When/where is the best place to put a first kiss in your story (in your opinion?) (but sfw)

[Leyelle]

I tend to like doing the first kiss in my stories after very emotional scenes or conversations. Maybe I'm just a drama queen, lol. I don't know. But it's the way that I am. I feel like it happens most naturally that way, though I've written it other ways though. It could easily look like getting pigeon-holed if I'm not careful, but since every couple will have different kinds of emotional experiences and conversations, it still happens pretty differently in each context. In the end, most people consider the first kiss a pretty dramatic scene even if the story isn't a romance, so as authors we want to do it justice, right? How do you write them?

The first kiss is already written and scheduled for "Damsel in the Red Dress" and I'm so excited for people to finally get to see it it's killing me. I'm very proud of how it turned out since it's my first kiss in a released story lol. If i'm not careful I might get addicted to writing kisses, but I don't want to kill my editor with cringe.

(there's a bit of a tease kiss in this chapter, you'll know what I mean if you read it haha

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[SumireHime]

When it should naturally occur. If the characters are ready in their relationship. There's certain cues that tell me they're ready, such as when they start to care about the other person more than themselves. It's a way to let the reader know the couple are officially in love.

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[Leyelle]

When it should naturally occur.

Well yeah, I only want to pick a point in the story when it feels natural too XD. But s

It's a way to let the reader know the couple are officially in love.

I think personally with my stories, the scenes that show the readers they are officially in love come before the kiss. It's usually the emotional conversations where they show how much they love and care for each other through their hardships.

such as when they start to care about the other person more than themselves.

This is always a tricky balance for me. I feel like couples should value themselves just as much as their significant others, but know when to balance whose needs are most pressing at any time.

[writerlamping]

For me, if you desire to destroy the hopes and dreams of the reader?

Right before the love interest betrays the main protagonist. A Judas-styled kiss.

[LostKelp]

Offscreen! first kisses do not have to be a big deal! I don't have anything against first kiss scenes, but if you want them to be dramatic they need a lot of pre-amble that seems unessisary. I didn't really want something dramatic so my characters get together offscreen, they still kiss but it's not the first kiss. I think having low-key couples in stories is great because they can be very sweet and don't require much legwork, but they can still be emotionally devastating, because if they're kinda innocuous and sweet you sorta assume that the relationship is stable.

If you have a lot of time focussing on a story element then the audience will assume that something dramatic will happen with it, if you don't then the audience will assume that it's just a constant in the story. So if you then focus on the couple and reveal that they are fundamentally incompatable or have hurt eachother then it still is a gutpunch because even the most seemingly stable relationship in the world can still fall through.

[kyupol]

Within the first five panels

[Leyelle]

but if you want them to be dramatic they need a lot of pre-amble that seems unessisary.

Most of my stories are about characters' emotions, so I consider it all necessary, but I do have a lot of more peaceful fully-established couples in my stories as well.

[yumeryuu]

When you start to wonder if they are together at all!

[2DLenzy]

...Well...My first couple of strangers actually have to meet first...Should be soon...

[Leyelle]

what? you mean when people are doubting if they are a couple?

[Leyelle]

yep, kisses are hard when you've not met yet

[Leyelle]

When I'm debating whether there will be a kiss at all in "Rigamarole," if there is one at all, it probably won't be the most fulfilling thing in the story tbh.

Leia's romance is way too complicated, and there isn't a clear cut way it makes sense to end the same way it is with "Damsel in the Red Dress."

[skidiggy]

I prefer adding the first kiss after sufficient tension, stakes, and interest are built up. Throw in some angst and drama for maximum efficacy.

[Leyelle]

@skidiggy How long do you feel that usually takes you XD?

[skidiggy]

Oof, for Apparent Secrets, soon-ish? It's a super-slow burn, though.

[Leyelle]

Is this an 'i call all times soon' situation lol?
But mine's super slow burn too tho

[Leyelle]

Two books in and we're still waiting for my leads in "Damsel in the Red Dress" to have their first kiss.

Just kiss his face already!

Ahhh, and "A Dozen Morning Glories" is killing me trying to plan that one out XD.

On a slightly unrelated note, Alicia and Kattar have an indirect kiss in this chapter. Just because I like stringing the audience along lol.

Read Damsel in the Red Dress :: White Hot Sugar | Tapas Community

[Leyelle]

The first kiss is coming soooooon. Here is a teaser for the convo that instigates it in "Damsel in the Red Dress:"

---

“Kat,” I ask a little shyly, as he keeps watching my face…waiting for me to be convinced it’s ‘okay’ so he can stop panicking that I can see through -

But I have to…

“Do you remember that old X-Men show we used to watch when we were younger, where there was that chick who could steal people’s powers and memories, and she always did it by kissing them for no reason?”

Breathe.

“Yeah.”

I can’t tell if…

“We’re going to play a little game,” it’s almost a whisper, and he looks at me with a nerve-wracking-ly impassive expression - almost impassive - but in his eyes, I can see that slight light and coquettish curiosity-

“If I kiss you, I steal your memories, and you have to answer one question for me.”

Read Damsel in the Red Dress :: Sidewalk Chalk | Tapas Community

[Leyelle]

Sooo close. we are soooo close to the first kiss in "Damsel in the Red Dress" hang in there.

For now, yet another chapter where I teased my readers lol

Read Damsel in the Red Dress :: Hide and Seek | Tapas Community

[Leyelle]

Ahh, here we are, finally, after all this time lol

Read Damsel in the Red Dress :: Tantrum | Tapas Community