Narratives involving young love frequently rely on recognizable "tropes"—plot devices that establish how characters meet and the conflicts they must overcome. A Guide to Teen Dating and Young Love - BYU Magazine
Here is a guide to understanding and portraying young relationships in a meaningful way.
Writers, here is your challenge:
Does the girl have a life goal outside of the boy? If you removed the romance subplot, would she still have a coherent character arc? (Yes/No test). In The Hunger Games , the love triangle is real, but Katniss’s primary goal is survival and saving Prim . The romance adds stakes; it isn't the plot.
This guide explores the development of young romantic relationships and the common storylines used to depict them in literature and media. 1. Navigating Early Relationships