Thoughts on Having Romance in Stories?

dat one kid

So, I've never really been a romantic person. I've never been interested in getting a boyfriend, marriage or any of the sort. That goes for my writing as well. I've rarely ever put love or romance into my stroies, and so far I haven't gotten any complaints. However, a friend of mine (who is also a writer) said that I should at least attempt to write a story with some form of romance. So I did, I wrote the story that follows two characters, a man and a woman, knowing that both of them would end up romantically togther. But, despite that clear mindset, the only romance between those two was at the very end before they're killed off. They don't show any love towards each other apart from a few hugs and open conversations.
I know that you don't need any romance to tell a good story. I'd never put in any romance into any of my previous storyies apart from parents sharing a hug or kiss or something. Me personally, don't think that romance is nesicarry for a story, but as I look at some of my favourite stories and movies (i.e Disney Movies, Naruto, Harry Potter, etc) all of them have a form of romance, and end with certain characters ending up in a relationship together. That had me thinking. In the past I could not stand love stories like Twilight (I guess that isn't really a good example since there're a lot pf people who doesn't like Twilight), but there were a few that I enjoyed, like the Notebook for example. I found it pretty enjoyable. Forest Gump was also very good. But yet again, had a form of romance, although it wasn't completely a love story. That had me realize just how many stories invlove romance. So, I'd like to know some of your opinions.
Like I said, I believe that romance isn't nessicary to write a good story. But do you think that I should try and imporve my skills in romance? Or should I just stick to my way of storytelling and having minimal romance?

LionelNashe

I probably wouldn't be bothered for its own sake, but if nothing else, it might be a good way to create an extra problem & complication for the protagonist. i.e. The love interest is in trouble, or is pulling the wool over the eyes of the protagonist. Or it could present solutions to problems. Take Chinatown and The Big Lebowski, for example. The detective in each case has sex with a woman who is connected to the plot, and when they're chatting afterwards he learns important information that moves the case along.

km85264

If you don't find what you're writing interesting, if you're not passionate about it, then your reader is going to know that. If you don't find romance interesting, then stay away from it. Your job is to give life to your own characters and let them find their own course, be it intimate, antagonistic, detached or whatever.

Livvie

Stories usually need a strong relationship, but that doesn't have to be a romance - can be a friendship, or family.

Rubecula

I have always had difficulty writing romance

InTheTrees

I think falling in love is one of the most emotionally overwhelming experiences a person can have and that reading about it can evoke those feelings again in a reader, like watching a romantic film.

Having said that its certainly not necessary in a story.