As someone who has watched/read many fantasy, action, adventure, or dramas I have always noticed a sort of pattern. Bad romantic subplots. I'll occasionally see a good one, but more often than not it can be one of the most painful parts of a story. Currently I'm working on a pet project of sorts, which happens to have a romantic subplot between the two main characters. I fear that the romance between the two may come off as forced and in some cases, painful. Do you guys have any advice to help the subplot feel a little less… stale?
Think about your characters and (to put it simply) get inside their heads
well you already seem to be able to recognize bad romantic subplots, so take all the things that make it bad and…don't do that. like you said, you don't want it to seem forced. i hate writing romance, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen in my stories. in my second novel, the two characters who "get together" only do after they both realize that they need each other in their personal fights against the main antagonist. they're both strong personalities who try to do things on their own, but realize they need help, and it slowly develops from there. try to find a reason why the two characters can't just be with other people, if that makes sense.
make sure the romance happens at the end of the book. The romance will become dry if the relationship is rushed. Reel your readers in with little things, and then add in things like romantic rivals and conflict. Make sure the characters have things in common, but also things that are different. Make sure they balance each other out. Also killing off a character is good too.
A good romantic subplot would be anything that has a purpose. Don't create a romance just to create a romance. It has to drive the plot.
