Writing About Love
For millennia, philosophers and poets have pondered love—what it is, how to cultivate it, and its place in human life. Scientists, on the other hand, have been reticent to study it explicitly until recently, when they’ve finally begun to get comfortable with examining relationships and their impact on our happiness, health, and well-being.
Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, exploring the topic of love can be an intriguing way to engage readers. Conduct interviews with experts, attend lectures or conferences, and read literature on the subject to find new insights you can incorporate into your work.
Intimate relationships are a natural part of the human experience, and they’re an important factor in our sense of meaning and purpose. When you’re writing about love, make sure your characters’ experiences reflect the real world—the nervousness of a first date, the comfort of a long-term relationship, and the heartache of separation. Then, let your readers see how your characters manage to navigate these challenges to build a strong bond and a satisfying life together.
If you’re writing a romance or a drama, focus on the ways your characters show each other love through actions. Acts of service like cooking a meal, bringing medicine when someone’s sick, or helping with a difficult task can demonstrate how much you care. Words of affirmation are important, too — telling someone that you appreciate them, admire them, and value them can strengthen your bond.
Romantic love focuses on feelings of attraction and affection, but it also involves caring, self-sacrifice, and respect. It’s unique to humans as image-bearers of God and encompasses a spiritual and moral connection that’s separate from lust, hatred, and greed.
Loving someone entails a deep interest in their lives and a desire to understand them at a core level. This is why it’s important to share your own thoughts and feelings, as well as listen attentively when they talk. Actively listening can be a powerful expression of love, and showing that you remember the details of their day helps you to connect with them on a more meaningful level.
In addition to the emotional aspects of love, it also requires patience and a willingness to take the time to understand one another. This is especially true in the beginning, when it can be challenging to find common ground and create a safe space for honest communication.
For some people, love means a yearning that can make them miss their partner even when they’re not with them. For others, it’s a feeling that makes them want to be their best selves in order to make their partner happy. No matter how you define it, though, love is a complicated and beautiful emotion that can make us feel happy, sad, and everything in between. It can also be the most rewarding experience of our lives. So, when you’re in it, hold on tight and be grateful for the gift that is your relationship.