Curate, connect, and discover
how to kiss on paper advice y'all <333
Ok but seriously, the way you write kissing scenes is amazing. Do you have any writing advice on writing intimate moments between two characters (keeping it pg-13)? I feel like my own writing always feels stale when I get to those parts.
you’re so sweet, thank you! kissing actually used to be the hardest thing for me to write, and I think it was because I rushed too quickly to the “big” or “exciting” moments, and then I ran out of things to write about. the most important thing I learned was to slow down when writing intimate moments, maybe even slower than you originally think you need to.
so say you’re writing a kiss!! at first you might want to begin the moment when their lips first meet. but I raise you:
do they look each other in the eyes first? and oh is this the first time they’ve ever made eye contact up so close? what new things might they notice, a stray eyelash or creases in the other’s skin from faded smile lines?
can they feel each other’s breathing? is it faster than normal, more irregular? when was the last time they felt someone’s breathing on their skin this way?
do they touch each other before they kiss? on the face maybe? what does their skin feel like underneath their fingertips? is it warm? are they blushing? maybe they touch on the shoulder, or on the arm, curling their fingers into the fabric of their sweater? or maybe they keep their hands shoved in their lap, too nervous to touch—will this made the kiss clumsier, more unsteady?
do they watch the other’s eyes flutter closed? squeeze shut? are their lips dry? do they look soft?
what are they thinking about when they lean in? is their heart pounding? are their palms sweaty? or are they full of longing and relief because they’ve wanted this for so long and it’s finally happening and they just—surge toward each other and finally finally find each other’s mouths?
and then what?
as I’m writing intimate moments, I usually try to keep a balance between what’s physically happening—a brush of lips over the cheek—and what’s internally happening—oh god oh god they’re treating me so gently I might break, etc etc. of course this is only one style of writing but it helped make kissing scenes fun for me! im sorry this reply was so long but I hope it was helpful at least a little bit 💕💕💕