Authors (and readers) ask me how I write enemies-to-lovers so well. I'm breaking down the basics.

I read all levels of spice in my romance. BUT I (generally) only write a little spice into my stories. What I thrive on is the sexual tension and slow burn. It is my FAVORITE to write and I guess it shows.

One question I often get when coaching authors is how I write such visceral sexual tension in my romantic subplots.

First, enemies-to-overs and forced proximity are my two favorite tropes, so to say I’m passionate about them is an understatement. But here’s the gist…

Justification

Both characters need valid reasons for their “enemies” status to strike a chord with readers. It can’t be something flimsy. The “deed” has to rub salt on an emotional wound, scarring the other character in some deeply personal way (emotionally or physically speaking, depending on your story).

Layers

You have to tease the love/hate moments so the characters almost like each other, then remember why they don’t. They have to struggle - nothing can be too easy or it doesn’t build enough and when they finally get together, it’s not as satisfying. Keep in mind, you can overdo the tension and back and forth too.

The Turning Point

It’s not love, it’s respect. The characters have to see each other’s worth before they see each other’s heart. There has to be a moment when they feel gratitude or awe or have to stop and take a step back to realize this person is not what they thought, despite what happened between them. Respecting each other comes before love, always.

The Payoff

Knox and Ava (Skies of Fire) - a heart-wrenching decade of turmoil leading up to the end of the world where they are thrust together and have to rely on each other to survive their dying world. I actually hesitate to say they are “enemies” beforehand because the fracture between them runs so much deeper than that, but you get the idea.

Luke and Kaia (Earth and Ember) - mortal enemies bred to fear and hate each other for generations, but they must set all of that aside in order to co-exist and survive their crumbling world. And they respect each other as humans, as equals, and then everything begins to change.

Hunter and Thea (Unbroken) - She stands for everything he has feared his entire life, and he has built walls to protect his people. Thea almost lost her family, only for them to turn around to help him and his people, and Hunter is ungrateful in her eyes. What bigger slight is there when you feel the people you love are being judged unfairly and attacked?

Are you noticing a trend?

Survival situations strip away pretense and force characters to see each other’s true nature. One of my biggest secrets - good world building. If I can pit enemies against Mother Nature’s fury, even better. The enemies-to-lovers tension is so much more delicious and fun to build on when two people who can’t stand each other (to put it lightly).

There you have it! I hope that helps or you find my process interesting.