The Romance genre of literature has it's many tropes and cliches, all of which come with their own reader-expectations and methods. In this day and age, the Romance genre is seeing no slow down of a demand for enemies-to-lovers romances. So, how do we define this trope, its expectations, and most importantly, how do we do it well? The Enemies-to-Lovers Trope Timeless, thrilling, and a romance fan-favorite. What is it? When you have two characters hating and vehemently opposing the other, only for their hate to start looking a lot like. . .passion. You know that saying about putting enough pressure on coal and it'll turn to diamond? What is Enemies-to-Lovers known for?To write it best, we have to know what our readers our looking for in the term enemies-to-lovers. What's the overdone? What's the underdone? What are you readers expecting from your story, and how do you satisfy their expectations while still remaining passionate and fresh? There is the idea out there that all ETL is toxic, which is a large generalization. While you can obviously find reader reviews on popular romance works complaining that the love between the characters is manipulative or just overall very negative, this is a good thing to be aware before you try to write an ETL story. When we examine what is arguably the most perfect ETL romance, Pride & Prejudice, we see that these stories can obviously unfold beautifully without fitting these problematic stereotypes. Enemies to lovers are usually slow at developing. Sexual tension is a large component of the characters overcoming their usually stubborn emotions. Characters are put in positions of having to sacrifice their pride to come to terms with the truth. The tension between the two lovers should highlight their compatibility, as well as where they fall short. Writing Tips for Enemies-to-LoversSo, what tips do I have for you today to writer better enemies-to-lovers romance? Let's go. 1. Give them valid reasons to dislike each other at first. This means legitimate foundations of miscommunication, unfortunate circumstances, really poor first impressions, etc. Why? This invests the reader in the development of their relationship. It gives layers to their perceptions of each other the readers will anticipate watching evolve. 2. Imbed small, almost over-lookable details to soften their perceptions of each other. Examine both of their personalities. What best qualities of theirs are bound to come out? What little things do they do that might unknowingly mean something monumental to the other character. Why? The progression is all about the little things. This development will build, and the reader will actually find themselves falling for the character at a similar pace as the characters themselves. 3. Take it slow. This means brainstorming reasons these two characters are stuck together, and basically have no choice but to endure the others presence. Why? This forces them to work out conflict between them, which clarifies to not just the reader, but the character as to why their positive/negative feelings for the other are/are not valid. 4. Make the realization scene have impact. It is the moment either/both characters understand their feelings in the most brutally honest fashion. Why? It's dramatic, so don't be afraid to make it dramatic. This is the moment that your readers have been working towards. All in all, the ETL trope is a cliche that's not going anywhere anytime soon. Whether you love it or hate, there are reasons readers love it, and there are ways to do it in a way that does not encourage problematic relationships. Takes these tips and try it yourself, and if you're lucky, you'll be the next Jane Austen. (Kidding!) Looking for more writing tips?Don't forget to check out some of my older blog posts, like:
Writing Romance That Compels Your Readers Best Tip for Writing Dialogue That Captivates 4 Tips for Writing Regency Romance
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AuthorYour fellow writer, Isabella, started this blog with the intention of reaching writers like her and creating a platform to connect, share, and inform with those who posses the same love of fiction and romance. Categories
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