Building Tension in Three Layers

That moment, just before the kiss, lips hovering inches from each other.

Those moments are when I, as a writer, have to make the moment last by increasing the tension.

The on-page couple want each other desperately, but are fighting their desire. And their bodies feel every minute detail of the other person while rioting on the inside.

My job is to layer those moments in beautiful visceral descriptions that make you, the reader feel what my tense couple feel.

That's the magic of writing, I get to make real people feel with just words alone.

And that's what readers are seeking when they pick up a book.

The first layer I focus on is the internal angst.

While exchanging the glances, then touching, then kissing, each character has an internal focus on themself. On the internal rules they made up that create a barrier to following their desire all the way to bed.

They're hovering over that kiss, thinking: *This is the one person I want and the one person I promised myself I'd never kiss.*"

The second layer is the body sensations.

The body is on fire, nerves feeling electricity, and the waves of pleasure crash over them.

Women get wet like the rainforest.

Men become rock hard.

Mouths are dry as the desert sand.

Touches become tightly possessive or gentle as a summer evening rain.

My struggle is always giving a sensory description the readers can imagine while not falling into tired overused cliches and purple prose that is too purple.

And now that they have every reason to not kiss, their bodies pulled as taut as silk thread stretched to breaking.

Every breath threatening to snap the fragile distance between them.

Their lips come together in a kiss that is better than every other kiss before that moment.