Why I don’t write romance as a main plot even though it sells

I write young adult contemporary fiction books with the sub-genre of self-esteem and self-reliance. My stories also deal with social issues such as sexual abuse and self-harm, and tackle mental health with sensitivity and care. Though my debut novel has ranked the #1 New Release on Amazon, getting people to read my work has been a struggle. Many fellow authors have advised me to change my writing genre to romance, but I refuse to budge.

My books do have romance, but it is a subplot. And it will always remain that way. My focus is more on character growth and friendship. I prefer writing about the protagonists’ inner conflict rather than their relationship issues. I also love plot twists and keeping my readers guessing how the story will proceed. Most importantly, I like reading books that are character and plot-driven like mine.

Since my teenage years, I haven’t been interested in romance books or movies. I have some favorites as exceptions, like Erich Segal’s Love Story, but I always preferred stories in which the protagonist triumphed against all odds. It was a bonus if the main character had a love interest to support them. However, I was perfectly fine with them braving through everything independently. Such tales made my heart sing with joy, and I wanted to write them in the future.

My resolve became stronger when I read a blog article by a disappointed teenager who pointed out that most books for young adults have the same stereotyped characters, little diversity, a predictable plot, and unrealistic romance. She asked why writers who told unique stories were so rare. My novels are for readers like this blogger.

I know I’m an outlier in this vast world of authors, and there’s a chance my books may never reach more than a few readers because I don’t “write to market.” But I dream of setting a trend rather than following it. Because I want to follow in the footsteps of one of my favorite authors, Beverly Cleary, who said, “If you don’t see a book on the shelf, write it.”