How We Write a First Kiss

Every romance lives or dies by a single paragraph: the first kiss. Here is the checklist our authors use.

Earn it

A first kiss is never the beginning. It is the payout on everything the reader has hoped for since page one.

Interrupt it

Perfect kisses are forgettable. The ones that nearly happen are the ones readers re-read.

Land it in a specific place

Rain on a fire escape beats 'somewhere romantic' every single time.