They should have hobbies, careers, and existing friendships that provide context for who they are.

The most common mistake in romantic writing is creating a character whose only purpose is to be a love interest. A relationship is only as interesting as the individuals within it. Before your characters meet, they should have:

The best romantic arcs often feature characters moving from low differentiation to high differentiation. True romantic tension arises when a character must learn to stand on their own two feet before they can successfully stand hand-in-hand with someone else. 2. The Emotional Triangle

Ensure their personal shortcomings create natural, realistic friction when they interact.