Sad Films

How can I make a realistic love story and a realistic guy?

I am trying to write a thrilling, quirky love story. It also has magic in it and a lot of friendships and things like that. The thing is, I want to make the main guy seem as realistic as possible and the relationship to not be so touchy feely as say, Twilight is. I want it also to be not so clingy. I know Twilight is a good book, and it sort of inspired me to kind of devise it, but there is so much more to it. I need it to be realistic. How do I do that?

Public Comments

1. Read more Romance novels than Twilight. Start with Gena Showalter or someone like that. Learn by seeing how others have done it.
2. Please please PLEASE give the guy some flaws. Nobody is perfect - we all know that. It needs to be incorporated into the writing, too. Sure, the girl who likes him can think he's perfect, but he has to have some obvious flaws (whether physical appearance, attitude, or just bad habits). Also, it depends on what age group you're talking about when you say "realistic." I hate Twilight, but honestly, that's how teenage girls usually feel about their boyfriends - they're clingy (no offense to anyone - I'm a teenage girl, too!). It sounds like you're writing a teen novel, but if you don't want to make it so over-the-top (like Bella thinking about killing herself over Edward? Please...). Think about your life experiences and your friend's life experiences, and go from there. That's always the best way to make a story real. ;)
3. I hate to sound obvious, but unless you've actually been in a love relationship, writing about one realistically will be pretty hard going. And if you don't know any real guys well as friends, you'll have the same problem with writing a realistic guy. Basing your descriptions on other books you've read, or movies or tv shows you've seen, won't work as a substitute. Aside from personal experience, observation and listening are some of the best ways to find out about realism. Watch people in relationships, talk to them if you know them; watch guys, or talk with them. Ask questions. Ask parents, if necessary. Guys and love are pretty universal concepts. Research can be not only be interesting, but enlightening.