I just wrote my first kissing scene and I think it ended up pretty good. This gave me so many ideas and I hope it’s okay, if I copy it? That was just really good job!

I’ve never had the chance to ever kiss anyone so making one up is even more difficult then I could even imagine I don’t know how to describe it but this sort of helped

Same, I’ve never had a kiss before so it’s harder then it should be

he grabbed my hand and pulled me back inside his grip was firm and the next thing I knew he slammed his lips to mine and nearly knocked all wind from my lungs. I hardly had time to react before he pressed his tongue to the seam of my lips I opened my mouth in shock he delved inside my mouth. It was a very sloppy kiss with the strong scent of mint being exchanged in the intermingling of our billowing breaths. He let go of my lips and we took in a deep breath before he dulged back in I could feel his saliva as it rolled off my tongue and seeped down my throat with every push of his tongue against mine.

I’m working on a romance novel and these totally helped!! There are two characters. It’s being told from the girl’s perspective. Neither has had their first kiss. The girl is uninterested, but the boy really likes her. Gradually, she begins to like him but they aren’t dating. There is some low-key flirting and a few romantic moments but nothing serious. I’m planning to have to boy go in for a kiss, but I have no idea how I want to describe it. He’s kind and considerate, but he’s also been having feelings for her for a long time and he wants to go all in. Anyone here have something I can tweak that I can use?

Here is one that I have been working on:

We stared at the sunset for a minute. I stared at the rosy clouds and commented, “It looks like I can just pluck the clouds out of the sky and eat them. Don’t they look like cotton candy?” He laughs. “I love the way you think.” I sigh, stretching my arms above my head and then placing them behind my back on the soft mossy ground. I lean on my elbows, and then, eventually, lie down completely. I fold my hands behind my head and watch the last of the sun’s rays disappear below the horizon. The first stars begin to peek out from the black curtain sweeping above out heads and the light of the full moon. There aren’t any crater or bruises — just a polished sphere of white looking down at me. I glanced at Ethan, surprised to realize that he was looking at me. Or, more specifically, my lips. “Is something wrong?” I ask. “Is my make-up smudged?” “Or something,” he agrees, staring at me with something in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before. I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. “Is something wrong?” my voice caught. He didn’t reply, instead leaning in closer. He lay down next to me, propped up by his elbow. His face was only a hair’s breadth away from mine. I turned to look at him and he pressed forward. He kissed me. I had known in my heart all along. He loved me. And now it it me full force. His hand crept up my spine, pulling me in close. His hand rested on my hip and behind my neck. His lips started to open mine. Trembling, I obeyed. I almost couldn’t breathe as his roving hands swept up my hips. I knew that he wanted me to kiss him back. I wanted to as well, but I was so shocked that I was completely immobilized. He pulled away. “Kiss me,” he whispered. I pressed my lips to his. My hand ran through his dark hair. I felt a tremor go through his body before he wrapped his arm around me. He slid his body on top of mine, bracing himself with his elbows so I didn’t get the full brunt of his weight. He kissed me harder, almost aggressively. His mouth opened mine. I swiveled my head back and forth, mapping out his mouth. I was wrapped up in the kiss, and I didn’t want it to stop. His hands clutched my forearms, preventing me from moving. His arms stopped carrying so much of the weight and he pushed down on top of me. He ran his fingers through my hair. I couldn’t breathe, what with my shock and his weight. I pushed off of the ground and he slid his body off of mine. In the process, his lips parted with mine and we both panted heavily. Then I scooted closer. I hadn’t been this close to someone before, and it made me feel safe. I kissed him gently, nothing fancy. I stood up, knowing that we couldn’t stay here forever. He did the same. “Goodbye,” I murmured, my lips wet. And before he could say anything, I took off, sprinting towards my house.

I really like the writing, just the “swiveled my head back and forth” part is a little weirdly worded.

Okay, I have a fanfiction that I’m working on, and I’m trying with the kiss scene. Please tell me your thoughts. The setting is they are laying on Will’s bed on their sides looking at each other: He cut me off with a sloppy kiss, due to our awkward position on the bed. I kissed back, grabbing his arm to pull him on top of me. Will nibbled my bottom lip making me let out a soft moan, which Will took as an opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth. We moved in sync, passionately kissing each other. I felt connected to Will at that moment, more than I ever had before. He pulled off my lips and swiftly moved to my neck. He sucked and licked his way down, leaving marks that I’d later have to cover up later. I tugged at the hem of his shirt, and he knew what I wanted. In one quick motion he whipped off his shirt, and I sat up for a second to take off mine. There was a gleam in Will’s azure eyes that made chills crawl down my spine. He shoved me back down on the bed and kissed me again. I ran my hands through WIll’s golden locks, tugging at the back, making Will groan in response. Will had been hovering over me this whole time, but he now layed down, the weight of him crushing me, but in a good way. I could feel his boner digging into my thigh, which just turned me on even more. He left my lips again, kissing down my stomach. I was about to tell him to keep going when there was loud banging on the door. “WILLLLL!!! NICCOOOOO!! DINNER!!” Kayla yelled.

Oh my gods. Solangelo?

Oh my gods!!! Solangelo!!!

OMFG!!!!! SOLANGELOOO! LESSGOOO

wow nice touch really felt real

I am a complete and absolute bookworm. I am writing a novel [trying to] to enter in the young authors award. That article was really helpful as were the comments. I have a brief idea on how to write a kissing scene as though i am actually there. Thanks guys!

I’m writing a story, and I tried to write a kissing scene, but since I’ve never kissed anyone, I don’t know how good or bad this is.

“Well, I don’t know, there’s just something that I really wanna do,” he says, resting his hand on the back of his neck. Before I can ask what, he presses his lips to mine. At first, the kiss is sweet, kind of like a looooong peck. But all the innocence is stripped away as he parts my lips with his. He slides his tongue along my bottom lip, and I moan softly. He slips his tongue inside my mouth, and we battle for dominance as he leads me towards the bed. He gently pushes me down onto the bed. He climbs on top of me, resting on his elbows, careful to not put his full weight on me. He connects his lips to mine once again, and as soon as our tongues meet again, the door opens and we jump apart, Will quickly climbing off of me. I look over to see who interrupted our heated make-out session, and I see Connor standing there, smirking.

so ive been working on this story for a while now in 14 and never been kissed this website gave me a good idea of what to write could I maybe get some feedback . thanks guys 🙂 stay safe .

now im stood here in the middle of the hall looking around frantically , i need to find him right now . i take a step forward because i think i saw him but i was wrong then i take a step back in frustration and i bump into someone as i turn to apologise i see him his perfectly sculpted face.

for whats eens like eternitys we just stare directly into eachothers eyes most people would look at his eyes and see beautiful green baut at this very moment i see mountains and maps and thousands of miles of beautiful senary surrounded by coulors no one even knows exist and only i will ever see. i see myself and i see a future full of love as he looks down at my slightly parted lips. i know whats about to happen we both lean into eachother in slow motion only breaking eye contact for a few seconds to look down at his lips . our mouths touch the slightest bit and i pull away with anxiety then we begin closing the gap even more and then gradually this small peck becomes this much more passionate kiss with its own lifeline surviving by the slight movements of our toungs dancing in our mouths were connected body and soul in this moment the rest of the world spins so fast it becomes nonexistent in my mind . i lean further in to hold him and keep myself from melting into the floor, our eyes are closed but i can see clearer than i ever have. Its asif i can feel fireworks blazing , glowing and igniting something within me . were completely and utterly in sync in this very moment, i can feel his hands running through my hair and im tugging at his this moment couldn’t be anymore perfect. We both slow down and cautiously pull back i noow remember that everyone is staring at us and i can hear them clapping but i don’t care i look up into his eyes as i hug him and i realize he doesn’t care either we were together and thats all that mattered .

This will be the first kissing scene I’m going to write for my book, hope someone can give me a feedback. I’m a bit scared it’s not good enough..

And for a brief moment, they both just stared fondly at each other eyes.

Then Yoongi gently held Aen’s face with his other hand, tilts his head and slowly started leaning towards her.

Aen felt her heartbeat accelerate and when Yoongi’s face was just an inch away from her face, she abruptly close her eyes.

Yoongi felt the same, although his heart has been beating rapidly ever since Aen said she loves him for who he is. And when he saw her close her eyes, he smiled.

And finally the feelings they had for each other was sealed as their lips meet. 

They both felt happy and complete, and the 0 on their wrist glowed at the same time as well indicating their souls have bonded .

Aen feels Yoongi put her hand that was on his face behind his neck, then his hand was on her waist and pulled her a bit closer.

The kiss is sweet and is full of affection.

they shared made them feel like time had stop just for them and that this moment was already predestined to happen.

And as they both parted for a breather, they look at each other’s eyes and smiled.

The suprised studio date was really worth it.

I think it’s great, I myself don’t really like the very graphic kiss descriptions (that’s just me) but this is really good! make it a bit more consistent either past or present tense, as you’ve got “they both just stared fondly” and also “Aen feels Yoongi” so, just choose past or present tense and stick with one or the other is my advice.

I have never been kissed before im also working on something this is really good!!!!

Omg, guys! These are so good! I’m writing a novel, however, I have never been kissed before. Tell me what you think:

I stared at the sunset, the swirling twilight mixing with the dark purples and oranges and the red sun to make a spiraling masterpiece. I sighed with content, propping myself up with the heels of my hands. I turn my head to scratch an itch when I see Andrew staring at me. “What?” I ask, nervous. Then I clear my throat to try and remove the squeak in my voice. “Is something wrong?” It doesn’t work. Why am I nervous? I shouldn’t be nervous—nothing’s going on. After all, I’ve known him for a month now, and there haven’t been any sparks. Have there? My knees start trembling, and in an effort to retain our friendship—and my dignity— I smooth my skirt over them. In an effort to look casual, I say, “This looks like something you’d paint, Andrew.” He shakes his head and doesn’t elaborate. Eventually, he stands up and holds his hand out. I take it and gently pull myself up. “Audrey, there’s… something I should tell you.” He stares at me with that intense look in his eyes, that look where you can tell he’s thinking hard. His wide, blue eyes stare at me, and I reach for his hands. There’s something so irresistible about his stare. And before I can stop myself, I lean forward until my face brushes up against his. I wait a moment, in case he wants to pull away, but he doesn’t. And for a second, I doubt myself. My emotions are so tangled, no comb could straighten them. But there’s something that could. So I close that last bit of space and press my lips against his. I can tell he’s been waiting for this moment. And strangely, semi-consciously, so have I. He slides his hands down my hips and I shiver, and he senses it. He cradles me in his arms, tilting his head to deepen the kiss, and I part my lips. I wrap my arms around him, closing every last bit of space, and he picks me up; I’m much shorter than him. I run my hands through his thick, brown hair and smile. I never thought I’d be touching him like this before. He carries me to his house, setting me down on the porch. We part for a moment, breathing in, before indulging ourselves once more. I’ve always been so shy, but that part of me melts away. I tug at his shirt, urging him to take it off. With a sexy smile, he takes my hands, evading my efforts and leads me inside. We make it to his bedroom, not bothering to close the door before he scoops me up again. I feel so… brave in his arms. His hand slides up my back, warm and soothing. I melt into his touch and squeeze him to me. I want more but… I just can’t seem to get it. I pull away, and our eyes meet. He understands. He feels it too. And with that, he’s on top of me, tugging off my shirt and his. I run my hand down his chest, hard with muscle. I’m so indulged I vaguely sense him working at the button on my jeans. I lay back on the bed, stretching out my arms, inviting him to join me. He does, pressing his lips to mine, his minty breath is intoxicating, pulling me in, I scoot closer, my heart pounding. His lips part mine, and our tongues meet. I map out his mouth, feeling every inch. I slide my hands down his waist as his hands tangle in my hair. I haven’t been this close to anyone, ever. I don’t want anything else. I just need him. There’s no distractions, we dissolve into each other’s bodies. It all happened so fast, but I can’t feel anything else. There’s nothing else but Andrew.

Ok, are you a proffesional writer? Because it sure seems like you are . I mean seriously. How do you evn get that good?!

Ok, so this is a story that I finished a while ago, and I’m just gonna type up the kiss scene here, that is, if anyone can see it. My comments are kinda unapproved, so here goes. This story is about a girl named Amethyst who is secretly a hero named the Black Jaguar (not the Black Panther, that’s someone else.). She is friends (okay… more than that) with a guy named Easton. And as a superhero, Black Jaguar has a partner named Blue Tiger. This is the kissing scene between Amethyst and Easton, where they are in the woods, and (for some as yet unknown reason) they’re talking about their favorite types of kisses. This was my very first kissing scene I ever wrote, so please just read, and don’t judge. (the word are slightly changed from the original for this, btw.)

“I like the really slow kisses, the kind that go for a long time,” Easton said. “Shall I demonstrate?” Now Amethyst was completely shocked. Her heart began to hammer in her chest. “On me?!” she squeaked. Easton waggled his blonde eyebrows at her. “Of course on you, silly! Who else is there?” Easton said. Around them, the woods were mostly silent, except for the occasional bird song. “So do you want to?” Amethyst blushed fuchsia. In a very small voice, she said, “OK.” Easton then scooted over to her, his sea-green eyes filled with a smoldering passion as he came closer and closer, until he was less than an inch away from her. Amethyst’s heart was thumping hard, and her soft, freckled cheeks were a fiery shade of red. Easton placed his strong hands gently on her small shoulders, and lowered his face to hers. His forehead touching hers, he brought his lips to hers, and he kissed her gently, pressing his mouth to hers. The feeling of fire completely consumed Amethyst, and she was lost the kiss they shared. Their first kiss was a long one, full of mutual passion and a shared love. Easton buried his hands in her dark hair, running his fingers through it as he kissed her with an unearthly fire and passion. Amethyst felt herself falling backward, landing on the mossy ground with a slight thud. Amethyst ran her hands up his chest, it being surprisingly muscular for someone so slim, and Easton rolled to be on top of her, letting out a groan of delight. Easton’s hands moved out of Amethyst’s hair to keep himself up, and Easton gently opened Amethyst’s small mouth to let his tongue in. Amethyst’s violet eyes opened in surprise at the feel of his tongue in her mouth, but she eventually succumbed to Easton’s ministrations. Easton lifted his head up, long enough for him to whisper, “Amethyst, why don’t you kiss m–” but the rest of his sentence was cut off by Amethyst pressing her lips to his. Amethyst felt like her skin was on fire, as heat coursed through her veins, but she kept it up. She always wanted to be with this boy, she realized. Placing her hands on Easton’s strong shoulders, she sat up, and they stopped for a moment, the kissing having made them breathless but grinning. Amethyst swooped towards him, her mouth making contact in a moment, and she landed on top of him. With her on top of him, and Easton taking advantage of this moment to run his hands down her skirt-covered legs, and Amethyst placing her slender hands under his shirt and up his back. Finally, they broke apart, breathing heavily and lying on top of each other. “That was…great, for a first, second and third kiss,” Amethyst panted, getting off of Easton. Then they got up and ran hand in hand, into the distance, where destiny was calling their names.

In my book, it is pretty different than the rough draft, where someone sneaks up behind them and takes a picture of them kissing. And in the book, they have to cut the make-out session short to go change into their superhero costumes (but neither knows that the other is a superhero). Also, shouldn’t there be a stopping point in the kissing? I mean, I have standards for this stuff, so….. yeah. Anyway, hope you like it, and I hope I did it right!

(I’m a 15 year old girl and this is my first “spicy” scene as I like to call them XD.)

His breath is hot on my neck and I can feel a bulge pressed on my lower back. “What do you want me to do?” He whispers in my ear. Tingles shoot through my body from hearing those words. “I want you to show me you love me.” I say breathily.  His hands snake around my lower back to my stomach slightly pulling me closer. Soft kisses trail up my neck as he turns me around planting a passionate kiss on my lips.  Our lips move in unison changing from passionate to fiery lust. My hands touch his face bringing him closer to me deepening the kiss. He pulls away breathing heavily looking into my eyes.  “Let’s go to the bedroom.” He says with a husky voice. In one smooth sweep, I am carried into the air. We share teasing kisses as he walks slowly to the room. Sitting on the bed I straddle him, he grins before flipping me over with him on top. With a look in his eyes for approval, I nod. He kisses from my neck to between my breasts to my stomach then stops to look at me. He kisses lower and lower teasing my hot skin before opening my legs… (So, how was the scene?)

It goes very quickly. I think its too short. I don’t know where the clothes come off or if she’s nervous or if he’s excited or…

i would suggest maybe describing how the kisses feel (tingling, shocks, sparks, etc.) if you’re going to make this type of scene i advise to put more details in how they look. if they are blushing if they are taking in each other’s eyes (what colour are they?). adding what type of clothes they wear.

wow 😳 it’s crazy

Hey everyone, I’m really late to this, but please tell me what you think! I would love any feedback – this is just the middle bit of a kiss description. I realise it’s not that good but the only way I will improve is from your feedback.

Her skin was soft but her lips were chapped and weathered. As Michael ran his hand across her cheek he felt an irregularity, a scar of some kind. In his opinion it made her more beautiful and unique, like a gorgeous butterfly. She was new, yet felt oddly familiar. She fit perfectly into his arms, her lips seemed moulded to the shape of his and his hands curled around hers so perfectly he felt they had been made for him. Close up, she smelt familiar, somehow: wine, roses, honey… she reminded him of his home. She tasted like anything amorous. She tasted like tenderness, warmth and intimacy – he imagined holding her by a bonfire, watching the reflection of the flames dancing across her skin. She tasted like pure, clear water, as though it came straight from a spring. She tasted like passion, like pure, unrestrained passion. Whatever she tasted like, it made Michael want more.

Dang! This is soooo good. It’s really deep and descripitive. You don’t even need feedback!

DANG! It’s brilliant! Really deep and descriptive. I tried to think of feedback but it doesn’t need any; it’s so perfect. Great job dude!

Wow that’s awesome! I’ve never written a kissing scene before nor have I been kissed but I’m doing my best to figure out the best way to do mine.

wow, that was really good!!! you put the right amount of decryption in every little action and you pinpoint every single detail beautifully

“Can you come here Ezlyn?” “Sure David.” We walked into the woods and David started speaking. “Over this year I have realised how I need you in my life. I realised that I woke up to see you smile and laugh. I can’t live without you, I need you by my side.” “David,” This was very odd for him. “No let me finish. I need to love you. You are so special to me, you can’t even know how much I love you. I love you so much.” He leaned forward and I took a step back to find my back against a tree. My nose breathed in his sandalwood cologne and I was immediately calmed. He wiped a strand of hair from my face and gently began to kiss my lips. He wrapped his hands around my neck and the kiss became more aggressive. My stomach flipped and knotted and my knees became weak. Time stopped and both of our personalities changed. David became bold, I became shy, and I loved it. David stopped to breathe and then came back to my face. His kisses were like black holes pulling you in until you are lost. It was a sweet but bruising kiss that left me wanting more, but it wasn’t enough. I grabbed his collar, pulled his blue shirt and himself closer. I slipped my hands through his hair, getting caught on knottes. He picked me up and leaned me against the tree. I wrapped my legs around his waist, supporting myself. His tongue pressed against my lips, asking for permission to enter my mouth. I granted it to him. His mouth tastes like a sweet mint, spicy but not overwhelming. His grip slipped and we fell to the ground, he chuckled. “Hey, that was n-not fun-ny.” I whispered in between kisses. “Then let me kiss the pain away.” “Deal.” He laid on top of me kissing me and making me forget. He made me forget the past year almost completely. David slowed down until he stopped, leaving a searing heat on my lips. “Well, that was, uhh, hot.” “Hot, that is the word you came up with David. What about ravishing, heated, sweet, thrilling or even exciting.” “Yeah those words are better.” “Consider yourself lucky.” “Why, Ezlyn?” “Well I don’t kiss a lot of people.” “You haven’t kissed anyone before me have you?” “No. That is very rude to say, but, it might be true.” I whispered. “I haven’t kissed anyone either.” I smiled knowing that David was mine and only mine. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I rested on his chest. We fell asleep like that and I slept better that night than I ever did in the past year. I am 12 and a horror writer. I have copyrights to the book.

It’s really good. David’s sweet and Ezlyn is super cool. Nice job!

These stories are awesome! You should all be very proud of yourselves! From Starlight,11

i am writing a book about a girl and a boy who have been friends forever and everyone ships them. she is asexual sadly. im going to be 13 in a few weeks, I’ve never been kissed before and don’t think i ever will cause im hideous, and writing kissing scenes are the hardest since ive never experienced it before i hope ya like it, (sry if it’s kinda cliche) so here it goes: it started to snow. i started to shiver to try to calm myself down so Luis wouldn’t notice, but he did. he grabbed his jacket and put it on my shoulders as we kept walking down the sidewalk. this was normal for us, to flirt a bit, we had been friends since we were 4 and i didn’t want that to change. “so i’ve been wanting to tell you something, for a while now, . .um” he said breaking the awkward silence “yeah?” “i really really… really like you, and i know what people say about us and that we’re only friends but i can’t hold it anymore” “don’t, no please, were just meant to be friends nothing else, i don want to ruin that” “Please, i have loved you ever since” his voice started to break “im sorry, i really am” “please, can we just try?” “im sorry im just, im really sorry i just can’t fake me feelings towards you, i can’t it would crush you. we would ruin it all! we wouldn’t be like the cute couples in movies where we just end up together” “can’t we just try” he was trying to hold back tears, challenging to fall down his cheeks “no we can’t, i would ruin it all, with my temper and and with everything that i am i would break you! even more than you are now!” “so now were just going to forget everything?” he said in a fierce tone “no! i love you i really do, but not in that way! i reall-” he cut me off by kissing me. iaccept the kiss. it started slow and passionate. i dipped my head getting a better angle of his mouth. we fought for lower lip but eventually calmed down. he took in my gray eyes when i pulled back. “what?” he asked “i thought we where-” “im sorry i can’t” i cut his off looking into his pale blue eyes “wait what?” he asked in confusion “im really sorry, i really am but you know what i am i can’t do this to you” “i can’t believe it. i can’t believe that i actually thought we where going to work out” “no, i don’t mean in that way!” “so we can try?” “no, im sorry i really am, but i cant” ~ this wasn’t really a true kissing scene i just want feedback on what i should do to make it more interesting, it’s terrible, i know but please leave critisism blow i would love to get more ideas…

I think one thing you could try is to make the dialogue less…just them talking, maybe describe how they’re feeling, what they’re doing, etc. It’s good!

Thanks! Your support helps me write.

I’m 12 and I’m attempting to write a romance/mystery novel. I haven’t ever been kissed before so do you guys have any tips for writing a kissing scene? If you do please comment them and I’ll try to use them in my scene. ONce I finish I’ll post it.

I just finished my kiss scene from the novel that I’m writing. So basically Niko and Cinder are from another universe but Cinder let and came to our universe. Niko is a shy soldier with a fierce side. She gets kidnapped and brought to our universe (more commonly known as Universe 27B to her) and is experimented on. She escapes and finds Cinder. There is a special bond between her and Cinder. So here it is.

Everything about her was perfect. The sheer softness of hair running through my hands like water running through a stream. The feel of her lips on mine is just like before. Just like the way she didn’t want to do this or the way that she passionately kisses. I push against her lips and I can sense this is what she wanted, no needed. I feel the pressure of her lips pushing me very slowly towards the edge of the couch. Her skin is cool like the air on an early morning walk. Ohh this is what I needed. I pull away knowing I’m about to fall off the couch. I grab her arm and pull her into the dark corner because that’s where it’s about to get even better. “Ohh Cinder” I hear her moan. All I’m focused on is her beautiful body. I slowly pull her arm towards the corner while still caressing her shoulders and neck and lightly press her against the wall. I pull away to tell her something but she just grabs me and presses her sweet lips against mine even harder to silence whatever I was trying to say. I don’t even know at this point. It’s so overwhelming I can’t remember what I was going to say. All I can think about is how much I’ve missed her. I open my eyes as she pulls away. “No baby, don’t leave.” “Never said I was.” She says with a smirk as she tugs at the hem of my shirt and slowly pulls it off. So this is what she wants.

This is just a first try so please let me know what you think. Thanks! I groan and try to get up. “Woah, Theo. You were just shot. Hold still and let me try to.” I start to chuckle, inducing another wave of pain. He nicknamed me Theo, short for Theodosia. Kinda always had a crush on him since that day 3 years ago. He knows that I’m more private, so he’s stuck playing nurse. “There are worse things than patching up a bullet wound you know,” he says as if reading my thoughts. “Like what? Having fun fighting?” I groan again as he pulls away the layers of clothes. He pauses for a second. “I’m going to roll your tank top, but it’s probably going to hurt. If the blood has started to dry yet, the wound will reopen. I nod and grit my teeth. He pulls up my tank top along with some dry blood. I gasp loudly and he grimaces. “Hey, at least it was just a graze.” “Shut up. You’re going to make me laugh and that hurts.” He smiles. “Okay I have some alcohol and that will work. Just don’t focus on it.” “Yeah, that made me pass out!” I say, closing my eyes. But he was already pouring it. I didn’t have time to think about something else before it started stinging. Until I felt lips on mine. I opened my eyes to him kissing me and my brain almost exploded. He pulled me closer to him, deepening the kiss. I loosely wrapped my arms around him. His rough hands slid up my back and helped support me upright. Cautiously moved my hands up to his face, and eventually his hair. My fingers tangled in until I couldn’t breathe anymore and broke the kiss. I could barely feel the gunshot now.

I’m writing a story, too. I’ve just posted the scene I’m writing and you guys have really helped me write it. I’m so grateful…thank you! your’e guys’s scenes are so great.

This is my story, and basically this girl is having her first kiss in the forest with her boyfriend.

My heart skips a beat and my knees get wobbly. I wasn’t standing up, so I couldn’t fall, but I’m sure I would if I was standing. I curl my hand around his neck, and the other one in his soft, curly hair. I open up and kiss him back, but I’m not quite sure if I’m doing it right. I close my eyes when it happens but secretly open one to see if he’s staring at me. His eyes are closed, too. I feel his cold hand touch my back and pull me a little closer. Shivers run down my spine. I feel my heart racing and my stomach jumps repeatedly. I’m pretty sure I just opened my mouth too wide. His warm breath on my face feels inviting. I can’t put in words how this kiss really feels. It’s like I’m floating, drifting away, and I feel happy…ready for this to end, but not just yet. I know it can’t work out with Caylen. I just want to cherish this one moment. We go on for a while…

What was that? Oh, he stopped. I make an uneasy face. When he smiles hopefully, I make a satisfied face. Caylen stands me up, walks me to my house, and gives me a kiss on the cheek before I excitedly run off to tell Emeline about the romantic adventure I had this afternoon.

Sorry, my story didin’t get posted. its unnaproved or something. but philo’s story is really good! amazing.

Wow. The talent you guys have is mind-blowing! I decided to write a bit of a kissing scene. So ya.

“What are you doing?”, hissed Noah, shutting the door behind them, his mind racing. “You weren’t there yesterday”, Kieran breathed, his eyes looking unearthly in the moonlight, “I wanted to see you”. Before he could reply, Kieran kissed him with such force that he was slammed against the wall. Noah didn’t resist, couldn’t resist, even as Kieran’s knee slipped in between his legs, parting them. The sweet smell of the boy he loved filled his nostrils, the scent calming his troubled mind, clearing it of all thoughts. Noah dragged him onto the bed, and they fell into each other, Kieran’s lips against his, tasting like peppermint and coffee and spices all rolled into one. Kieran paused to take his shirt off, and Noah shivered as he realised how broad his shoulders were. The shape of him, Kieran, took his breath away. And he wanted him all the more for it.

What do you think? It is only a snippet, but I think that it illustrates the characters’ relationship nicely. This is a great site. I HIGHLY recommend ‘Jane Eyre’. It rocks.

This is my character’s first kiss, it’s near the end of the book, so, some of the stuff they talk about might not make sense. This book is aimed at teens-preteens, so…let me know if you think this scene is ok for that age group. Well, here’s the kiss: “Hey!” Brook jumped, looking away from where she’d been watching Paleface and her foal Opal grooming each at the other side of the round pen. Dean was walking towards her. “Hey,” Brook replied, leaning slightly against the rails. “Um, it’s a lovely sunset, isn’t it?” Brook waved a hand around them, the farm and bushland around it was bathed in golden light. “Yes. Just beautiful.” Dean said. Brook was too busy gazing at the warm glow the setting sun left of the land and thinking about the wonderful sunset photos she’d gotten in her two week stay to notice Dean was looking at her. “How’s your arm?” Dean asked, pointing at her left arm, which was strapped in a sling. “Fine, it doesn’t hurt anymore unless I bump it or jar it, which I’m getting a little better at avoiding.” Brook said. She remembered the horrible pain when her arm had broken the evening before. “Jackson’s a real jerk doing that.” Dean said. ” But, you did really well, you were so brave.” He moved a little closer, laying his hand on Brook’s. “Thanks. In truth, I was terrified, but I knew I couldn’t just let him do that, I had to save Paleface and Opal.” “Does your arm hurt if I touch it?” Dean asked, reaching out and running his hand from her shoulder down to her wrist. “No,” Brook said. Dean stepped closer and put his arms around Brook, she buried her face in his shirt, there was something so comforting about Dean. He slipped a hand under her chin, raising her face. Brook gazed up at him, she noticed how gently he held her so he didn’t hurt her arm, and his smile, then he slightly titled his head, Brook did the same, in the other direction. Then she shut her eyes. Dean’s lips brushed softly against hers, she felt their lips lock, his breath soft on her cheek. She could stay like this forever. Then Dean pulled back gently and released her. “You…you kissed me?” Brook gasped. “Yes, I thought it would be okay…I’m sorry.” Dean looked flustered. “No, it’s fine, I was just surprised.” “I’ll really miss you when you leave tomorrow.” Dean whispered before turning and hurrying back to the house, leaving Brook gazing after him, unsure what to do next, or what would even happen next.

That’s it. What do you think? There is a lot of talking not much kissing, but, yeah…it is for younger readers. I’m not into all the “gaping maw” and stuff of one of the examples. I nearly puked when I read that. Anyway, Dean and Brook have known each for two weeks and been through a lot together (they’re teenagers, not adults, btw) and they have flirted a little but not anything serious. I’m thinking this will be a series and they may kiss again, but similar sort of kisses to the one I’m sending.

I think your kiss is great!

Okay, so I know I’m pretty late here, but here’s a scene from the novel I’m writing. I’ve never kissed anyone, so I was looking for some feedback. It’s a flashback of a time that the two main characters, Levi and Callisto, kissed. It’s told from Callisto’s perspective, and for a bit of background, they have been friends since they were seven. They had a falling out when they were thirteen, but the year before that is when the flashback takes place. In the current year (When L+C are 16) Callisto’s older sister, Emmeline, is getting married, so Callisto is kind of thinking about romance and the only time she’s kissed someone (which was Levi). So yeah, here it is:

I kissed Levi, once. It was about a year before the fight, back when Emmie had been dating Tristan for just a little while. We were sitting together on a set of concrete steps, near where we had first met. We weren’t really doing much, just sitting around, talking, enjoying one-another’s company. Or at least, I was enjoying his. I think he enjoyed my company, too, but I couldn’t quite tell. It was always hard to tell with Levi. “Has Henry ever kissed anyone?” I asked Levi. Henry was the same age as Emmie, so I figured he might have. Levi wrinkled his nose. “No.” He said it simply and matter-of-factually, like that was the end of the conversation. “Oh. Emmie has a boyfriend, now. His name is Tristan. He’s okay, but he and Emmie spend a lot of time kissing.” “That’s disgusting,” Levi said, shaking his head slightly, like he was disappointed that my sister would participate in such vulgar activity. For a moment, his face screwed up in thought, “No, Henry hasn’t kissed anyone.” He sounded as though he was trying to convince himself. “Have you ever kissed someone?” I asked. It seemed like the next question in what I thought was a rather logical train of thought. If it was possible, he looked even more disgusted. “No.” “Oh,” we were both quiet, for a minute, then I asked, “Do you want to try?” He looked confused. “Try what?” “Kissing.” He turned a little green. “No.” We were both quiet for another minute. I noticed he seemed unsure. Then, he seemed to be considering it. “Okay, maybe we should try it,” he resolved, speaking slowly and methodically, as though Congress had just reached the biggest decision of the century. “Great!” I exclaimed. I was excited to try it. Emmie sure seemed to like it. I leaned in towards him, but he pulled away. “Wait!” He yelped, “I don’t know how! I’ve never seen anyone kiss before.” That thought hadn’t occurred to me. “Never? Not even your parents?” He shook his head, his cheeks flushed pink. “Well, that’s okay, I’ll show you. I’ve seen Emmie do it, and Mama and Papa, too.” I leaned in again, and this time, he only shrunk back slightly. I put my hands on his shoulders. “There. And you put your hands on my waist.” He did what I said, looking immensely uncomfortable. “What now?” “Now, we close our eyes.” He squeezed his eyes shut, and I did the same. I leaned in slowly towards him. I opened my eyes slightly, to make sure he hadn’t leaned away. When our lips touched, he shrunk back a little, but we stayed like that for a minute, and he seemed to be more comfortable. Maybe it wasn’t a real kiss. Maybe we weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend like Tristan and Emmie, and maybe we never would be, but I felt a lot closer to him in that moment. I felt my heartbeat quicken and smelled the missing half of the butterscotch pudding I’d shared with him earlier. Then, the moment had passed, and we leaned away from each other. I was smiling, but he looked confused. “That was it?” he asked. “Did you like it?” He shrugged. “I don’t get what the big deal is.” That was when I realized that maybe he hadn’t felt it. Maybe he hadn’t felt the closeness, hadn’t felt his heartbeat quicken, or smelled the butterscotch on my breath. “Do you wanna do it again?” I asked. He shook his head. “No.” No, never again.

So yeah, it wasn’t much, just an innocent two-kids-kissing scene, but I’d still like feedback if anyone happens to read this. And I do have other stories where there will probably be more romance than this one, but I really don’t have much experience with writing kissing scenes (or kissing) so I thought this would be a good place to start. Anyway, let me know what you think of the scene!

Hey Katie, your story rocks. That’s all I have to say. You write like a pro. Have any tips for aspiring young writers?

Also, I like the way your character has a lot of personality. It really brings the story together and makes it more relatable. The comment about the butterscotch pudding is spot on, because it brings back the fact that they’re only twelve and still trying things out. This is my interpretation of the story; Levi is a mysterious and (possibly?) mildly autistic character. I say this because I’ve written and read about people like him, but it’s hard to know without context. Callisto is a slightly insecure, intelligent (but she doesn’t know it) and loving young girl in the story. My impression is that she is possibly now hardened by life and that she was hit with it in one big explosion of self-realisation. Possibly her fight with Levi? It she a soldier or someone who was exposed to a high level of experience all at once? Because that would make a lot of sense. If not, what is her story? It seems like it would be a really interesting one. Anyway, sorry about all this, but I couldn’t help myself. You’re writing like an experienced adult. Are you?

Okay, so basically, this is mine. So Jenny and Caylen travel to this magical world, and theres akwardness between them, but soon, Theres this war and stuff. (I’m not gonna get into the details.) But they both might die, so Caylen just goes for it. Although it’s told in Caylen’s perspective. Um…lemme know for comments and stuff. Hope u like it. today is my birthday anyway.

I stare deep into his hazel eyes. Did he feel the same way about me? As I did him? The truth is, I love him. He’s sweet, and kind…gentle, brave, handsome, funny, and he’s just…amazing. As he leaned closer, and closed his eyelids, I stared at him. Was he going to kiss me? He likes…me? Out of all the girls he could choose from. His lips get closer to mine, and I lean forward.

Our lips touched, and I somehow knew, from the moment, that he felt the same way. Time stopped and no one else existed but Caylen. My lips parted, and I kissed him. It was soft, at first. His lips brushed mine delicately, like butterfly wings. Then he pressed his lips on mine, a little harder, then he stopped, unsure. He kissed me again, and each time, I felt the excitement, and craving, of the kiss.

Lightning passed through me, and I felt lost, in a different universe, slowly flying away. I finally shut my eyes and really kiss him back. I curl my fingers into his brown, curly hair, the other around his neck. My heart beats fast, and my knees wobble. His cold hand creeps from my neck to my back, and he pulls me closer, deepening the kiss. A shiver runs down my spine as his other hand tangles in my hair. His delicate, innocent kiss, makes my heart flutter, and wiggle. Then my heart races, and my stomach jumps repeatedly, as his lips press against mine again. I breathe through my nose, so I don’t run out of breath. I let him kiss me as long as he wants. I let go, but then go back, and kiss him softly, determinedly, sweat dripping down my face.

No, you can’t. You have a war to fight.

I tell my conscience to let me cherish this moment. I curl both my arms on his neck, and put my hands together. I then get uncomfortable and put both on his shoulders. He stops kissing me, and I wonder if I moved too much.

“I…I can’t, I’m not sure if I..” I start, then trail off. I look away as I say it.

“I am sure,” Caylen says.

“Of…Of what?” I ask, worriedly.

“Of one thing..” He puts his arms on my shoulders, and he looks determined. “I…I love you, Jenny. You’re just…just awesome.”

I stare deep into his eyes again, until I kiss him again. This time it’s one peck, and we put our foreheads together and stare at the ground. I pant, until I look up at him and make an uneasy face. I ran out of breath. He picks me up, and I wrap my legs around his torso. I kiss his lips repeatedly, and then I stare down at him. He’s happy. That’s all I want right now. I kiss him another time, and then tell him,

“I have to go, I have to fight,” I say. I hold his hand and we walk to the battlefield.

Across the plain, I see Quests, Icicle people, Cavemen, dragons, bears, everyone fighting, with scratches, blood, and pain everywhere. There is a mixture of yells, screams, yelps for help. One person punches another, as somebody slices a sword through one. A bear with long claws slices a cavemens face. I worriedly look around for my mom, and Emeline, but I notice Rachel on top of a tree, hitting a caveman in the head, then kicking his balls, yelling in achievment. I start to run out to fight too, but I stop. I turn around.

“I love you too, Caylen.”

Thats it. You probably don’t understand, since it’s pert of the story, but you know. The kiss is the best part. Hppy late valentines day, now that I think about it. Thanks for your ideas, comment if u like it

This last one is told in Jenny’s perspective. I was thinking about the wrong thing. It’s a boy and a girl. And they’re not…you know, gay. So…yes

Ruby’s is really good. I never kissed anyone. before and it made me feel like i was actually there. and I like katie’s too, it feels like the kids are a little younger, and it wasn’t very….in the book, but it was a very good. scene. Very. I am an experienced writer, but I’m not THAT good.

I know this is super late, but This is from a fantasy story I am writing about crossover souls (fairies mixed with humans). Isaac and Nyx are on the way to the hospital under a white lie because Nyx doesn’t want to expose her position (who she is) and Isaac just been possessed in the pier bookshop.

As we wound round the different streets we had been to at some point or had no idea of, towards the hospital, the summer sun high in the late afternoon sky, I took his hand stroking it softly. Then as if were the opposite poles of a magnet we leaned in our faces touching. I could smell the sweat of the day’s memory on him, but I didn’t care. I could smell the off brand washing powder his mother used, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was his warmth against mine, to feel his wind chapped lips on mine. It was the sweetest few seconds, before he pulled back.

‘I’m sorry, I…’ he continued to contemplate a stray cat for a few minutes before moving on to the seemingly mundane green bushes of number 12. He was doing his best to avoid the awkwardness of looking in to my eyes. There was an awkward silence between us where the seconds, felt like hours. In that silence I contemplated the moss grown crack in the pavement and the smell of dogs breath that clung to the sea air. Then I spoke, I said what I knew he felt.

‘It was long overdue’, I pulled his face to look at mine, our lips meeting once again. We kissed in quicks succession under the dabbled light of the plane tree. It was as we were drowning in the elixir of love, stopping only to inhale the cold sharp air of the sea.

‘I love you’ he spoke with such sincerity it almost took me by surprise.

‘I love you too’ I said our hands interlocking

‘Well maybe that’s enough medicine…’ I cut across him

‘You’re still going to the hospital and don’t you dare try to wriggle out of it’ I said in a mock stern voice.

he chuckled ‘That’s why I love you’

I have never kissed (romanticly ) anyone before, so it would be good to get feedback on the start of this scene. sorry if there are any spelling or gramHe chuckledmar mistakes. I guess because I am 15, it is sort of like teen fiction. But I haven’t really put it in any age box because they are not always correct or need.

OK, so I know I’m a little (a lot ) late but I just want to say, Katie, your kissing scene was phenomenal. You write like a pro. I was here earlier, so here is my scene revised.

“What are you doing?”, breathed Noah, shutting the door behind them, his mind racing. “You weren’t there yesterday”, Kieran whispered, his eyes unearthly, the sharp edges of his jawline highlighted by the moonlight from the window. “Why didn’t you meet me?”, he whispered, as he forced his knee between Noah’s legs, parting them. “What were you doing that was so much more important?” Noah thought of the day before, of Livia, of Alex. The whirlwind of events. The memories. He had forgotten all about Kieran. Before he could reply, Kieran kissed him with such force that he was slammed against the wall. Noah didn’t resist, couldn’t resist. The sweet smell of the boy he loved filled his nostrils, the scent calming his troubled mind, clearing it of all thoughts. He didn’t have time to think. Noah dragged him onto the bed, and they fell into each other, Kieran’s lips against his, tasting like peppermint and coffee and spices all rolled into one. All too soon, Kieran tore himself away and Noah could see how hard it was for him, like he was starving and he was putting aside the only piece of food he had. Noah shivered, breathless, as he realised how broad Kieran’s shoulders were. It was late and the exhaustion in Noah’s eyes must have begun to show because the other boy lay down beside him and whispered in his ear, “Shh, go to sleep”. Noah closed his eyes. And he had no nightmares.

Sorry, I forgot to explain. Before this scene, Noah is friends with Alex (a girl) who likes him and he is wondering how he can tell her that he doesn’t back. But what he doesn’t know is that she has already seen Kieran and him together. Noah usually has nightmares because he was in a war with Alex(that was when they met). Noah and Kieran break up later on but it seems sad to talk about that now when their relationship is gong so well. As far as you know….. obviously that isn’t the whole plot of the story, but the rest of it is demons and death and betrayal and blood and I’m sure you don’t want to hear any of that 0.o

Sorry if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes, and I know it’s late but I wanted to test out and see if this would work as a kiss that never happened or should have.

Maybe If they had been older and not seemed like brother and sister, this is when they would have kissed. I would be telling you about the warmth of his lips, about the pimple on the left side of his nose, the smell of conditioner and the way the seconds felt like hours . I would try to imagine, what it felt like to be lost in someone’s breath, but then I wonder if maybe all  they would find would be an awkward silence. So in some ways I’m happy it never happened , at least not now. I’m  happy he only whispered ‘I love you’ before he  disappeared in to the silent street  lit only by the orange sodium lamps, until they merged into the bright white LED light, that the council have started putting up. All along his words felt right because kissing might have ruined the bubble they had created. But they had never asked each other if they wanted  the bubble to burst.  He had never asked her if she wanted to find his heart beating on her Brest and his lips making lasting memories . Maybe all along she had needed to find the courage to ask him herself because it seemed they each in turn had felt there was no path to ponder on.

They had all-ways just excepted it wasn’t to be.

That is really cool, Iris! I love the way you describe the kiss how it would have been and how all the little details come together. Love. Just, love it.

Out of a sudden impulse of mine I moved my head right next to his while we were laying down and I kissed him. It was like a simple peck, in which he flinched and moved back. I got up swiftly and said in a panicky voice “Oh no I shouldn’t have done that, I-I’m sorry.” He got up and stared into my eyes intensely before grabbing my waist, pulling me in and pressing his firm lips against mine. In that moment it was like the world was still. It was just us against the world. The kiss became more intense as he started using his tongue as if claiming me he started moving his hand down to my lower back and continuing down. I felt as if this was right. He was the one, no doubt about it. I needed him; It didn’t matter if I chose him or Urca in that moment because it was just us. Us in this moment. We were the moment. I felt as though I would never need to come back up for air. I would drown in the deep unable to breathe for this kiss.

“We were the moment”. Love it.

woah this is truly amazin , every one of you have written so well, have put in you’re whole heart to it .I’m so happy as well as proud of y’all , kudos !! so I my writing is published on the platform Wattpad under the username : cursedsunshine. All my three books were well published last year , got so much hype but unfortunately someone hacked my account and I lost everything , but I didn’t stop there , writing gives me the freedom like no other .Hence I decided to go from the dust , it would mean a lot to me , if you are able to check out my story on Wattpad, thank you !

Just a side note, I have never kissed anyone or anything and this is my attempt at a kiss scene.

His breath is hot on my neck and I can feel a bulge pressed on my lower back. “What do you want me to do?” He whispers in my ear. Tingles shoot through my body from hearing those words.

“I want you to show me you love me,” I say breathily. 

His hands snake around my lower back to my stomach slightly pulling me closer. Soft kisses trail up my neck as he turns me around planting a passionate kiss on my lips. 

Our lips move in unison changing from passionate to fiery lust. My hands touch his face bringing him closer to me deepening the kiss. He pulls away breathing heavily looking into my eyes. 

“Let’s go to the bedroom.” He says with a husky voice.

In one smooth sweep, I am carried into the air. We share teasing kisses as he walks slowly to the room. Sitting on the bed I straddle him, he grins before flipping me over with him on top. With a look in his eyes for approval, I nod. He kisses from my neck to between my breasts to my stomach then stops to look at me. He kisses lower and lower teasing my hot skin before opening my legs…

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

My hand shoots up to turn off the alarm on my phone while a loud groan escapes my mouth. God, my alarm couldn’t have waited a few more minutes. Nick hasn’t been on my mind for a while, that was a nice dream that I wish continued. I open one eye at a time adjusting to my bright room, curtains are next on the list of things to buy. With a stretch, I push my covers off and sit to get out of bed. If you are interested in reading the rest of the story, here is the link to it: https://booknet.com/en/book/outstanding-b144301 The story is free to read. 😛

I just recently turned 15 and I’m curious as to what different skill paths I should take to better my schooling and personal life. I’m not very confident in my writing skill, personally I think I’m not that good and what I write is a bit choppy, if I could get some feedback I’d be really appreciative (AKA I crave validation so feed me peasants). Also I changed the names of people so I don’t get killed. Tyler and Brandon it is.

“Never Tyler. Never ever. You’re amazing, and so strong. You hold all this pain in and still get up each day and push forward. I’m so inspired by you and how you are able to hold your head up from the water and get through each and every minute. You’re incredible, truely. I wish I had been there earlier, maybe then I could have helped you through everything thing you’ve been through, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t. But I’m here now and i’m not letting you go, even if you scream and push me away, I need you to know that I’ll always be here. I want to see you happy. I want to make you as happy as you make me and Ty… you make me really, really happy.” Brandon smiled, grip tightening around Tyler’s neck as he stared into the taller boy’s eyes.

Tyler’s brain short-circuited as he started into the pale blue of Brandon’s eyes, watching as the boy’s eyes shifted towards his own, pupils growing and flush rising up his cheeks. He slowly lifted his hand so it was resting on the side of Brandon’s jaw, rubbing his cheek delicately as the world around them slowed, freezing until it was just the two of them. Nothing else mattered in that moment as they stared into each other’s souls, their hearts. No words were spoken and yet, everything had been said. If any moment in his life had anchored his soul, Tyler was sure it would be this very second, gazing into the innocent and yet so devious eyes of the boy before him. He could all but feel his heart crumbling and falling into the hands of the other, every thought, every emotion that ran through his mind like a plague was now in the hands of the only person he would ever expect them to fall into. Because of course, who else to let himself be vulnerable with then this boy? How could he not trust him with his whole being? Tyler glanced down, watching as the boy licked his lips subconsciously. Raising his gaze once again he looked to Brandon for permission, letting out a harsh breath, he questioned. 

“Angel, if it’s okay with you, I’d really like to kiss you right now. May I?” The brunette spoke, tongue darting out over his own lips in anticipation as he sat, one hand on Brandon’s cheek and the other resting softly against his hip. “Please Ty.” The boy all but whispered in return, gripping slightly higher at Tyler’s hair from under the taller boy’s beanie. Tyler smiled slightly at the feeling of it, leaning in to let his lips just barely graze the other boy’s.

It was Brandon that closed the gap between them, fingers locking into place in Tyler’s hair as he pushed his lips against the older boy’s. Tyler felt like an addict, Brandon slowly becoming his drug. The smaller’s lips just felt so soft and plush against his own cracked and dry ones, creating a contrast that Tyler never expected to feel, but now that he had gotten a taste, he couldn’t get enough of it. In one swift movement the two of them became one, they clung to each other as if they were the only other thing in this world, and in a way, Tyler supposed they were. Brandon gripped him tighter, pulled him closer like he was the only solid being in a spinning world and Tyler in turn, let both his hands fall over the younger’s curves and onto the dancer’s waist, fearing that one wrong move would leave everything around them shattering to pieces. Both the boy’s took their time, holding onto one another and allowing themselves to fall into a rhythm. Breathing the other in like they had been deprived of air their whole lives, it was sweet, it was soft, and it was their’s. Their moment to forever hold and cherish. Their’s to dream of and smile at. Tyler felt as though nothing could ruin this. This was special, a moment that he would forever hold close to his heart. Just him and Brandon.

Late as all hell, and while I’ve been kissed, I haven’t done it enough to capture it well. I’m also writing this from a man’s perspective, instead of a woman’s, so I worry I’m doing it wrong…if there’s feedback, that would be lovely! Otherwise, feel free to make fun of my shoddy work, haha! (Please note, this is a fantasy/sci-fi narrative, with a mention of a fictional language in it!)

Could he tell her? Yes, he could. Should he was perhaps the question he was asking. His mind floundered for a single, logical thought. Find the pros and cons, weigh the outcomes, that was what he was supposed to be doing, but his brain had faded into a sluggish mush. He could recognize nothing but her hair, dotted with tiny jeweled snowflakes; her eyes, that held far too much softness for someone who was so unpredictable; her hands, trembling against his face.

Thantil took them, folding them within his. Her skin remained soft, even in the cold. He had seen how other’s hands had cracked, the flesh scuffed like rocks. Hers did not feel that way. It made him wonder, not for the first time, if she held some sort of magic within her. Surely she did. She had enchanted him in a way he had never thought possible.

He held her gaze, waiting for her to say no. It never came. Not when he pulled her closer to him. Not when he lifted her hands. Not even when his lips brushed over her knuckles. He watched her eyes close, her lips part –

“Nor ver ch’ah, vah bta rect’tin’ecot,” she mumbled.

Just kiss me.

He let go of her hands, yanked her forward, and did just that. Damn feeling, damn passion, it damned him to the thousandth depth of hell as yet another piece of the man he was meant to be crumbled into the vast ocean that was her.

Wow! All of your scenes are amazing! You are all really talented! Here’s one that’s a part of the novel I’m writing. But before that, I guess I should give some background. Basically, the story’s about the best track & field team in the state. Two of the best runners – Asa and Whitney – are pretty good at annoying the hell out of each other, but they’ve always kinda liked eachother. During an away meet against their team’s rival school, Whitney hides in the bathrooms for a couple minutes to get away from Asa, but he’s sent to look for her. They end up talking a couple things out and eventually kissing – and Whitney misses her event. Then Joseph, their coach, walks in on them Despite the trouble they’re already in…well, I mean, I’m not gonna spoil anything, so here’s the scene:

*CVHS = cade valley high school, that’s the team*

Surprisingly, we weren’t banned from sitting together on the bus. Joseph was at the very front, and instead of my usual seat with Laurel and Ashlyn, I sat in the very back with Asa. Luckily, I had the window seat. His arms were wrapped around me and I was holding both of his hands, a position I never expected to feel so comfortable. I looked up at him and we both smiled – just a little. I put my head on his shoulder and glanced out the window from the corner of my eye. I watched as we passed cars and trucks and houses, nothing I’d never seen. As soon as we pulled into CVHS, Asa and I got off the bus along with everyone else. But instead of walking me to my own car, he pulled me to his. Still wrapped up in each other, we slid into the backseat, and before we could bother to close the door, his mouth was on mine. It was dark outside, so it was likely that people could see us due to the lights that turned on in Asa’s car. But it didn’t matter, nothing mattered. Soon, he was on top of me and I was sinking into the leather car seats. I didn’t know where Joseph was or if he’d yell at us, but neither of us seemed to care. For a moment, Asa pulled away and muttered; “God, why did I wait so long to do this?” I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him back down to me. We pressed our foreheads together and I whispered “I don’t know” softly. I pressed my lips against his and ran my fingers through his thick hair. He lightly brushed his finger across my cheek, sending a tremor through my body. I didn’t care what the first or next person to see us thought, so what if I was kind of, sort of, definitely kissing my sarcastic and admittedly hot ex-enemy? Our lips separated and Asa got off of me, giving me room to sit up. I glanced at him, only to find that he was staring at me, smiling. “What?” I asked. “All this time spent annoying the shit out of you and I never took the time to notice that you’re really pretty,” he answered. I laughed weakly. I wanted to say I never thought you were capable of making me feel this way, but instead, I managed a quiet “thanks.” “I- th-this is crazy, I-I-I never thought-” he shook his head. “Never mind.” I’d never heard Asa stutter before. I laughed softly and kissed his lips. When I pulled away, he slid out of the open car and I followed. Then, in one swift motion, he pushed me against the side of the car and kissed me harder than the last time. Much harder. From there, everything went from affectionate to aggressive. Passionate to something more than lustful. Sweet and harmless to addicting and intoxicating. We were under some sort of trance, and I couldn’t breathe. Then, right there in the school parking lot, he pulled off his sweatshirt and then his jersey, tossing them both into the open car. It probably wasn’t the best idea to get this intimate considering our current location, but I was too caught up in the pleasurable pain Asa was inflicting on me. I felt like I could barely keep my footing, and if it weren’t for his grip on me, I’d be on the ground by now. He made his way down to my neck, placing rough kisses as he went. Breathing heavily, I felt his boner that I somehow hadn’t noticed digging into my leg, which only aroused me further. I lightly ran my thumb over his rough lips, and that made him grab my wrists and kiss me again. Suddenly, he let go of me and tugged at my jersey. Again, my mind went straight to the fact that we were in the school parking lot and anyone could be watching, but I removed it anyway. Asa closed every inch of space between us by wrapping his muscular arms around me and kissing me with an open mouth. We were skin-to-skin, and it felt good. Asa slid his hand into my bra, and for some reason I let him. We both slipped our tongues into each other’s mouths, and when they touched, it made me tingle all over. He tasted like spearmint gum and the red Gatorade I’d seen him drinking during the 4×4 relay. It wasn’t the best combination, but I still wanted more. I hoped I tasted alright. After all, I’d pounded popcorn and Kit-Kats after Joseph told me I wouldn’t be running my next event. Speak of the devil, Joseph’s car rolled right past us. I wouldn’t have noticed if it weren’t for him shouting, “What the hell? Asa, put a shirt on! Who’s that – Whitney? Wait, come on. Seriously, you two?” Both of us turned and stared in shock like a deer in headlights. “Honestly. Again? I JUST talked to you about this. Not okay.” Joseph shouted. “If you can’t keep your hands off each other, I’m going to have to separate you and kick one of you off the team. Or both of you. I don’t care.” “I- Joseph, Asa is one of our fastest runners.” I managed. “You can’t kick him off the team.” “You can’t kick Whitney off either. If we’re going to win fucking state again this year, then you’ll need both of us.” Asa added. Joseph shrugged. “We have others. And watch your language, Byers. AND I believe I told you to put a shirt on. You too, Whitney.” I picked my jersey up off the ground and slipped it over my head while Asa pulled his sweatshirt out of the car. “Are you happy now?” Asa snapped. “Watch your tone,” I warned him in a whisper. “We’re already at risk of being kicked off.” Asa shook his head. “See you at practice, Joseph,” he groaned, and started to walk away. “Nice try,” Joseph stopped him, “I’m suspending you from the team. Either you or Whitney.”

So there we go. It was obviously a little more than they both expected, but it turned out badly again. What do you guys think?

Okay, so it’s not exactly the ✨big kiss✨ but it’s the first kiss that doesn’t count, if you will. But it triggers a lot of contemplation later in the story.

I stood, hands on the rails of the fence, waiting for him. He’d told me over text he had a note to deliver to me. Why he couldn’t just text me the contents of the note, I wasn’t sure. Eventually, I felt a tap on my shoulder. “It’s me.” I easily recognized Aiden’s voice. My eyes traveled to his hand, balled up into a fist. The note. I expected him to hand it to me, but he didn’t. He grabbed my shoulder, pulled me up to him, and pressed his lips against mine. I knew it was just a coverup. Something to hide the exchange. I could tell by his hand slipping into my back pocket, shoving the crumpled note in there. It was only a coverup. But out of all the coverups, he kissed me. But then, he pulled away and slowly removed his hand from my pocket, careful not to make the note visible to the public. Aiden gave me a small nod as he walked away and I did the same, but walked in the opposite direction. The whole way down the trail, the note burned a hole in my pocket and the thought of our kiss burned a hole in my head. I told myself it didn’t count as a kiss, not a meaningful one. The kiss didn’t count. And that was the way it would be.

SoOoOoOo…whatcha think?

I have been writing Christian stories since I learned the alphabet. This is an excerpt from an old story I dug up when going through my computer. I was young, so not sure if this is any good, but let me know! Back story: The girl, (Corsorvia Blanche, AKA Page) and her crush who hasn’t spoken to her in months (Job Morgan) have been magically transported to the world of Obathia to help the creatures of the 7 Realms be freed from the eternal winter. Page thinks it’s just for them, but in reality, it’s drawing her closer to Elohim…and to Job. In this scene, they just escaped near death from Cloakers (tractor-sized wolves) and are continuing on their way through the barren, frigid wasteland of Obathia. The title of the book is ‘Edge of Obathia’ so this is the very last page and a half of the book. Everything inside of the *stars* is Elohim speaking to Page’s heart and mind, calming her fears. Anything in caps is what her fear is telling her. Let me know your thoughts, thanks! God bless!

“Do you remember snow days in England?” I laughed. “We would be so excited each morning it would snow, and the night before we would be fervently praying for snow. Now…oh well, now all that excitement is bloody gone.” “Ah, yes.” Job sighed. “This trip has certainly changed many things for us.” I smiled as I thought of the serene calm flowing through me. Yes, I knew there’d be danger ahead. Yes, I knew there’d be peril. But I was not afraid. I had the love of Elohim in me. *The Lord is your light and salvation—so why should you be afraid? The Lord is your fortress, protecting you from danger, so why should you tremble? I have loved you and protected you all the way, Corsorvia. I will love you and protect you the rest of the way, too.* I heard the small voice in my mind, never anything but a peaceful whisper. Meanwhile, the voice of fear always shouted in my mind. I CAN’T DO THIS. CLOAKERS WILL ATTACK ME, OR I’LL FALL IN ANOTHER LAKE AND SURELY DROWN THIS TIME! I CAN’T DO THIS! I CAN’T DO THIS!!! Still the whispering voice came like a soothing blanket. *Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but mine. Lay your burdens down with me! and I will take care of you. I will not permit the godly to slip and fall.* Tears came to my eyes as I answered Job quietly, “Yes. Yes they have.” He slipped his hand into mine and squeezed it. He knew what I was hearing. He had heard it many times, too. “What has changed for you?” I asked him, swiping at my eyes. He let out a heavy breath. “I’ve only just begun to see the way Elohim sees; even though I took this journey years upon years ago.” He seemed to pause before adding, “I’ve also realized that those I love are always closest to me, no matter where I am.” This stopped all the voices I was hearing and almost stopped me. I tried not to hope for what that meant, but what could I do to help it? I kept walking, and tripped over nothing. “Woah!” He said, leaning over and offering me his hand. “Are you alright?” My face went red. “Yes.” I helped myself up, brushing snow off my parka. “Not sure what caused that.” Job grinned, raising an eyebrow. “I might.” I set my hands on my hips and glared at him. “You wish.” “I won’t deny it.” His answer caught me off guard and I tried not to show it. “Let’s not get cheeky.” “You say cheeky, I say honest.” The look on his face was sincere. I could only hope my own expression portrayed calm. My heart was beating wildly fast. “Ellie May interrupted me, and I intend to finish what I started.” He took a step closer. My mouth fell slightly open as I whispered his name. I didn’t get to finish my sentence before his strong hands were gently holding my neck, his lips pressed against mine. We were kissing. I was kissing Job. JOB was kissing ME. I had wanted to for years. It felt perfect, as if we were made for this moment. The moment his lips touched mine, my brain very nearly exploded and the air was smashed out of my lungs. My knees were weak and my hands trembled. All my senses seemed elevated, but I could barely think. To stop my hands from trembling, I slid them up his head and tangled my fingers in his long hair. He slid his foot forward just half a step, tilting his head. I took in a shaky breath through my nose and leaned into him. He assaulted my senses; the taste and smell of him closer to me than ever before left me wanting more and more. His caress on my neck was gentle but his kisses were rough and unapologetic, showing he had wanted this for a while. And so had I. My knees were about to give and I clung to him for dear life. Sheer delight shot through me as his hands glided down my body to the small of my back, then to my hips, sending shivers down my spine. The world (if there was one, because it seemed like only he and I existed as we stood there kissing for what felt like an eternity) was spinning around me like the tumbling cycle on a dryer. But his strong arms wrapped around my waist and held me tightly. I knew he wouldn’t let me fall. I nodded my head, deepening the kiss, showing him how much I needed him. He responded with a soft groan at the back of his throat. He drew me closer. Minutes later, he slowly pulled away as the sound of rushing water suddenly became known to us. I had been so caught up in the kiss I hadn’t heard the roar of the waterfall we both turned to look at. I held him a little tighter, staring at the monstrous outpour of icy water. “J-job…” I whispered. For some reason, it felt dangerous to speak at normal volume. “Where are we?” He looked at the waterfall like it was much more than it was. He replied in the same soft tone I had used. “We made it to our first benchmark, Page.” He swallowed. “We’ve reached the edge of Obathia.”

I’m a young writer and I’ve never been kissed. This is my first attempt at writing a kissing scene and I wanted to know what some other people think that aren’t my friends lol

I slowly walked to the doors and placed my sweaty palm on the doorknob, turned it, and pulled it open aggressively. When it swung open I saw Flynn standing there with his hand up like he was about to knock. We stared at each other for what seemed like hours. Neither one of us was sure what to say. He came in and closed the door behind him, slowly. I noticed him taking turns between looking me in the eyes and looking at my lips. “Hi-” I started to say something but when I blinked something made contact with my lips. I opened my eyes wide and saw Flynn, his eyes closed and relaxed like we were a married couple that has been doing this for years. All at once, it was like I was feeling, tasting, and seeing every color of the rainbow at the same time. My heart skipped a beat, and my hands got hot and sweaty. My emotions were so tangled, no comb could straighten them. He wrapped his strong arms around my waist and rested them on my hips. The kiss had enough power to force Flynn’s back up against the closed door. We stood with our bodies forced together against it as our lips were pressed into one. He pulled away from me and I stood with my hands relaxing on his chest. I stared into his deep brown eyes and he stared back, lovingly. He leaned his head down and kissed me again. This time, his lips didn’t separate from mine for a long time. They were warm and soft. I tangled my hands into his silky smooth ginger hair. When I pulled back for air, he smiled. No one said anything, but nothing needed to be said. I just hoped it wasn’t just a dream. Without moving off of him, he searched for the doorknob with his free hand. I untangled one of my hands from his hair and placed it on his. “I’ll let you know,” I whispered. He picked me up and carried me to my bed. When he gently threw me down, we sat next to each other. Just like I had hoped, he kissed me once again, stopping repeatedly for gasps of air. I felt him grab my knee like he needed help not falling over. He pressed his lips against mine with a fiery passion. I felt like I was in a Disney movie. I felt alive again. Like my parents still had their apartment, and my grandpa was still alive. This was my home, next to Flynn. The last thing I remember was combing my hand through his soft hair and him whispering to me: “I love you,”

Quote: This helps allow the reader to experience the shock of an unexpected peck.

A peck? A measly PECK? You read something of this caliber and that’s how you describe it?

A little further along, quote: Who would of expected that…

“would HAVE” — and this, on a website purporting to dispense advice?

Please don’t judge!

Jayla grabs my hand. I turn to her, eyebrows raised.

“What?” I ask. She flinches.

“I… Kagen… I… really like you.” She holds her breath, eyes not daring to meet mine. I straighten, and she takes my silence as a bad thing. Jayla shrinks away, shaking her head. I put out my hand to stop her from leaving.

“You like me?” It’s the only thing I can think to say. My mind is buzzing with thoughts. Then a small smile curls the corners of my lips up. I lift her chin with my finger, and pull her face towards mine. Our lips connect, hers warm and soft. I move my hand behind her neck and pull her closer, deepening the kiss. She places her hand in my hair, curling her fingers into it so she sends shivers racing down my spine. We brake away too soon. Her cheeks are rosy and her eyes are shining. I want to say something, but my mind is blank. Then, with a small smile, she scurries of.

I’m trying to write a romantic book where a couple struggle to survive because of an abhorrent war. How does this paragraph sound?

As Peter approached Layla, Layla began to shy away. “It’s ok.” Peter reassured. Layla stepped out of the shadows, and held Peter’s hand tightly. “Are you sure they’re gone?” Layla asked, searching the dark alley. “Yes,” Peter replied. “I’m sure.” Layla sighed. She laid her hand on Peter’s face, and then hugged him. “Thank you,” she said, motioning for a kiss. She placed her hand gently on Peter’s face, and then brought his face close to her’s. Then, she reached in for a kiss. Her pale, swollen lips gently brushed against Peter’s lips. Then, Layla nudged her lips closer to Peter until they finally kissed. People gathered around and cheered. The sky cleared away the thick layer of smoke. The war was finally over.

I’m trying to become a writer but have never been kissed before, so bear with me!

The world awakened as I wondered, staring as she flew, bounding through the forest like a doe. Her hands were flown out beside her as she danced through the rain, smiling at me through her sorrow. “Parch! Come here,” she beckoned, twirling around as she laughed. I slowly approached her, smiling unsurely as I stumbled about. “How can you be still while the world is so alive?” she cried, taking my hand and spinning me about. I hesitated, why, still today I do not know. She frowned, releasing me. “How can it be that you still are embarrassed with me?” I shook my head. “I’m not embarrassed, I’m just-“ “Then dance!” she laughed, shaking her head full of shiny wet hair. I sighed. What was I truly afraid of? Hurting my pride? She was right, I was a cowardly thing. But I wanted to please her, I guess that’s why I did it. I began to dance, twirling and spinning with her, my arms stretched wide as I began to sing. I was there, with her, and I would remember that moment for the rest of my days. In my mindlessness I stumbled, falling to the wet leaves of autumn. “Parch!” she shrieked, appearing at my side. “I’m ok-“ I started, before she lay down next to me. “Look at the sky,” she sighed, stretching her hands out as though if she tried hard enough she could grab the clouds and weave them into some beautiful dress. She then grabbed my hand. “Parch, you are unlike any boy I have ever met.“ Her eyes met mine. “ What do you mean?” I slipped my hand out of her’s, propping myself up under my elbow. “You, my friend, are afraid of me.” She laughed once more, sitting up herself. “A-afraid?” I sputtered, bilking out the rain. “Yes! You are. Or at least, if falling in love. Or perhaps to lose someone again.” “Again?” I looked at her. “Yes. Yes, I believe that is why you haven’t let down your guard. You are scared of accepting me, only to lose me. And suddenly I knew she was right. “But I won’t let you go, Parch Grant. I will keep you if you keep me.” And I knew she would. I nodded. She leaned into me, her breath sweet as the falling autumn rain. I squeezed my eyes shut, holding my breath. I didn’t know what this would bring, what this would mean- and then she kissed me. Her lips brought forth a marvelous firework of protection, of care. Her hand held my face as I relaxed, kissing her back. And the we broke apart, held by that moment until the end of all time.

This is my first attempt at a kissing scene. I’d love to know someone else’s feedback on it!

An arm strong and gentle stole about Katelyn’s waist, pulling her towards him. Liam’s hands gently grabbed her slender waist. She fit perfectly in his arms. The warmth of his touch drew her closer. So close she could feel his soft breath against her cheek. His eyes were a magnet the desire in his eyes drawing her towards him. Liam’s fingers brushed her cheek. She flinched at his touch. For an instant, he hesitated, afraid that she might pull away. Then, leaning towards him, she surrendered herself to him. His eyes searched her face in a questioning gaze. Her expression held no reserve or hesitancy, only perfect trust, and tender love. As Liam pulled her close, her hands slid up his chest around his neck. A shy, gentle touch. His gaze traveled to her lips. He glanced into her eyes, silently asking permission. She nodded. Tender and affectionate, his hand caressed her cheek. Willing herself to stop trembling, she leaned into him. Slipping his hand under her chin, Liam drew her lips towards his. She yielded to his touch as if the whole world melted away in the embrace of his arms. His lips brushed hers. The touch was hesitant. A tremor ran through her body. The rush of warmth surged through her, drawing every sense towards him in that impassioned moment. She pressed her mouth to his, the sensation of his lips against hers assaulting her senses. His left hand glided up from her waist to the small of her back, pressing her body to him. Liam held her in his arms, willing the moment to go on forever. He felt her longing, reserve, and passion, melt away in the safety of his arms. He drew back, their lips parting, but he didn’t let go of the delicate frame. Her heart beat against his chest. She was his. So small, so weak. And in that moment he swore to protect her from every pain and heartbreak he could keep her from. He would love this girl for eternity. Brushing back her hair, he kissed her forehead and whispered to the angel he held in his arms, “I love you.” He spoke in low, tender tones, his eyes saying far more than his words. Katelyn’s voice was soft but unhesitating. “I love you too, Liam,” she murmured shyly.

Listen, I love your insight. And it’s right. Yes! It really is. The stages are okay. It’s just that the examples used have to be the most boring kissing scenes.

They focus more on before and after the kiss instead of emotions during the kiss. Which I find a bit boring.

Maybe it’s not the vibe I’m looking for.

The first kissing scene is like, yes a surprise but, it’s as if a fish out of water (literally). those tongues flip and they flop and they wiggle. GHAADD!

The next kiss is like the character couldn’t wait to get it over with then buttered it up with a bunch of nice words. Like how you’d describe a nice soup that you’re not really in the mood to have.

But personally, I did like the stages you put out. It makes writing more of a science but it does give some more insight. So thank you.

I am a young author and I am writing hate-to-love romance for the first time. I would love a few tips on this scene. The setting is that they are lying side by side on a bed while Ethan reads a book to Skye.

Please, i’d like your comments on this.

Suddenly he became very aware of their position, there on the bed, under the sheets. Ethan’s gaze slid to Skye, who looked back. ‘Only … Only if you want it,’ he said uncertainly. ‘Kissing a prince is not on my to-do list, mind you,’ she replied flatly. Ethan blushed violently and turned away from her, holding the book in front of his face as best he could. ‘Did I embarrass you now?’ said Skye. ‘You’re mean,’ he said. He swatted at her with the book before hiding behind it again. She laughed softly. ‘Well, kissing a prince may not be on my to-do list, but…’ Ethan’s heart skipped a few beats as she pushed his book down. The lump in his throat widened as Skye’s face came closer. He stiffened completely and didn’t dare move a fin, afraid of doing something wrong and thus breaking the magic of the moment. He knew nothing more and then just waited, completely overwhelmed. ‘Only if you want,’ she whispered, her lips even more a few millimeters from his. He felt her warm breath brush past him and get lost in the storms of her eyes. Of course he wanted it, with all his body and all his heart. But his yes came out in the form of a choked squeak, since his throat was completely constricted. She smiled and leaned in even further. Ethan’s heart thudded against his ribs and his head exploded. Skye’s mouth was surprisingly soft. She smelled of the crisp night air and the stars, if that made any sense. Electric shocks slid down his spine, obscuring his thoughts. The one, scattered particle of his brain that still made an attempt to work told him to do something. Ethan flung the book away, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, answering the kiss passionately. Skye put her hands flat against his chest and pushed him down on the bed. He gasped against her lips, displacing all thoughts, and let his hand slide into her raven-black hair. He tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Their surroundings became a blur until only Skye was there, the girl he loved. She tugged at the hem of his shirt, whereupon he sat up straight for a moment to pull it off, catching his breath in the process. As soon as he had it off Skye kissed him again. He let himself fall back into the sheets. It all happened naturally, as if it was meant to be. It wasn’t hard to believe that, either. His hands slid to her vest and unbuttoned it. He couldn’t care less about the consequences. It made them feel good to be able to be bad. He had jumped off the cliff. All he could do now was hope there was a safety net.

Terrific article, and very interesting comments. A very important thing is missing, though. Consent. It’s so important (and sexy!) to ask for permission to touch another person. I’m not sure why it’s left out here – maybe because the examples are from older novels – but there are so many reasons why touching another person without their permission can harm them. If we want to see more compassion, respect, and healthy sexual relationships in the world, we as authors, need to model them. It doesn’t “kill the mood” to ask to touch or kiss or anything else – harming someone with your touch kills the mood far worse.

Thank you for the tip! I will see what i can do

Sorry if this is even worse. I am a bit nervous when writing stuff like this and most of the time i just hope its not stupid or childish. But anyway, here is the fixed version of it. I hope it is better.

Suddenly he became very aware of their position, there on the bed, under the sheets. Ethan’s gaze slid to Skye, who looked back. ‘Only … Only if you want it,’ he said uncertainly. ‘Kissing a prince is not on my to-do list, mind you,’ she replied flatly. Ethan blushed violently and turned away from her, holding the book in front of his face as best he could. ‘Have I embarrassed you now?’ said Skye. ‘You’re mean,’ he said. He swatted at her with the book before hiding behind it again. She laughed softly. ‘Well, kissing a prince may not be on my to-do list, but…’ Ethan’s heart skipped a few beats as she pushed his book down. The lump in his throat widened as Skye’s face came closer. He stiffened completely and didn’t dare move a fin, afraid of doing something wrong and thus breaking the magic of the moment. He knew nothing more and then just waited, completely overwhelmed. ‘Only if you want,’ she whispered, her lips even more a few millimeters from his. He felt her warm breath brush past him and get lost in the storms of her eyes. Of course he wanted it, with all his body and all his heart. But his yes came out in the form of a choked squeak, since his throat was completely constricted. She smiled and leaned in even further. Ethan’s heart thudded against his ribs and his head exploded. Skye’s mouth was surprisingly soft. She smelled of the crisp night air and the stars, if that made any sense. Electric shocks slid down his spine, obscuring his thoughts. The one, scattered particle of his brain that still made an attempt to work told him to do something. Ethan flung the book away, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, answering the kiss passionately. Skye put her hands flat against his chest and pushed him down on the bed. He gasped against her lips, displacing all thoughts, and let his hand slide into her raven-black hair. He tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Their surroundings became a blur until only Skye was there. Suddenly she pulled back. She looked at him breathlessly, and for a moment he had no idea of time or place. ‘Is … Sorry, I’m too quick.’ She wanted to scribble straight already. ‘No, it’s okay,’ he said, before he knew it. She stiffened. ‘Seriously? ‘I wouldn’t say it otherwise,’ he smiled. He had never seen her so shy. ‘I-I’ve just never really done this before-you know…’ “Do you trust me? She hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. He realized how hard this had to be, after Leo and all the things that had happened. He let his hand slide down her neck and kissed her again, but more quietly, more calmly. He felt her relax. He leaned back a little. “Sure? I understand if you’re…’ ‘Yes, yes I’m sure.’ ‘Okay.’ She tugged at the hem of his shirt, whereupon he sat up straight for a moment to take it off, catching his breath in the meantime. As soon as he had it off Skye kissed him again. He let himself fall back into the sheets. It all happened naturally, as if it was meant to be. It wasn’t hard to believe that, either. His hands slid to her vest and unbuttoned it. He couldn’t care less about the consequences. It made them feel good to be able to be bad. He had jumped off the cliff. All he could do now was hope there was a safety net.

Your examples suck, two were about underage characters, one involved way too much tongue propaganda, and the others were just boring to read. Maybe next time try reading a book by a woman and not an incel from the 1920s.

Every writer NEEDS this book.

It’s a guide to writing the pivotal moments of your novel.

Whether writing your book or revising it, this will be the most helpful book you’ll ever buy.

Learn how to:

• Nail chapter endings
• Surprise your reader with plot twists
• Describe a character for the first time
• Write a killer ending

Romance 101: How to Write Characters Falling in Love

Any story can be enhanced with a good romantic subplot, but if romance isn’t your genre, you’re probably worried about how you’d pull it off. You want it to be emotional and meaningful, but not sappy and cliché. Sooner or later, it’s a genre you’ll end up having to explore at least briefly in order to create dynamic and varied relationships between characters. But… even if you’re in a happy relationship, you might still be lost on how to convey romance authentically in your stories.

The most difficult part about writing a romantic story is the initial meeting between the love interests and the romantic spark between them. It can be difficult to write characters falling in love, since it’s such a natural experience for people in real life. Too often, romances feel unrealistic, forced, or just downright problematic. It’s easy to mess up, so how should you approach writing characters discovering and developing their feelings for each other? Well, there are a few techniques that you can utilize to create an authentic, emotional romantic plot that will keep your readers hooked. 

How to Avoid Romance Clichés

First and foremost: “love at first sight” does not exist . This isn’t a hot take, it just isn’t a real thing that happens. Love is complicated, and you can’t expect such a deep connection to develop on its own. It doesn’t simply manifest after one look. Real love is something that grows over time as people get to know each other and make the effort to foster an intimate connection. Love doesn’t evolve overnight like a Pokémon. In fact, romance stories hardly ever involve realistic depictions of love—most of them don’t even come close . 

With that said, “attraction at first sight” does exist. You can meet a person and be physically, emotionally, or intellectually attracted to them. Attraction doesn’t come with any attachments. You don’t need to know someone to know that they’re gorgeous, you just have to look at them. But finding someone attractive does not mean you’re in love with them. Too many times, fiction writers rely on the notion of “love at first sight” to create the basis of their romantic relationships, when all that really is is lust. It just doesn’t feel authentic. 

That is probably the most prevalent (and worst) romance cliché that writers litter throughout their stories, but that is by no means the only one. Clichés can kill an otherwise good story, and they are unfortunately abundant in romances. Even if the story you’re writing is primarily some other genre, like comedy or mystery, romantic clichés can work their poison into the storyline. 

It’s difficult to describe every type of romantic cliché, since there are just too many to count. The best way to avoid clichés is to be able to spot them yourself, and you just can’t do that if you aren’t familiar with the genre. Although it might seem counterintuitive to read a bunch of romance stories to learn what not to do, that’s the best advice I can give you. Immerse yourself in cheesy romance stories, watch every rom-com you can, and read every sappy romance novel you can get your hands on. 

Then, when it comes to writing your own story, you know the types of tropes that work well and what feels wrong to a reader. Never forget that you are a reader as well. If something doesn’t feel right to you in someone else’s story, don’t put it in yours. Your reactions to an incompatible relationship, unrealistic flirty dialogue, or bizarre romantic scenarios are likely going to be in-line with how your readers would react too. 

How to Write Attraction

Let’s jump back a few steps and focus on the notion of attraction. Attraction and love aren’t the same thing, clearly, but an initial attraction can inspire people to pursue a conversation, which can lead to feelings of love developing. Being physically attractive, having a good sense of humor, or having similar hobbies can all inspire conversation between two hopeful romantics, but it’s not until after they’ve gotten to know each other can the attraction become something that resembles love. 

When it comes to writing attraction, subtlety is your friend. The last thing you should consider doing is having your character see someone else and simply announce “they’re cute.” That is a boring way of really slapping your readers in the face with the fact that the other character is likely to be the story’s love interest. And honestly, in reality, no one looks at someone with wonder when they enter the room, no matter how attractive the other person is. (Remember those clichés we talked about above? Any time you feel tempted to write about “time slowing down” or “nothing else in the room mattering” or something along those lines, you should really stop yourself and consider how creepy it would be if someone just stopped to stare open-mouthed at someone who just entered the room. Yeah… not cute, is it?)

Instead of being obvious about the attraction, you should draw attention to smaller details . Have the main character notice little things, like the way their love interest’s skirt flows when they move, or the way their hair blows around in the wind. Eye contact is a fantastic way of conveying attraction more subtly, so have your character notice the color of the other person’s eyes, or the way they wrinkle when the person smiles. Have your main character think about the other person’s voice, the way they stand, or how they move. These aren’t things you would typically think about—unless you had a crush on someone. 

Along that same line, you can also use this technique to show romantic interest budding between two friends. Even if two characters have known each other for a while, throwing in one simple line can be a strong clue to readers that the character is slowly falling in love with their friend. For example: “how had I never noticed before how blue his eyes were?” That not only suggests a peaked interest, but it also tells your readers more subliminally that the two characters shared a moment of eye contact long enough for the main character to notice that detail. 

Letting readers notice on their own that the main character likes another character is much more rewarding for them than simply being told. This allows them to become more invested in the relationship, which is important for any love story. However, there are many other ways you can influence readers to make them care more about the characters, the relationships between them, and the story as a whole. 

How to Make Your Readers Care About the Romance

You can put a lot of effort into the relationship between two characters, but that doesn’t obligate readers to care about it. In order to make your readers care about the romantic plot, you need to make it interesting, and you need to make it meaningful to the storyline. Romance in a story shouldn’t exist just for the sole purpose of existing. It should create conflict in the story, illustrate a character’s shortcomings or personal development, or just create a fun dynamic that is interesting to read. Ask yourself: “what is the purpose of this relationship?” If you don’t have a good answer, then you need to find a way to make it more integral to the way the story plays out. 

In addition to having a purpose in the story, the relationship between the characters should be inherently interesting. In order to achieve that, you should consider a few different factors that would influence your readers’ perceptions of the relationship. 

Make the Characters Individually Interesting

Long before you even consider the romantic relationship, you need to make sure the characters are interesting on their own. In addition to that, you need to make sure that your readers have time to get to know the characters before you rush them into a relationship with another character. You don’t want any character’s identity to be tied to their relationship with another person—they need to be complex and unique individuals, both within and outside of their interactions with other characters.

The process of making a compelling character is a little difficult to cover in just one short section, but fundamentally, you should establish several distinct things about each character long before you should consider how to make them fall in love. These things are:

• Likes and Dislikes

Each of those aspects is important, but I don’t have the space here to talk about all of them. So, I will be focusing on what is arguably the most important point: flaws. Characters should have behaviors or fears they need to overcome, warped beliefs, or some sort of bad habit. These traits might make them confrontational, difficult to love, or even a bit dysfunctional—but that’s the whole point. No one in the world is perfect, so your characters shouldn’t be either. 

Flaws create conflict, which drives a story forward, and above all else, they make characters more believable and relatable. If a reader can root for a character to achieve something they struggle with, overcome personal obstacles in their life, or find love despite their flaws, then they’re going to be much more attached to that character.

Some great character flaws that work well in romantic stories are:

• Emotional coldness
• Fear of commitment

With that said, it can be difficult to create flawed characters that aren’t over-the-top, annoying, or just generally unlikable. If you want some more guidance on the topic, I have another article that could be helpful: How to Create Complex Flaws for Characters .

Ensure the Characters have Romantic Chemistry 

Only after you have unique individual characters should you begin thinking about crafting romantic interactions between them. Your characters should be interesting by themselves, but when your couple comes together, they should have a dynamic that’s interesting too. The pairing needs to have Romantic Chemistry, meaning that they have to be compatible and make sense together. Romantic chemistry between characters cannot be forced, and trying to pair two characters together that aren’t a good fit for each other just isn’t going to work. That kind of relationship isn’t going to resonate with your readers.

There are four main types of romantic chemistry. You don’t need your couple to check all four boxes, but you should at least take the time to consider each one.

• Physical – the characters should be physically attracted to each other, at least a little. This plays into the characters’ sexuality, and a strong sexual bond can help support trust in a good emotional relationship. 
• Emotional – the characters should feel emotionally supported by each other, and they should trust in their partner.
• Spiritual – the characters should share similar beliefs or lifestyles, at least in some aspects of their lives. Conflicting cultures, religions, and ideals can still work together, but you should make sure it’s still a realistic dynamic. 
• Intellectual – the characters should have similar degrees of intelligence. This is less about particular areas of intelligence, and more about critical thinking abilities. An artist and a scientist could get along fine, since their individual pursuits both require a degree of intelligence, skill, and critical thinking to achieve. However, a scientist may have trouble feeling attracted to a bumbling idiot.

So, how do you create romantic chemistry between two characters? Well, you need to think about them as individuals again. I know that sounds redundant, but bear with me.

In order to make a couple romantically compatible, they need to have character traits that complement each other. That doesn’t mean that they should always be opposites, however. Complimentary doesn’t have to mean they balance each other out. The two characters could share many similar traits and still be compatible. Two characters that are similarly sarcastic could riff off each other’s sarcasm and get along quite well, but that same situation could also end up frustrating everyone involved if the characters’ other traits conflict. 

In addition to the pairing working well together, you need to consider what each character wants, and what makes sense for their personality. A character struggling with addiction and depression might benefit most from a relationship with someone patient, caring, and doting, but if that’s not the type of relationship they want, then it would be difficult to justify. You should take into consideration the characters’ sexual preferences, emotional needs, and desires in a relationship. Two characters might be great for each other objectively, but if you can’t make it realistic given the characters’ preferences, then it won’t feel right. 

Use Conflict to Keep it Interesting

To get readers really invested in the romance, there needs to be some sort of conflict. You can’t make things too easy for your lovebirds, or you’ll bore your readers. Conflict is the heart of storytelling, so you need to put something in the way of the characters’ relationship to keep it interesting. 

The easiest way of creating conflict in a romance is to have an obstacle in the way of the lovers’ relationship. This obstacle can take many different forms, but here are a few example scenarios that you could use to create some difficulty for your couple:

• One character’s family is unsupportive of the relationship between the two characters. That could be because of an arranged marriage, a conflict of beliefs, or just good old fashioned helicopter parenting. This is especially applicable if the other character has bad habits, a general disregard for tradition, or a hard emotional exterior. 
• One character has a destructive habit that just can’t continue if they expect the relationship to work. If they smoke, and the other character is against that despite being compatible in all other aspects, then that could be enough to disrupt the relationship. The original character would be forced to choose between their vices and their love for the other character.
• One character is offered a great job that they just can’t reject, but that would mean moving far away from the other character. The other character may be unable or unwilling to move with them, so each character has to decide between their individual futures and their future together. 
• One character has had bad luck with love in the past, and they’re having a difficult time opening up to the other character despite their feelings. They could experience significant inner turmoil as they try to find a balance between loving the other character and protecting themself. 
• One character has a crush on another character, but can’t or won’t confess for whatever reason. This is especially entertaining if the other character feels the same way. 
• Two characters want to be together, but one character’s vengeful ex keeps trying to sabotage them with lies, trickery, or even just digging up their pasts. 

There are tons of other options you could choose for establishing conflict in the relationship. Whatever you choose, make sure it makes sense for the story, and doesn’t push the characters or their relationship too far. Too much conflict between the two characters could be perceived as toxic or unhealthy, even if they end up happy together in the end. 

Develop the Romance Over Time

Once you’re sure that it’s realistic for the characters to fall in love in the first place, then you need to figure out how to pace the romantic development. Love isn’t something that develops quickly, but rather builds up slowly over time. Sometimes, the onset of romantic feelings can be so discreet and so slow that your readers may notice the attraction between the characters before the characters themselves acknowledge their own feelings. 

One of the most irritating tropes in romance stories is the idea of falling “hard and fast” in love. Passion and lust can blossom quickly, but don’t confuse that with true feelings of love. If you want the relationship between your characters to be perceived as true love, then the longer you draw it out, the more authentic it’s going to feel. Additionally, if your readers get to watch the relationship unfold slowly, it will be more rewarding to read once the two characters get together. 

Sometimes, however, situations can force two characters together faster out of loneliness, desperation, or mutual fear. Two characters destined to save the world together may end up caring about each other much faster than two characters that meet for coffee on weekends. A night of passion could lead to feelings of confusion and self-reflection, which could end up developing into emotional and romantic attachment. Additionally, near-death experiences could pressure characters to face or admit their feelings earlier than they otherwise would, since they could fear they’d miss their opportunity if the other character died. 

You should approach these kinds of situations cautiously, however, especially if you want the readers to perceive the relationship as authentic and not just a product of the characters’ circumstances. 

Love in the Little Things: Writing Love Subtly

Love isn’t something that everyone expresses the same way. Everyone has their own ways of expressing and cherishing love, so don’t assume that there’s only one right way to write about it. Some characters may show their love physically, with kisses, hand-holding, and running their fingers through their partner’s hair. Other characters may show their love through their actions, by staying up with their partner even when they’re exhausted, always giving them the best part of things they share, and preferring to do everything together rather than apart. Some characters may go to great lengths to act on their love for another character, such as changing bad habits, learning how to do things their partner enjoys, and showering their partner in gifts.

Characters showing their love for each other doesn’t have to be dramatic. You can illustrate love between two characters in the thousands of little things they do for each other, in the way they look at each other, and the subtle ways they think and talk about each other. Hide hints of their feelings together in every action, every word they say, and your readers will understand their feelings without having to be told. 

Remember, when characters really truly love each other, your readers will love them too. 

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Writing contests, make money writing, hottest topics, how to write a love scene.

The most critical lesson in writing a love scene is that it is similar to making love in the real world: when done well, it is messy, chaotic and somewhat animalistic. The civilized approach does not work; it leads to the greatest drawback of all: predictability.

Does this sound familiar? The leading man and woman dislike one another intensely; something happens and they see another side of the other; in spite of their best  efforts to deny it, they find themselves attracted to one another; and they ultimately fall  into a passionate embrace. Do you really want to write that one again?

The Best Love Scenes

The best love scenes are the ones in which the participants are not perfect  specimens and the circumstances are obscure and somewhat confused. They are the  scenes in which the reader has to work for it. In a word, they are authentic.

For example, here is the opening paragraph of my book, Point and Shoot :

This is how you make love to a woman undergoing cancer treatments. You ignore  the metallic taste of her kiss; the slight snorting sound she makes when you press into her;  the bony feel of her body, covered by skin that lacks tensile strength; the hairless scalp.  You close your eyes and remember what it was like before. You move gently, until you  forget yourself, as you should. You savor the moment because there might not be many  more. And one more thing: you move very gently.

How to Get Started on Your Love Scene

I would suggest that you start by imagining your most interesting and  emotionally-moving encounter with the opposite (or the same) sex. Write out a free  association narrative about the images; scents; colorings; texture; dialogue; weather; and  other aspects that trigger your memory.

Then, complicate it. You must assume that your memory of the event has been neutered by the passage of time. You remember your past, as we all tend to do, in an unrealistic light, obscuring and shading over the petty annoyances (Could you stop that whistling?); the inconvenient bodily functions (I have to pee.); and the wanderings of your mind (Did I lock the car door?) . So instead of writing that simplistic and ultimately, predictable story, shake it up.

Have your female character imagining a former lover, while her words are only  about the man in her arms. Have your male character fear that he will not achieve arousal,  and keep this truth from his lover until it can no longer be hidden. Have your characters  wear blindfolds, so that all of the narrative description is tactile. In other words, create  some kind of slanted, asymmetrical aspect to the story. Make your characters, and the  reader, work for it.

Sure, Sex Sells, But Don’t Make it Porn

One of the most frequently asked questions is how explicit to make the love scene.  The answer is simple: less explicit than what you would want to read.  It is axiomatic that the most sexually-charged organ of the body is the mind. That is where your story will be experienced, and you need to cater to the mind’s unique way of perceiving. The best caricaturists will use nothing more than a curved line or a geometric shape to suggest an instantly recognizable celebrity. They draw the most memorable aspect of the person’s face, for example the ears. By that alone, the viewer can instantly discern the subject’s identity.

Likewise, a writer must suggest rather than explain. Describe how it feels to run a  finger along a thigh; to feel blankets bunched between your body and your lover’s; to be  out of breath and not really know why. To paraphrase a long-ago Presidential campaign,  make it subtle, stupid.

Here is another excerpt from that scene in Point and Shoot which illustrates the  point:

“Are you getting there?”

“I told you never to ask me that question. It doesn’t matter. Keep going. Finish.”

“If I’m hurting you.”

“Keep going.”

I sped up. She shifted her hips to make it easier. After a while, I could see a tear well up at the corner of her eye. The tip of her nose flushed. She patted my shoulder again. “I said keep going.”

A wave of remorse and self-pity, a heavy, deadening feeling, yanked me back.

I stopped for good and rolled off her.

She lay there, splayed out, staring at the ceiling. Unmoving.

I propped myself on one elbow, stroking her abdomen.

We were silent for a long while.

To sum up, love scenes are done best when they follow no particular formula, but  instead, come from the heart. Less is more. Of course, you should also keep in mind that  the research is frequently much more fun than the actual writing. But take a few moments  to get it down on paper, anyway. We readers like to watch.

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Last updated on Feb 14, 2023

10 Types of Creative Writing (with Examples You’ll Love)

A lot falls under the term ‘creative writing’: poetry, short fiction, plays, novels, personal essays, and songs, to name just a few. By virtue of the creativity that characterizes it, creative writing is an extremely versatile art. So instead of defining what creative writing is , it may be easier to understand what it does by looking at examples that demonstrate the sheer range of styles and genres under its vast umbrella.

To that end, we’ve collected a non-exhaustive list of works across multiple formats that have inspired the writers here at Reedsy. With 20 different works to explore, we hope they will inspire you, too. 

People have been writing creatively for almost as long as we have been able to hold pens. Just think of long-form epic poems like The Odyssey or, later, the Cantar de Mio Cid — some of the earliest recorded writings of their kind. 

Poetry is also a great place to start if you want to dip your own pen into the inkwell of creative writing. It can be as short or long as you want (you don’t have to write an epic of Homeric proportions), encourages you to build your observation skills, and often speaks from a single point of view . 

Here are a few examples:

“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.

This classic poem by Romantic poet Percy Shelley (also known as Mary Shelley’s husband) is all about legacy. What do we leave behind? How will we be remembered? The great king Ozymandias built himself a massive statue, proclaiming his might, but the irony is that his statue doesn’t survive the ravages of time. By framing this poem as told to him by a “traveller from an antique land,” Shelley effectively turns this into a story. Along with the careful use of juxtaposition to create irony, this poem accomplishes a lot in just a few lines. 

“Trying to Raise the Dead” by Dorianne Laux

 A direction. An object. My love, it needs a place to rest. Say anything. I’m listening. I’m ready to believe. Even lies, I don’t care.

Poetry is cherished for its ability to evoke strong emotions from the reader using very few words which is exactly what Dorianne Laux does in “ Trying to Raise the Dead .” With vivid imagery that underscores the painful yearning of the narrator, she transports us to a private nighttime scene as the narrator sneaks away from a party to pray to someone they’ve lost. We ache for their loss and how badly they want their lost loved one to acknowledge them in some way. It’s truly a masterclass on how writing can be used to portray emotions. 

If you find yourself inspired to try out some poetry — and maybe even get it published — check out these poetry layouts that can elevate your verse!

Song Lyrics

Poetry’s closely related cousin, song lyrics are another great way to flex your creative writing muscles. You not only have to find the perfect rhyme scheme but also match it to the rhythm of the music. This can be a great challenge for an experienced poet or the musically inclined. 

To see how music can add something extra to your poetry, check out these two examples:

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

 You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well, really, what's it to ya? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah 

Metaphors are commonplace in almost every kind of creative writing, but will often take center stage in shorter works like poetry and songs. At the slightest mention, they invite the listener to bring their emotional or cultural experience to the piece, allowing the writer to express more with fewer words while also giving it a deeper meaning. If a whole song is couched in metaphor, you might even be able to find multiple meanings to it, like in Leonard Cohen’s “ Hallelujah .” While Cohen’s Biblical references create a song that, on the surface, seems like it’s about a struggle with religion, the ambiguity of the lyrics has allowed it to be seen as a song about a complicated romantic relationship. 

“I Will Follow You into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie

 ​​If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks Then I'll follow you into the dark

You can think of song lyrics as poetry set to music. They manage to do many of the same things their literary counterparts do — including tugging on your heartstrings. Death Cab for Cutie’s incredibly popular indie rock ballad is about the singer’s deep devotion to his lover. While some might find the song a bit too dark and macabre, its melancholy tune and poignant lyrics remind us that love can endure beyond death.

Plays and Screenplays

From the short form of poetry, we move into the world of drama — also known as the play. This form is as old as the poem, stretching back to the works of ancient Greek playwrights like Sophocles, who adapted the myths of their day into dramatic form. The stage play (and the more modern screenplay) gives the words on the page a literal human voice, bringing life to a story and its characters entirely through dialogue. 

Interested to see what that looks like? Take a look at these examples:

All My Sons by Arthur Miller

“I know you're no worse than most men but I thought you were better. I never saw you as a man. I saw you as my father.” 

Arthur Miller acts as a bridge between the classic and the new, creating 20th century tragedies that take place in living rooms and backyard instead of royal courts, so we had to include his breakout hit on this list. Set in the backyard of an all-American family in the summer of 1946, this tragedy manages to communicate family tensions in an unimaginable scale, building up to an intense climax reminiscent of classical drama. 

💡 Read more about Arthur Miller and classical influences in our breakdown of Freytag’s pyramid . 

“Everything is Fine” by Michael Schur ( The Good Place )

“Well, then this system sucks. What...one in a million gets to live in paradise and everyone else is tortured for eternity? Come on! I mean, I wasn't freaking Gandhi, but I was okay. I was a medium person. I should get to spend eternity in a medium place! Like Cincinnati. Everyone who wasn't perfect but wasn't terrible should get to spend eternity in Cincinnati.” 

A screenplay, especially a TV pilot, is like a mini-play, but with the extra job of convincing an audience that they want to watch a hundred more episodes of the show. Blending moral philosophy with comedy, The Good Place is a fun hang-out show set in the afterlife that asks some big questions about what it means to be good. 

It follows Eleanor Shellstrop, an incredibly imperfect woman from Arizona who wakes up in ‘The Good Place’ and realizes that there’s been a cosmic mixup. Determined not to lose her place in paradise, she recruits her “soulmate,” a former ethics professor, to teach her philosophy with the hope that she can learn to be a good person and keep up her charade of being an upstanding citizen. The pilot does a superb job of setting up the stakes, the story, and the characters, while smuggling in deep philosophical ideas.

Personal essays

Our first foray into nonfiction on this list is the personal essay. As its name suggests, these stories are in some way autobiographical — concerned with the author’s life and experiences. But don’t be fooled by the realistic component. These essays can take any shape or form, from comics to diary entries to recipes and anything else you can imagine. Typically zeroing in on a single issue, they allow you to explore your life and prove that the personal can be universal.

Here are a couple of fantastic examples:

“On Selling Your First Novel After 11 Years” by Min Jin Lee (Literary Hub)

There was so much to learn and practice, but I began to see the prose in verse and the verse in prose. Patterns surfaced in poems, stories, and plays. There was music in sentences and paragraphs. I could hear the silences in a sentence. All this schooling was like getting x-ray vision and animal-like hearing. 

This deeply honest personal essay by Pachinko author Min Jin Lee is an account of her eleven-year struggle to publish her first novel . Like all good writing, it is intensely focused on personal emotional details. While grounded in the specifics of the author's personal journey, it embodies an experience that is absolutely universal: that of difficulty and adversity met by eventual success. 

“A Cyclist on the English Landscape” by Roff Smith (New York Times)

These images, though, aren’t meant to be about me. They’re meant to represent a cyclist on the landscape, anybody — you, perhaps. 

Roff Smith’s gorgeous photo essay for the NYT is a testament to the power of creatively combining visuals with text. Here, photographs of Smith atop a bike are far from simply ornamental. They’re integral to the ruminative mood of the essay, as essential as the writing. Though Smith places his work at the crosscurrents of various aesthetic influences (such as the painter Edward Hopper), what stands out the most in this taciturn, thoughtful piece of writing is his use of the second person to address the reader directly. Suddenly, the writer steps out of the body of the essay and makes eye contact with the reader. The reader is now part of the story as a second character, finally entering the picture.

Short Fiction

The short story is the happy medium of fiction writing. These bite-sized narratives can be devoured in a single sitting and still leave you reeling. Sometimes viewed as a stepping stone to novel writing, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Short story writing is an art all its own. The limited length means every word counts and there’s no better way to see that than with these two examples:

“An MFA Story” by Paul Dalla Rosa (Electric Literature)

At Starbucks, I remembered a reading Zhen had given, a reading organized by the program’s faculty. I had not wanted to go but did. In the bar, he read, "I wrote this in a Starbucks in Shanghai. On the bank of the Huangpu." It wasn’t an aside or introduction. It was two lines of the poem. I was in a Starbucks and I wasn’t writing any poems. I wasn’t writing anything. 

This short story is a delightfully metafictional tale about the struggles of being a writer in New York. From paying the bills to facing criticism in a writing workshop and envying more productive writers, Paul Dalla Rosa’s story is a clever satire of the tribulations involved in the writing profession, and all the contradictions embodied by systemic creativity (as famously laid out in Mark McGurl’s The Program Era ). What’s more, this story is an excellent example of something that often happens in creative writing: a writer casting light on the private thoughts or moments of doubt we don’t admit to or openly talk about. 

“Flowering Walrus” by Scott Skinner (Reedsy)

I tell him they’d been there a month at least, and he looks concerned. He has my tongue on a tissue paper and is gripping its sides with his pointer and thumb. My tongue has never spent much time outside of my mouth, and I imagine it as a walrus basking in the rays of the dental light. My walrus is not well. 

A winner of Reedsy’s weekly Prompts writing contest, ‘ Flowering Walrus ’ is a story that balances the trivial and the serious well. In the pauses between its excellent, natural dialogue , the story manages to scatter the fear and sadness of bad medical news, as the protagonist hides his worries from his wife and daughter. Rich in subtext, these silences grow and resonate with the readers.

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Perhaps the thing that first comes to mind when talking about creative writing, novels are a form of fiction that many people know and love but writers sometimes find intimidating. The good news is that novels are nothing but one word put after another, like any other piece of writing, but expanded and put into a flowing narrative. Piece of cake, right?

To get an idea of the format’s breadth of scope, take a look at these two (very different) satirical novels: 

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

I wished I was back in the convenience store where I was valued as a working member of staff and things weren’t as complicated as this. Once we donned our uniforms, we were all equals regardless of gender, age, or nationality — all simply store workers. 

Keiko, a thirty-six-year-old convenience store employee, finds comfort and happiness in the strict, uneventful routine of the shop’s daily operations. A funny, satirical, but simultaneously unnerving examination of the social structures we take for granted, Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman is deeply original and lingers with the reader long after they’ve put it down.

Erasure by Percival Everett

The hard, gritty truth of the matter is that I hardly ever think about race. Those times when I did think about it a lot I did so because of my guilt for not thinking about it.  

Erasure is a truly accomplished satire of the publishing industry’s tendency to essentialize African American authors and their writing. Everett’s protagonist is a writer whose work doesn’t fit with what publishers expect from him — work that describes the “African American experience” — so he writes a parody novel about life in the ghetto. The publishers go crazy for it and, to the protagonist’s horror, it becomes the next big thing. This sophisticated novel is both ironic and tender, leaving its readers with much food for thought.

Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction is pretty broad: it applies to anything that does not claim to be fictional (although the rise of autofiction has definitely blurred the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction). It encompasses everything from personal essays and memoirs to humor writing, and they range in length from blog posts to full-length books. The defining characteristic of this massive genre is that it takes the world or the author’s experience and turns it into a narrative that a reader can follow along with.

Here, we want to focus on novel-length works that dig deep into their respective topics. While very different, these two examples truly show the breadth and depth of possibility of creative nonfiction:

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

Men’s bodies litter my family history. The pain of the women they left behind pulls them from the beyond, makes them appear as ghosts. In death, they transcend the circumstances of this place that I love and hate all at once and become supernatural. 

Writer Jesmyn Ward recounts the deaths of five men from her rural Mississippi community in as many years. In her award-winning memoir , she delves into the lives of the friends and family she lost and tries to find some sense among the tragedy. Working backwards across five years, she questions why this had to happen over and over again, and slowly unveils the long history of racism and poverty that rules rural Black communities. Moving and emotionally raw, Men We Reaped is an indictment of a cruel system and the story of a woman's grief and rage as she tries to navigate it.

Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

He believed that wine could reshape someone’s life. That’s why he preferred buying bottles to splurging on sweaters. Sweaters were things. Bottles of wine, said Morgan, “are ways that my humanity will be changed.” 

In this work of immersive journalism , Bianca Bosker leaves behind her life as a tech journalist to explore the world of wine. Becoming a “cork dork” takes her everywhere from New York’s most refined restaurants to science labs while she learns what it takes to be a sommelier and a true wine obsessive. This funny and entertaining trip through the past and present of wine-making and tasting is sure to leave you better informed and wishing you, too, could leave your life behind for one devoted to wine. 

Illustrated Narratives (Comics, graphic novels)

Once relegated to the “funny pages”, the past forty years of comics history have proven it to be a serious medium. Comics have transformed from the early days of Jack Kirby’s superheroes into a medium where almost every genre is represented. Humorous one-shots in the Sunday papers stand alongside illustrated memoirs, horror, fantasy, and just about anything else you can imagine. This type of visual storytelling lets the writer and artist get creative with perspective, tone, and so much more. For two very different, though equally entertaining, examples, check these out:

Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

"Life is like topography, Hobbes. There are summits of happiness and success, flat stretches of boring routine and valleys of frustration and failure." 

This beloved comic strip follows Calvin, a rambunctious six-year-old boy, and his stuffed tiger/imaginary friend, Hobbes. They get into all kinds of hijinks at school and at home, and muse on the world in the way only a six-year-old and an anthropomorphic tiger can. As laugh-out-loud funny as it is, Calvin & Hobbes ’ popularity persists as much for its whimsy as its use of humor to comment on life, childhood, adulthood, and everything in between. 

From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell 

"I shall tell you where we are. We're in the most extreme and utter region of the human mind. A dim, subconscious underworld. A radiant abyss where men meet themselves. Hell, Netley. We're in Hell." 

Comics aren't just the realm of superheroes and one-joke strips, as Alan Moore proves in this serialized graphic novel released between 1989 and 1998. A meticulously researched alternative history of Victorian London’s Ripper killings, this macabre story pulls no punches. Fact and fiction blend into a world where the Royal Family is involved in a dark conspiracy and Freemasons lurk on the sidelines. It’s a surreal mad-cap adventure that’s unsettling in the best way possible. 

Video Games and RPGs

Probably the least expected entry on this list, we thought that video games and RPGs also deserved a mention — and some well-earned recognition for the intricate storytelling that goes into creating them. 

Essentially gamified adventure stories, without attention to plot, characters, and a narrative arc, these games would lose a lot of their charm, so let’s look at two examples where the creative writing really shines through: 

80 Days by inkle studios

"It was a triumph of invention over nature, and will almost certainly disappear into the dust once more in the next fifty years." 

Named Time Magazine ’s game of the year in 2014, this narrative adventure is based on Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. The player is cast as the novel’s narrator, Passpartout, and tasked with circumnavigating the globe in service of their employer, Phileas Fogg. Set in an alternate steampunk Victorian era, the game uses its globe-trotting to comment on the colonialist fantasies inherent in the original novel and its time period. On a storytelling level, the choose-your-own-adventure style means no two players’ journeys will be the same. This innovative approach to a classic novel shows the potential of video games as a storytelling medium, truly making the player part of the story. 

What Remains of Edith Finch by Giant Sparrow

"If we lived forever, maybe we'd have time to understand things. But as it is, I think the best we can do is try to open our eyes, and appreciate how strange and brief all of this is." 

This video game casts the player as 17-year-old Edith Finch. Returning to her family’s home on an island in the Pacific northwest, Edith explores the vast house and tries to figure out why she’s the only one of her family left alive. The story of each family member is revealed as you make your way through the house, slowly unpacking the tragic fate of the Finches. Eerie and immersive, this first-person exploration game uses the medium to tell a series of truly unique tales. 

Fun and breezy on the surface, humor is often recognized as one of the trickiest forms of creative writing. After all, while you can see the artistic value in a piece of prose that you don’t necessarily enjoy, if a joke isn’t funny, you could say that it’s objectively failed.

With that said, it’s far from an impossible task, and many have succeeded in bringing smiles to their readers’ faces through their writing. Here are two examples:

‘How You Hope Your Extended Family Will React When You Explain Your Job to Them’ by Mike Lacher (McSweeney’s Internet Tendency)

“Is it true you don’t have desks?” your grandmother will ask. You will nod again and crack open a can of Country Time Lemonade. “My stars,” she will say, “it must be so wonderful to not have a traditional office and instead share a bistro-esque coworking space.” 

Satire and parody make up a whole subgenre of creative writing, and websites like McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and The Onion consistently hit the mark with their parodies of magazine publishing and news media. This particular example finds humor in the divide between traditional family expectations and contemporary, ‘trendy’ work cultures. Playing on the inherent silliness of today’s tech-forward middle-class jobs, this witty piece imagines a scenario where the writer’s family fully understands what they do — and are enthralled to hear more. “‘Now is it true,’ your uncle will whisper, ‘that you’ve got a potential investment from one of the founders of I Can Haz Cheezburger?’”

‘Not a Foodie’ by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell (Electric Literature)

I’m not a foodie, I never have been, and I know, in my heart, I never will be. 

Highlighting what she sees as an unbearable social obsession with food , in this comic Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell takes a hilarious stand against the importance of food. From the writer’s courageous thesis (“I think there are more exciting things to talk about, and focus on in life, than what’s for dinner”) to the amusing appearance of family members and the narrator’s partner, ‘Not a Foodie’ demonstrates that even a seemingly mundane pet peeve can be approached creatively — and even reveal something profound about life.

We hope this list inspires you with your own writing. If there’s one thing you take away from this post, let it be that there is no limit to what you can write about or how you can write about it. 

In the next part of this guide, we'll drill down into the fascinating world of creative nonfiction.

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