I love a good slow burn romance—the kind where chemistry simmers under the surface, every glance feels loaded, and the eventual first kiss makes you want to cheer.
But every so often, someone asks, “How could that be interesting?”
The Challenge of Restraint
Writing clean romance isn’t about avoiding passion—it’s about showing it differently. Without physical heat to fall back on, a clean slow burn has to deliver through:
- Emotional intimacy that feels more vulnerable than any bedroom scene
- Intellectual connection that sparks off the page
- Unspoken longing that makes readers hold their breath
- Meaningful glances that carry unspoken words
- Small touches that feel earth-shattering in context
And it’s not easy, as my fellow authors will agree.
Why Slow Burn Feels So Satisfying
In a world where so much is instant, slow burn romance invites readers to linger. To watch two people truly get to know one another. To savour the moments between the moments—the shared laughter, the accidental brushes of hands, the conversations that mean more than either character dares admit.
When I was writing Old Town Symphony, Kezia and Zach circled each other for months of story time before acknowledging their feelings. Every shared look, every understated gesture had to matter. That’s why, when the first kiss finally came, it wasn’t just sweet—it was a crescendo.
Some of my favourite moments happen when music becomes their bridge—hands meeting briefly over piano keys, voices blending in harmony, the unspoken awareness that they’re making something beautiful together.
Why It’s Harder Than It Looks
- Sustaining tension without shortcuts: Every conversation, every bit of subtext, has to do the heavy lifting.
- Making every touch count: A hand on a shoulder or fingers brushing during a photo shoot must feel electric because it’s rare.
- Keeping pacing believable: Too fast and you lose the magic; too slow and you risk reader patience. Finding the sweet spot takes instinct and revision.
- Creating “heat” through emotion: Some of the most intense moments I’ve ever written were arguments or quiet confessions—not because of what happened physically, but because of what those moments meant to the characters.
Why It’s Worth the Challenge
Clean, slow burn romance readers aren’t here for instant gratification. They read for the journey—the slow unfolding of trust, affection, and deep emotional connection. They want to believe in a love that’s built to last.
When a reader tells me they stayed up late just to see two characters finally hold hands—or that they connected with a character’s personal journey—I know the challenge was worth it.
Because in clean romance, “less” really does become more. The anticipation is part of the joy, and the emotional payoff is all the sweeter for having been earned.