Psychologist John Gottman found that happy couples respond to "bids" (small requests for connection) 86% of the time.

The best stories feature characters who have a reason not to be in a relationship. Perhaps they are afraid of vulnerability, haunted by a past betrayal, or focused entirely on a non-romantic goal. The romance serves as the catalyst for them to face their own flaws.

Many novice writers confuse "two nice people who get along" with romantic tension. Chemistry is about shared hobbies; it is about energy exchange . It manifests as: