Download the article Learn the elements of a slow-burning romance and how to write one
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What do romantic classics like When Harry Met Sally, Pride and Prejudice and 13 Going on 30 have in common? The main characters always take forever to get together! They’re called slow-burn romances, and this article will walk you through what that means, common slow-burn romances and elements, and how to write them into your story. In addition, we’ll also share our recommendations for movies and contemporary fiction that focus on the long-term development of passionate love.
A slow burning novel is a novel that develops slowly throughout the story. The two main characters often start as friends or enemies and gradually fall in love as they get to know each other and solve conflicts together. At the end of the story, they usually admit that they are in love.
Choose the slow romantic trope you want to write. When making this decision, consider what slow motion movies and books you like. For example, if you’re a fan of When Harry Met Sally and 13 Going on 30, the Friends to Lovers genre might be right up your alley.
Develop deep, multifaceted characters to be lovers. Give them strengths, weaknesses, interests, and conflicts—internal and external—to drive the plot forward and help the characters change. Avoid creating characters that are flat and devoid of personality, to the point where it’s obvious they only exist to complement their romantic partner.[11]
Create an engaging plot with multiple acts and story beats. Most stories follow a classic 3-act structure: setting up the world and the conflict, dealing with the conflict, and solving the problem (often in ways the main characters don’t expect). Following a framework like this will help you create a compelling story to ground your romance.[12]
Write secondary characters to support (or try to destroy) the romance. Having a supporting cast of interesting characters in your slow-motion romance will not only make the story more vivid and lively, but will add more tension and depth to the story. Secondary characters can either help the main characters or act as an obstacle that separates them, so play with both types to see how they make the romance more interesting.[13]
Develop the romantic feelings of the characters through the plot. For example, your characters may bond through a dramatic event or while performing a task that is integral to the main story. This is more effective than creating cutscenes with the sole purpose of bringing your characters together, as they tend to feel flat and cheesy.
Give readers subtle hints that your characters are falling in love. Include a wistful look here and casual touching of hands in the hallway there. And don’t forget regret – ie. thinking about each other and longing for each other’s company or touch. Little candy-like moments like these will slow the burn of romance lovers and help build the romantic tension in your story.[14]
Raise the tension by setting obstacles for your lovers. This is part of creating the “will they, won’t they” aspect of your slow-burning romance. The audience wants the main characters to be together and will be in agony every time something gets in their way, like an annoying family member or ex-partner. It adds tension as well as a level of suspense that will keep your audience hooked until the end.[15]
- In Sense and Sensibility (both Jane Austen’s novel and the 1995 film adaptation), the main character, Elinor Dashwood, is thwarted in her romance with Edward Ferrars by discovering that he has been secretly engaged for many years.
- Edward’s hasty engagement in his youth is a direct threat to his feelings for Elinor and leaves the audience desperate to know if or how the lovers will ever be reunited. Towards the end of the story, however, Elinor learns that Edward’s fiancé has broken off their engagement to marry his brother. This leaves Edward and Elinor free to marry and enjoy their happy ending.
- Avoid creating conflict between your main characters for the sake of a dramatic or shocking moment. Instead, tie it back to the plot and make it feel like a natural step in the progression of the main story.
Create a satisfying romantic climax. Have the characters express their love for each other and share a kiss or some other kind of physical affection (or maybe more longing glances). If your story is spicy, now might be a good time for them to consummate their love.
Bring the main plot and character portrayals to a smooth conclusion. At this point, all the threads in your story should come together and wrap up, leaving your audience feeling like they’ve experienced a complete story. It doesn’t have to end happily (although that’s traditional for many slow-burn romances) as long as where your characters end up feels natural and wraps up their conflicts.
- If you’re writing a slow-burn romance series, you build the slow-burn over multiple installments instead of having a moment of realization or a romantic climax at the beginning.
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Source: HIS Education