Slow-Burn Romances

[azzy-m]

so, i've always loved the concept of slow burns, and i've always wanted to incorporate it into my comic, but i realize i'm having trouble doing so. any tips?

[AniStaciaArt]

It may help to know what part of it you're having troubles with.

[elyss]

I feel like slow burn are best if you love watching a relationship develop, so I would focus on a series of small events that bring both parties closer together bit by bit. I'm not sure how one would go about making a slow burn subplot. Maybe look into known stories.

[sevannah_storm]

Stunning advice! I recently wrote my first slow burn. My editor loved it (phew). But for my Sci-Fi Romances, slow burn is O.U.T.

[Mari]

With slow burn you'll need to make sure the characters actually have something to do together I think. Like lets say you want your romance to develop for 5 chapters until they get together. So the characters need to find things to do/talk about for those 5 chapters while they're awkwardly flirting with each other. If there's no chemistry/no real reason for the characters to interact except some unseen attraction, it'll come off as forced.

[sevannah_storm]

Mine were on a mission, a journey across many miles and lands. I could sneak in moments, meals and bedtimes, or battle scenes, a way for them to get to know each other.

[joannekwan]

Looking at real life examples, how often do you see couples actually getting together and being 'official' after a month? Let your characters take time to realize they enjoy each other's company to the point of wanting to be exclusively romantic/sexual. They may not even realize they're compatible romantically/sexually after a long while and start out as acquaintances or buddies at first.

[tchotchkeco]

I’m a big fan of slow burns. I’d say definitely start writing a script as this will help with your pacing. I’d also say it’s important to really know your characters as slow burns tend to revolve more about the character’s personal lives and situations than other areas.

[vothnthorvaldson]

Yep. Reminds me of two idiots from different cultures, living in a country with yet another culture, who took years to understand what they wanted from each others . If anyone ever want to write a multi-season slow burn story, I have experience to share haha

[punkarsenic]

have several instances where they NEARLY say 'i love you' or NEARLY kiss but then something happens. it gets people really frustrated, its great

[therealbereth]

I'd like to add that one important factor in slowburn is friendship.

Like others already said, people who only slowly develop romantic/sexual feelings for each other (one isn't the other, keep that in mind, as well!) might not even be aware of it. My partner and I are actually a good example of that, as we had been seeing each other for months as "friends" and "you're like a brother/sister to me" before we, after going on a concert together, realized that, hey wait, there's another layer to our relationship. While pretty much all our friends were just like: "FINALLY".

So, other people might see what's going on between your characters before they know it themselves. Maybe a friend of one of them teases about it. Maybe there are insinuations from their friend group that just go completely over their heads. The fun in slowburn, I would say, lies in the reader (and other characters) exactly knowing what is going on while at least one of the two people is oblivious to it. Maybe the other even pines. Maybe both start to pine for the other after a while, but none of them actually thinks that they'd have a chance. Or they don't want to ruin their friendship.

Make your readers suffer.

[Maps]

Mine were held back because their love was forbidden. That helped me to kind of push it off and give them restraints.
I think sometimes the circumstances can help.

[joannekwan]

To add, since people are sharing their own examples, in my main romance story, there is an immediate attraction between the two characters. But they were more in it for the casual sex. One was basically putting on a front, not true to himself, while the other was skeptical of this charade. It wasn't until they broke down the walls between them that they started with a clean slate to try and go for the whole boyfriends thing for real.

[sevannah_storm]

Love this! I met my husband via the internet (LOL). Been married for 18 years, almost.

[QueenofBabyLoon]

Have you ever read any 18th-19th century romance novels?

I am thinking Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, George Eliot, Anthony Trollop, etc. They are the masters of slow-burn romances (which are my favorite as well ).

The one thing I have noticed in their writing is that, compared to postmodern literature which is more based on action and description of affection (I looked at … I touched hers/his …), these authors put a great emphasis on the evolution of feelings and go in-depth when it comes to analyzing them with precision and patience.

[WillisAuthor]

Craft book recommendation, "Romancing the Beat" ( www.amazon.com/Romancing-Beat-Structure-Romance-Kissing-ebook/dp/B01DSJSURY/ ) - this might give some insight.

Rom coms and slow burns often focus on a barrier, both external and internal that's present for both characters (not necessarily the same). The tension and suspense is all about the "near misses" for kisses, sexually charged moment, confessions and so forth. Those inner dialogues that reveal why their blushing and then seeing the other's internal dialogue to see they were almost THERE.

I've found this book helpful when stuck. Also if you need help pulling out what you have and missing, workbooks with forms to fill out can be huge aids. I back this one for drafting, developing and revising any creative work that has a plot to organize and expose gaps - "The Complete Revision Workbook" ( www.amazon.com/Complete-Revision-Workbook-Writers-Polished/dp/1733624007 ).

[ble]

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[sevannah_storm]

Passion grows slowly between two or more characters.

[ble]

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[QueenofBabyLoon]

Something like that, minus comedy relieving the sexual tension
Think about when you were a teenager and had a crush on that gorgeous guy/girl. You didn't have the courage to talk to him/her, but your emotions (and hormones) were raging. You spent your time in your mind, thinking about him/her, analyzing your feelings, your emotions.
Now take all of that emotional angst and ecstasy and make a novel out of it.