The Wingbreaker is a slow burn romance and a kind-of-enemies-to-lovers (he likes her but does make an attempt on her life anyways). One of the best parts of a slow burn is watching the characters change, watching their perceptions of each other flip upside down, watching them go from uncaring to surprisingly protective, and watching them grow into one another.
But how do we show that?
Start with the little things
Things that maybe a good friend would do.
He buys an extra cup of coffee "just because."
She puts honey in his tea instead of sugar, because she noticed it's what he likes.
A shirt is quietly mended.
They instinctively protect the other from small fears or discomforts.
"Don't look, you've got a bug, I'll get it."
"You said you're afraid of heights, so I'll climb the tree to get a better look."
switches their warm pancakes for the other's cold ones.
And there's always the classic "Here, take my coat."
What little details stand out now that they're growing more aware of each other?
This one is about where their attention is.
A birthmark
A nuance in eye color
One habit or another (The most obvious example is biting the lower lip)
Even better, a nervous habit that they grow to understand is a sign of distress.
With a gruff character in a darker world this could manifest as a hyper fixation on a weakness.
"Your weight distribution is lousy, and it makes you overextend. You leave yourself completely open."
"What's it matter to you?"
"It doesn't." (and the lie detector goes crazy)
How are their reactions changing?
Everything up till now could be a friendly love. This one is about attraction and creating tension of a very specific kind.
They'll become hyper aware of the other---when they touch, how they're feeling, eye contact. They'll observe more, even if they don't notice they're doing it. When the person they care about is sad, threatened, happy how do they react and feel in turn? And how is that different from the beginning of the story to the end?
As the story progresses, let the looks linger, let them communicate with just a glance, let them keep eye contact a little longer than is appropriate and walk away unreasonably breathless. Let them be irritated, flabbergasted, and completely helpless.
Some not-so-little-things
They give up going to the important meeting so they can stay when their person needs them.
They bend or cross their own boundaries in order to protect their person.
They begin to question their beliefs about the world or themselves, because their person challenges these things or stands in direct contrast to what they thought they knew.
The Big Finish
No, not that one. ahem.
In a romance you usually have a MOMENT. THE moment when one or both characters realize they're in love with the other. This doesn't mean they won't try to fight or ignore it if they feel that's what's best. It also doesn't mean your characters have to say those three special words, but it is shown in some way. They realize they've changed.
Notes:
This isn’t WHY characters fall in love, but how to show it in your writing. Maybe we will do the why next time!
Anything here is overruled by your character. Maybe they have their reasons for being gruff, or naturally loving to everyone they meet. Some characters have to discover that they respect someone before taking another step forward into loving them.
Also, this list isn't comprehensive, so if you have anything to add I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Remember, there are no absolutes in writing. In the end, the story itself is what matters most. Mossgrovewrites hopes to scrutinize traditional craft wisdom and ponder its pros and cons, alongside offering one writer’s opinions and the experiences that shaped them.
Happy writing!
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