“Setting” the Romance

What do you think about when you think of romance? Oh sure, there are the typical things like boy meets girl, a dinner date or dinner and a movie. You may fantasize about what the hero or the lady look like, their personalities, their similarities and differences. As a writer, you’ll be thinking about how they’ll meet and what kind(s) of conflict will affect their relationship, as well as how they will overcome these conflicts to come together in a forever love.

But have you ever considered how your setting can enhance the romance? Consider this—when you think about what kind of romance you’d like, don’t you envision where the romance will take place? And you probably envision more than one setting for more than one date.

Building a description of the setting can help create romance.

Imagine: dinner at a top-notch seafood restaurant on the pier at a table by a window with a view of the moonlight shining upon the ocean. That view is enticing, so much so that after dinner, the lady and her date wander down to the beach, remove their shoes, and walk barefoot and hand-in-hand on the beach near the water’s edge. They feel a strong chemistry between them and little sparks shoot through their hands and up their arms at the physical contact of holding hands. They continue to take turns talking about themselves—getting to know one another.

Eventually, they know they have to go back the way they came. He has to drive her home. The night won’t last forever, but neither of them wants it to end. They look up at the bright, full moon and comment on the beauty of it as it shines upon the water. They breathe in the cool, salty air, then the hero turns to the lady, comments on her beauty and brushes some loose strands of hair from her face, places his hand on her cheek, then lowers his lips to hers for their first kiss.

You can take it from there, but do you see how the beach, the ocean, the moon and moonlight all add to the romance of the scene? You can take any scene you want, envision it in your mind and bring it to life in a way that enhances the romance or even causes the romance between your hero and lady to begin. Your settings can play an important role in your story. Don’t neglect them.

Some stories include a setting so well developed it almost becomes a character in the story. Be sure to use your settings to enhance the attraction, the feelings, the romance of your romantic stories.

Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer