Can a slow-burn romance really work without any toxic stuff?

[HisDivineShadow]

Hey guys!
I'm a new one here. I just wanna ask you something.
Lately, there’s been this wave of stories turning abusive relationships into some kind of twisted fairytale where the asshole suddenly becomes Prince Charming just because someone "loved him hard enough." And the heroine, she’s always so wise, so forgiving. Honestly, it creeps me out.
It's not just messed up it’s dangerous.
So I’m writing my own book, and it’s my way of flipping the bird to that whole trend.

My story’s gonna be raw. It’s gonna be full of emotion, heat, messy feelings, and real choices. There’ll be werewolves, dragons, strange creatures, and a Hidden World, but you won’t find a single toxic relationship in sight.

Because I believe you don’t need pain and gaslighting to make a story intense. You don’t need broken people breaking each other to build tension. You can have desire, depth, and transformation and still have characters who actually respect each other. Even the classic archetypes - the warrior, the shadow, the healer, they can still feel human.

So tell me, does that sound boring to you, or like something worth reading?

 

[Sarandib]

Romance, like all genres, doesn't work without tension. Toxicity is an easy way to accomplish this which is why it's common. Leave your characters and the audience guessing and people will read what you put out.

 

[MasterY001]

I think it is. My general impression for the quality of SH stories is very low. I mostly see titles full of bad writing on this site, hopefully yours doesn't end up joining that list.

However, the lack of toxic relationships will lower the amount of conflict you can spark between characters. Oftentimes, it takes a bad relationship for a character to fully appreciate a genuine, loving one. It'll be hard to write a gritty romance without abuse of some kind.

Still, it does seem like an interesting read. Just try not to pack your medieval fantasy with unnecessary stats or levels or stuff. If I wanted to see lots of big numbers, I'd play Black Desert Online. Anyway, let me know when Chapter 1 is up!

 

[Empress_Omnii]

So tell me, does that sound boring to you, or like something worth reading?

Slice of life is one of the most popular genres. That should in itself prove that the toxic relationships aren't necessary.
But really, so long as you can make readers continue reading it will be fine. Be it by having comfy cozy slice of life segments or introducing tension and feelings that don't rely on bad relationships.

Additionally, if you dont want the messy toxic romances, maybe avoid the drama genre? They tend to add it needlessly.

 

[Fairemont]

Sure. No reason it can't. You may need to apply excitement and tension elsewhere to make up for it.

 

[Arkus86]

And why would it not work? I have read and watched plenty of good romance without toxic relationships. It was not always the main focus, and there were usually different forms of hardships to overcome, but it does work.
How much of an audience you will find here, without isekai, harem and smut, is another question though, and one I cannot answer.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

Thanks, guys, you kind of inspired me a little.
This is my first book, even though it’s been living in my head for years. I feel like I managed to build conflict without turning it toxic, and to show character growth through other stuff, but we’ll see...
Right now I’m finishing up two more chapters, so I’ll have 15 ready, just to give myself a buffer, and at the same time I’m doing a final read. I mean… c'mon.
Things can be intense and physical without turning into stepping all over each other, right?

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Chase your dreams man, but doing so doesn't require doing it out of spite or jabbing at things other people like. I find that personally spite is a weak motivating force. It works for the first few chapters, until you actually start getting into the middle of the story. Rather than focusing on what other stories do, write your story with love and care. Mention me when you have 15 chapters, and I'll give it a read.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

Chase your dreams man, but doing so doesn't require doing it out of spite or jabbing at things other people like. I find that personally spite is a weak motivating force. It works for the first few chapters, until you actually start getting into the middle of the story. Rather than focusing on what other stories do, write your story with love and care. Mention me when you have 15 chapters, and I'll give it a read.

thanks !
I will

 

[tiaf]

It can work. A relationship can grow through external hardships. Doesn't necessarily need toxic romantic elements.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

There's no such thing as a perfect person or a perfect relationship. Most people will yell and say nasty things under stress, though they will all have different limits and triggers based on various factors. Also, human memory is imperfect. Every time we access our memories, we recreate things in a new way. Thus, what appears to be gaslighting can sometimes be the result of honest differences in memory. Everyone should have therapy at some point in life, though throughout most of human history, we've also had better interpersonal relationships, and that therapy has come from friends and family. Authors like to draw from personal experience when it comes to such matters, and writing can be therapeutic for writers and readers alike.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Depends on whether you want a clear ending or if you want to keep it going forever.

A clear ending does not require tension or toxicity. It can be short.

Endless novel?
Yeah you need toxicity.

 

[FieryLou]

No, it can't! The gods will curse you for it!

 

[HisDivineShadow]

No, it can't! The gods will curse you for it!

Beautiful

 

[HisDivineShadow]

There's no such thing as a perfect person or a perfect relationship. Most people will yell and say nasty things under stress, though they will all have different limits and triggers based on various factors. Also, human memory is imperfect. Every time we access our memories, we recreate things in a new way. Thus, what appears to be gaslighting can sometimes be the result of honest differences in memory. Everyone should have therapy at some point in life, though throughout most of human history, we've also had better interpersonal relationships, and that therapy has come from friends and family. Authors like to draw from personal experience when it comes to such matters, and writing can be therapeutic for writers and readers alike.

Yeah, totally! different experiences lead to different stories. But honestly, super toxic stuff kinda kills it for me. Especially when there’s physical violence against women it makes me feel sick to my stomach. It always feels like some messed-up version of reality to me.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

Hey, just a quick update. like I promised earlier, I’ve uploaded the first 5 chapters of my story, and I’m planning to post two more tomorrow. After that, I’ll be updating every three days.

Any feedback is more than welcome, especially honest critique! The story’s a slow-burn urban fantasy with shapeshifters, some heat, some mystery, and no toxic romance.

If you're curious, here’s the link: https://www.scribblehub.com/series/1571888/the-shifted/
Would love to hear what you think if you check it out

 

[Golden_Hyde]

Without toxic stuff, yes. But not without tensions. You can make the couple as normal as possible, but there'll always be tensions, even if they're hidden beneath that normalcy within the scene.

Take it like two office workers that were married at each other slightly arguing about works that they share while working in the same department. Or maybe about furnitures. Tensions doesn't always come around like "Oh, so you don't love me anymore" or anything cliche about the ever dynamic and quite rocky relationships.

All in all, if you want to write fluffy romance stories, make the couple argue about anything mundane, because at the end of the day, that's how a real-life healthy relationship goes.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

7 chapters are already published, and the story is still open to feedback, especially for criticism, feel free to PM me.
Big thanks to everyone who’s taken the time to share their thoughts (or will!), it really means a lot.

 

[Lysander_Works]

I've done one, so yes?
With writing, anything is possible.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

I've done one, so yes?
With writing, anything is possible.

which one? I'd take a look.