Romance readers eagerly await and expect to see a variety of key moments when they dive into a new book. The first kiss. Grand gestures and professions of love. Maybe even spicy entanglements. And, of course, the happily ever after (or at least happy for now).
But before any of these must come the meet-cute.
The meet-cute is the scene where your love interests cross paths for the first time, and there tends to be sweet or humorous or dare I say adorkable about this interaction—but that may not be the case when we're talking about enemies-to-lovers or similar dynamics!
The meet-cute can set the tone not only for the characters' romance but the story as a whole. In this post, I'm sharing some tips to help make sure you don't miss the mark.
First Impressions
Meet-cutes are built on first impressions. This first interaction is the foundation for everything else to come.
However, it's not only about your characters' first impression of each other, but can also offer your reader's first impression of your characters.
Meet-cutes let you show off your characters' personalities and their flaws, how they might flirt or react to being flirted with, or how they respond to conflict should there be any.
E.g. An introverted bridesmaid and a hotel staff member meet in the lobby while she's avoiding the dance floor and her ex at a wedding.
Whether you're establishing the relatability of your characters or setting up their arcs and the story's conflict, meet-cutes have a purpose beyond getting your characters in the same place at the same time.
Conflict
Meet-cutes can also be a jumping-off point for your story's conflict. What is keeping your love interests from being together right off the bat?
Pride and Prejudice presents a fantastic example of a well-executed meet-cute tinged with conflict. Elizabeth's prejudice against what she perceives as Mr. Darcy's pride at the assembly not only establishes them as characters but the central themes of the novel.
While the meet-cute can create conflict, your characters could also meet because of a conflict.
e.g. Character A and Character B are competing against each other on a reality TV show with a hefty cash prize at stake that they both desperately need—and there can be only one winner.
No matter the obstacles your characters will face throughout the story, a meet-cute-turned-meet-conflict can add another layer of foreshadowing, complicate things just a notch, and create an opportunity for angsty banter readers love.
Make It Memorable
The meet-cute is the first step in your characters' romance, the moment that sets the rest of the story in motion, so you'll want to make sure it leaves its mark not only on the lovebirds-to-be, but your reader.
The beauty of fiction is that literally anything can happen, so don't be afraid to let your creativity shine. Shake up those cliches and throw your readers through a loop!
For example, Troy and Gabriella in High School Musical meet at a New Year's Eve party when they're thrown onto the karaoke stage for a duet and end up hitting it off and exchanging numbers assuming they won't see each other again, only to discover she's just transferred to East High where he is a student.
Do the unexpected and have fun with it!
Even if your characters meet in a mundane way, find something about that moment that stands out.
Those little details can be the difference between a reader rolling their eyes and letting out the coveted awwww... romance writers strive for.
What If Your Characters Already Know Each Other?
Meet-cutes are the moment your love interests first meet, right? But what if you're writing something like a second-chance romance or Friends-to-Lovers where your characters already know each other prior to the events of your book?
How do you write a meet-cute when your characters have already met?
You've got a couple of options here.
One of my historical romances WIPs, A Tided Love, is a second-chance romance. Caroline and Thomas initially meet just shy of a decade before but lose touch. Their meet-cute comes when they're unexpectedly reunited at a ball.
If there's been some time or distance between them, for example if you have high school-aged characters seeing each other for the first time since summer break, your meet-cute could involve the characters' internal monologue comparing and contrasting the then and now, how much has stayed the same and how much has changed—including their feelings toward each other.
You could also write in a flashback or mention how they met. This high school protagonist may have a hard time believing the dreamy varsity quarterback was once the snot-nosed kid who sat next to her in kindergarten and needed her help with an art project because he's colorblind. A note about the past can be interesting in the present while paving the way towards the future.
Meet-cutes may sound small in the grand scheme of your novel, but they hold a significance unlike any other scene. Meet-cutes are responsible for giving your reader insight into who your characters are, maybe who they were, and who they'll become.
A well-written meet-cute can ignite those crucial first sparks that get your reader invested in the romance.
Maintaining the delicate balance between conflict, chemistry, and creativity helps your story make a good first impression on your readers—even if your characters get off on the wrong foot!
What is your favorite meet-cute scene? Tell me why in the comments!
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