Love stories are often characterized by an internal arc. While the protagonist's quest for satisfaction carries a clear narrative arc, there is a secondary plot arc in the form of the other lover's angst, or the relationship's conflict. This underlying cause-and-effect structure is the foundation of storytelling and helps readers understand the characters' motivations. For example, in a classic romance, the protagonist must gain satisfaction through his or her actions, and he or she must lose his or her love.



When a protagonist faces a crisis, the reader can identify the main change the character must go through. The global value is the central theme of the story. A typical love story has three main global values: intimacy, hate disguised as a love, and intimacy. It is not necessary for the protagonist to experience all the values; instead, the protagonist should progress from one value to the next in a logical sequence. A typical love story may involve more than one value.

A courtship story's psychological drive is commitment. It typically ends with a commitment or a sense of intimacy. Courtship stories are also known as "romances" because they are prescriptive. They are found in traditional romances, such as Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones' Diary. But these love stories are not limited to romantic fiction. In fact, many modern novels and movies have courtship stories as their main theme.