But what separates a real-life partnership that lasts fifty years from a three-month fling? And conversely, what separates a boring, forgettable romance novel from a storyline that haunts you for a decade?
So, as you write your next romantic arc, forget the clichéd lines and the sunset silhouettes. Focus on the argument in the car. The inside joke. The awkward silence. The hand that reaches out in the dark. That is where the real story lives.
Write the scene where your couple meets, but forbid yourself from using any of the following: eyes locking, bumping into each other, spilling a drink, dropping books, or "love at first sight." How else can two strangers begin a conversation? (Example: They both show up to claim the same lost dog. Or they are both trying to return the same overdue library book.)