Romance is one of the best-selling genres of fiction, and it’s often seen as “easy” to write. Anyone who has tried writing romance novels can tell you that it isn’t as easy as people might think. With that in mind, I’ve reached out to UK romance authors for their advice on how to write romantic fiction.
From creating characters that feel real to deciding what kind of publishing journey is right for you, the advice here comes from people who have invested their time and energy to become successful romance authors.
Love everything about your project
“Romance is about love, and you should love everything about your project – the premise, the setting, and especially the characters. These should be people you would fall in love with, and have your readers fall for. You should (for the most part!) enjoy writing them. They should feel real and the setting should give a real sense of place, even if you’re writing romantic fantasy or science fiction. Evoke the senses and immerse your reader! People read to escape, so provide that. They read romance for the romance, so make sure it’s believable. Write from the heart, and you will rarely go wrong.” — Helen Rose Thwaite
Helen Rose Thwaite is a SFF Romance author based in Manchester, England. Her novella TIN CAT! was published by Champagne Books in 2015 and has since been self-published. She is currently writing a sci fi romance and seeking representation with another.
You can follow them on Instagram (@helen_thwaite) and Bluesky (helenrosethwaite.bsky.social).
Decide if you are going to be an indie writer or not
“Write every day, no excuses. Edit later. Read Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’. Decide if you are going to be an indie writer or not, right from the start. It’s a key decision, and one you want to make consciously, if you can. If you hope for a publisher, and then self-publish, there are a lot of hats you will have to wear to get your book into the market. Research this thoroughly to prepare yourself for fulfilling these roles, and understand the cost and time impact of hiring experts to help you.
Think about how you will market your book before you put pen to paper. It’s important to know who is likely to buy your novel, so that you can use social media and all marketing communications to your advantage, from pre-launch onwards.
If you know you want to write a series, ensure that is set up properly on all platforms at the start, because it generally can’t be changed after the fact. Consider getting help with editing, proofing, formatting, book cover design, and load/launch, if you are serious about selling your book as an indie author and want it to be professionally produced. Ask for help.” — Laura Lee Randell
Laura is a British-Canadian novelist who lives in London UK with her husband. She writes low spice, emotionally charged romance novels. Her books have cinnamon bun-alpha male leads, and strong female protagonists who are facing life changing situations. Her debut novel ‘A New Beginning’ is out now.
You can follow her on Instagram: @lauraleerandell
Enjoy the process
“Enjoy the process! Enjoy writing your story, and write the story YOU want to tell. Let’s be real for a moment; publishing is a harsh world, whether that is trad- or self-publishing. You might not make your investments back, and readers might not like your work. Rather than letting that be discouraging, let it be freeing. There are no stakes. Write the story you would want to read, and just enjoy the process of writing. Don’t rush. People will still read books five years from now. So take your time to create what you consider to be the perfect version of the story. Write for yourself, rather than for an imaginary audience, and you will find that the words come a lot easier.
And, if you can afford it, get an editor. There is nothing as invaluable as the constructive feedback of a good editor.
I believe in you! :)” — M. Vixen
M. Vixen is a Scottish-based author of fantasy romance. She loves character-driven stories with strong emotional stakes and bonds. Her debut novel, The Druid’s Bindings, released in June 2025. Her second book is scheduled to be released Autumn 2026.
You can follow her on Instagram: @author.mvixen
Choose your central characters carefully
“Choose your central characters carefully. I create bios and backstories, as no character is born on page 1. Their past will colour who they are, how they react and what they want. Choose meaningful conflicts and goals to power their journey through your book. If you can make one character’s conflicts and goals impact on those of the other, then you’ll bring them together on the page without contrivance. Create chemistry by making them notice each other: appearance, intelligence, likes and dislikes, opinions, scent, personality, mood … They don’t exist in isolation so don’t forget family, friends, colleagues, teammates or pets – and how your central characters act, react and interact with them.
Educate yourself about the process of writing and about the publishing industry. You don’t need a degree, unless you wish to take that route. There are conferences, courses, groups, magazines, books and newsletters, some which are cheap or free. Being a long-time member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association has been a big part of my career, helping me learn a can-do attitude from multi-published authors.
Most of all, enjoy creating a world to which you, and your readers, can escape.” — Sue Moorcroft
Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling, multi-award-winning author. Her novels have been #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US, Canada, Germany and Italy. She’s the president of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Her latest paperback release is A CHRISTMAS GIFT.
You can follow her on Instagram: @SueMoorcroftAuthor
Resources on how to write romantic fiction
Looking for more resources on how to write romantic fiction? Make sure to check out the following links:
- Romantic Novelists’ Association (events, membership, and more)
- How to write exciting romantic fiction, from author Cressida McLaughlin
- How to write a romance novel, from a commissioning editor at Penguin Viking
- Writing tips from Mills & Boon UK
- How to build emotional intimacy in a romance story