Introducing your main character’s love interest is a key element in any romance novel. It’s that initial spark that moves the story forward. Some suggestions on how to make that moment unforgettable and riveting:

Pick the Right Moment

Bring your love interest into the story when your protagonist’s life or emotional state falls into desperation or near collapse. If they're very bored, emotionally vulnerable, or injured, your love interest should come to the rescue or at least shake things up with a ray of hope.

The Unforgettable First Meet

Keep this in mind: how they first meet will invariably set the tone of their relationship. There are several “meets” that are often used. First, there’s the funny, awkward, or sweet meet. There’s the tense meet, often the result of a situational conflict or misunderstanding. And there’s the serious meet, where your characters immediately establish a deep or emotional connection. Remember, regardless of the type of meet, you want to create emotion, offer sensory details, and provide the all-important chemistry your characters need to really connect. Make sure your readers feel that initial friction or spark.

Plant the Seeds of Conflict or Curiosity

Romance feeds on tension. Both internal (fear, pride, past wounds) or external (class, circumstance, rival). Their first meeting should raise questions. Can these two people ever become an item? And why is this person drawn to someone they have no business wanting?

Reveal Character Through Interaction

Yes, the work continues. Use their first meeting to reveal their character quirks, beliefs, and attitudes. Don’t just depend on physical descriptions. Employ dialogue, body language, and little choices to reveal personality.

Establish a Connection or Contrast

Here, you’re trying to build tension or harmony to foreshadow your story’s direction. Show how opposites attract and use this to build initial conflict. If your characters are kindred souls, use this to build emotional depth. Finally, use trust and history to turn friends into lovers. Show how this character fits your main character more than anyone else on Earth.