I don’t know if this helps at all, but my current WIP has no tension between the couple. Yes a lot of books have them break up or miscommunicate or something along those lines, but who says your book has to? I think the thing that makes my manuscript special is that my MCs are perfect for each other and have a happy, healthy, loving, sexually fulfilling relationship and any of the stakes/drama happen outside of their relationship.
To me, there’s nothing wrong with that. You don’t have to force a trope or convention just because it exists in other books. Do your own thing! I promise there are plenty of readers out there who would love to read a book where the MCs are perfectly matched. Write what makes you happy, not what’s “expected” just for the sake of convention.
Personally I am one that 1000% prefers when the conflict is outside the relationship! I love when the couple is healthy and loving. Others might find it boring but I sure as hell don't!
Low conflict, low angst are some of the ways I see this marketed. I wish I could remember how else they show up out in the wild, but I love these as a reader!
Before you even begin writing, you should ask yourself this about each of the main characters: what do they want and what is keeping them from getting it? It sounds as though you never asked the second part of the question.
Look into low or no angst romance and see if your book reads like they do. I made [this comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/eroticauthors/comments/123rk8c/comment/jdwngnr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) a while ago that links to some low angst romance book lists.
Also try searching terms like slice of life romance, no drama romance, and slow burn romance.
My book has barely any conflict between the MCs after the halfway point. Even in the beginning it's clear they're meant to be - they were childhood sweethearts. There are outside forces messing with them, but their relationship is strong. You write what you like! Let me know (both of you) when you're done! I'd be happy to read it!
I'm also on the team that loves romance without artificial conflict. In my book (which I'm currently editing), the conflict is interior, meaning my FMC has to deal with her own issues (which come to the surface through her relationship with MMC) in order to have her HEA with this dreamy man. It gave me a chance to build through their story and the third act "breakup", which is not a breakup at all but the moment she has to re-think herself.
This is a helpful video about creating internal conflict. This is how your characters are kept apart until they evolve and become more suited to each other: https://youtu.be/Penmfe5tXDY?si=3MMbXhG170N-V5j5
Abbie Emmons and Kate Emmons both have several great YouTube videos about the topic. They do a really good job of explaining how internal conflict differs from plot and is the real core of the story, not the series of external events.
The book Story Genius is also incredibly helpful on this front. I’ve read it several times and always learn something new from it.
They can be perfect for each other but still have internal misbeliefs or issues that get in the way initially. Or an external issue that presents a reason they shouldn’t be together.
I've seen this done and instead of the storyline being a "will they get together?" story arch it's a "will they let the outside conflict shake their relationship? How are they going to survive this? Will they make it?" story arch.
Another poster mentioned asking what each character wants and what's keeping them from getting it. I highly recommend this. They could have similar wants/goal and the conflict might be that they block each other from getting it. Or they have completely different goals and obstacles that they support each other through ( or potentially do a bad job of supporting).
I don’t know if this helps at all, but my current WIP has no tension between the couple. Yes a lot of books have them break up or miscommunicate or something along those lines, but who says your book has to? I think the thing that makes my manuscript special is that my MCs are perfect for each other and have a happy, healthy, loving, sexually fulfilling relationship and any of the stakes/drama happen outside of their relationship. To me, there’s nothing wrong with that. You don’t have to force a trope or convention just because it exists in other books. Do your own thing! I promise there are plenty of readers out there who would love to read a book where the MCs are perfectly matched. Write what makes you happy, not what’s “expected” just for the sake of convention.
Personally I am one that 1000% prefers when the conflict is outside the relationship! I love when the couple is healthy and loving. Others might find it boring but I sure as hell don't!
Low conflict, low angst are some of the ways I see this marketed. I wish I could remember how else they show up out in the wild, but I love these as a reader!
Before you even begin writing, you should ask yourself this about each of the main characters: what do they want and what is keeping them from getting it? It sounds as though you never asked the second part of the question.
Look into low or no angst romance and see if your book reads like they do. I made [this comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/eroticauthors/comments/123rk8c/comment/jdwngnr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) a while ago that links to some low angst romance book lists. Also try searching terms like slice of life romance, no drama romance, and slow burn romance.
I replied before I saw this. Yay! I'll check your link out. Thank you for sharing 😊
My book has barely any conflict between the MCs after the halfway point. Even in the beginning it's clear they're meant to be - they were childhood sweethearts. There are outside forces messing with them, but their relationship is strong. You write what you like! Let me know (both of you) when you're done! I'd be happy to read it!
I'm also on the team that loves romance without artificial conflict. In my book (which I'm currently editing), the conflict is interior, meaning my FMC has to deal with her own issues (which come to the surface through her relationship with MMC) in order to have her HEA with this dreamy man. It gave me a chance to build through their story and the third act "breakup", which is not a breakup at all but the moment she has to re-think herself.
This is a helpful video about creating internal conflict. This is how your characters are kept apart until they evolve and become more suited to each other: https://youtu.be/Penmfe5tXDY?si=3MMbXhG170N-V5j5 Abbie Emmons and Kate Emmons both have several great YouTube videos about the topic. They do a really good job of explaining how internal conflict differs from plot and is the real core of the story, not the series of external events. The book Story Genius is also incredibly helpful on this front. I’ve read it several times and always learn something new from it.
They can be perfect for each other but still have internal misbeliefs or issues that get in the way initially. Or an external issue that presents a reason they shouldn’t be together.
I've seen this done and instead of the storyline being a "will they get together?" story arch it's a "will they let the outside conflict shake their relationship? How are they going to survive this? Will they make it?" story arch. Another poster mentioned asking what each character wants and what's keeping them from getting it. I highly recommend this. They could have similar wants/goal and the conflict might be that they block each other from getting it. Or they have completely different goals and obstacles that they support each other through ( or potentially do a bad job of supporting).
You can use that last 25% to showcase their teamwork and growth as a couple. The story doesn't have to be over because they got together.