Academy · Genre
Romance conventions
What conventions does the romance genre expect?
Beginner
Two protagonists with chemistry. A central romantic arc that drives the plot. Obstacles that make the relationship feel impossible until it's not. A happy ending or hopeful ending (HEA or HFN — happily ever after, or happy for now). Readers will return a book that doesn't deliver one of those; the contract is that strong. Subgenres add their own rules: romantasy adds a magical world and stakes, contemporary adds modern realism, historical adds period accuracy, paranormal adds supernatural beings.
What to try
- Use the romance starter template
Related questions
- What is HEA vs HFN?
- How long should a romance be?