#romantic subplot

Thx 𖹭

YES absolutely, arranged marriage strangers-to-lovers is so juicy, but yeah, the beginning can feel weirdly hard to crack. like… how do you start a relationship when there's no relationship yet?? you’re trying to build chemistry and stakes from nothing, and still make it feel emotionally real.

so let’s break it down 👇

🌶️the core tension = contract vs connection. they’re bound together by something external (family, politics, survival, magic law, whatever), not choice. that friction between “we have to be in this” and “do we want to be in this” is your heartbeat. → every early scene should let that tension breathe. → she doesn’t know if she can trust him. he doesn’t know what she wants. they misread each other. they pull back. they move forward. they get it wrong. it’s messy, because real closeness grows from uncertainty.

🌒 start after the decision, but before the comfort. you don’t need to open with the wedding or proposal unless it’s plot-critical. honestly, it’s often more powerful to start right after the commitment is sealed. → they’ve signed the papers. the ceremony is done. now they’re staring at each other in the hallway of a shared home like: “so… you want the left drawer or?” → this gives you room to explore who they are in proximity to each other, and how the arrangement shifts their behavior.

🔍 build tension through contrast. they should approach this situation differently. one might see it as duty. the other as punishment. one’s trying too hard. the other’s emotionally shut down. one’s deeply polite. the other pushes buttons. → the contrast gives you sparks. and from those sparks, you can build emotional ground.

🔥 scenes > exposition. show the distance through awkward firsts. → eating dinner together without talking. → realizing they don’t know how the other takes their tea. → one getting sick and the other not knowing if they’re allowed to help. these tiny moments do more than backstory ever could.

🕯️don’t skip the awkward stage. seriously. lean into it. the first time they argue, the first accidental touch, the first sign of protectiveness or jealousy. even the silence has texture. → when you show the shift from “i don’t know you” to “i’m starting to see you,” it hits harder. you want that moment later where the reader realizes: wait… they know each other now.

💡 quick prompts from me to get started:

she finds something of his in their shared space, something vulnerable.

one of them is forced to defend the other in public, even if they barely know them.

a shared chore, task, or journey where they have to cooperate, but completely clash.

someone from their past shows up and the other gets an unexpected glimpse of who they were before this marriage.

🌼 final note from me: you’re not writing a romance that starts with attraction. you’re writing one that starts with obligation and grows. and that’s so rich, because everything they learn about each other is earned.

I ordered all the Fey Touched Trilogy covers at the same time, so I have been sitting on this for three years.

And guys, I'd my favourite of all the covers.

I just think the red and gold looks SO pretty!

Back at it again with part two of some scenes to consider adding for a romance subplot. Before we get into it, just a brief reminder that everyone’s story is different. Take that as you will. I find these helpful for planning and keeping a solid foundation for a compelling romance. There's probably a lot more I'm missing out. Some of these tips, I'm thinking, could even be helpful for writing a platonic friendship, in cases like making mistakes or helping each other through tough times.

If there's anything you would like add or share about this process or some of the things that have helped you, let me know! ~

- Moments of intimacy:

This is rather similar to our last point about flirting, but what I’m trying to get across here is the things that are not said. The unspoken. The unmentionables, if we wanna go there. But I’m getting ahead of myself… this is the kind of scene that can be built up gradually as the romance between your characters grows and deepens. Moments of intimacy in a romance subplot involve deeper and more meaningful interactions between the characters, showcasing their emotional closeness. They include physical closeness, such as hugs, touches, or moments of shared proximity. 

It doesn’t have to be all touchy-feely, either. These scenes also might include gazing at the stars, a shared adventure, a sudden desire to reach out but chickening out at the last second, or a quiet moment of understanding during a tough situation. These gestures can convey a sense of comfort or safety. Intimate moments can also build anticipation and tension in the narrative, where readers may eagerly await these little, momentous moments as they read and become more invested in their relationship. 

- Helping each other out:

Nothing get me more invested in a romance than those moments where the characters offer support, assistance, or guidance to each other, thus reinforcing their bond and showcasing the strength of their connection. Also, while helping each other, the characters can also encourage independence and growth in each other. They can encourage each other’s goals and aspirations, allowing each other to maintain their own unique identity within the relationship. 

The characters could also perform acts of kindness, be it big or small — showing to the other character how much they care without explicitly stating it. There’s an element of vulnerability that can be explored here, in which the characters share experiences and insights good and bad — offering each other solace during hard times and joy during the best of times. 

Some examples!

- Character A solving a problem in a way that only they would know or character B wouldn’t have thought of in the first place. 

- Character B being understanding and listening without judgement to A’s opening up and venting.

- Character A offering support and clear-headed advice to B, who tends to get irrational. On the other hand, B standing up for A and protecting them from harm. 

- Character B teaching a new, valuable skill to A, thus providing great opportunity for them to get closer and connect. 

- Mistakes or misunderstandings:

Like many others, I’m not a big fan of miscommunication in romantic arcs … unless they’re resolved quickly (because they tend to be predictable, sometimes, or just frustrating when there's every opportunity for them to reconcile but they're ignoring it because drama).

Ahem. But, characters should be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. It’s realistic, because who hasn’t made a mistake at least once in their life? Not every budding relationship is ever perfect. It’s rewarding to see characters learn from their errors and work towards a mutual understanding or reconciliation. This helps to show their emotional maturity and resilience, especially if its gradual or important for their character arc.

Narrative elements that introduce complications (often arising from bad impressions, flaws, insecurities, awkward moments, mistakes, or even just being at the wrong place at the wrong time) can add tension to the relationship while providing space for growth. When used right, this can add deeper strength to your characters’ bond as they eventually overcome the bumps along the road of romance. It’s always interesting to see how characters might react in certain situations, for better or for worse. This is also a great point as to force your characters to confront their true feelings and be able to recognize them or communicate them better.

- Declaration of feelings:

Finally! The moment we’ve all been waiting for! This is the special moment where one or both characters express their romantic feelings for each other, marking a significant turning point in the subplot that often dictates how the story would then play then on out. Think about how you want your “declaration” scene to play out and what emotions you want to invoke. Is it elation? Anguish? Confusion? Excitement? Sadness? I mean, not every declaration scene has to be perfect. It all depends on the story you’re wanting to tell, how focused you want your romantic subplot to be, and what your characters are like. 

Some original characters for a project that's been eating away at my brain cells lately. Might fuck around and write a book about them.

Left to right; Audrey Beaughin, Elijah Faks, and Rainier Ward.

I'm calling the project Unthreaded. It's set in a world that is high-magic 1900-1920 America/Europe inspired, with a lot of the conveniences of the time period centered around magic.