(no subject)

[emansil]

I was wondering if any of you might be able to rec to me a few Slow Burn type of Drarry, or even any pairing, fics. They don't have to be your absolute faves, and I don't want anyone to go to a lot of work regarding this. I just sort of need to know "WHAT" makes a great Slow Burn.

I'm attempting to write one, well I've tried before--but apparently I'm quite bad at it. So I'm really trying on this one. Ive tried dropping lots of hints along the way, (at least I think I am). One being drawn to the other person, noticing things about them, wanting to spend time with them, but fighting it. the other person making warm and extra friendly. but not sexual, types of advances, the two of them spending time together getting o know one another. But I'm not wanting it to seem to be happening too soon. It's supposed to be slow. Right?

But I've had others look over it, and they've all said, "I'm not showing the attraction soon enough, or it needs more hints of what's happening. So, I guess I'm trying to figure out: What's not enough vs What's too much.

If any of the recs could possibly be under 25,000 words, or less even, I'd love to look at them for research purposes. Not to mention pure enjoyment.

Thanks so much, I really do appreciate it.

Comments

[gracerene]

Honestly, when I think of a true slow burn, I really don't think of any fics under 50k. For me, you need that length to achieve the "slow" part of the burn.

[emansil]

Yeah. I sort of get that. To be honest, the moment I hit "send" on this post I was pretty sure any comments I got would be addressing this same issue.

So, that being said can you give me some of the one that you really like, regardless of word county. Also any that just have some good ole fashioned UST. Chances are I've read them and maybe just need a review, or full on reread.

I'm probably not the best person to attempt this as for me there is a ridiculously fine line between "oh this is the loveliest thing I've read, I've got so many feels", and "omg this thing is getting on my last nerve" and wanting to throw it across the room.

I tried looking through some different recs list but they're not organized in this sort of manner.

[birdsofshore]

I'm sorry I don't have a rec, but I wonder if you're portraying the 'slow' part of it and not the 'burn'? I am not someone who can write slow burn either, but I think I do alright with UST, so if it needs to go a touch 'burnier', maybe focus on physical stuff, noticing little details about the other person, perhaps experiencing physical stuff when they're around - heightened sensation, prickling skin etc. Nothing MAJOR but small things. Noticing their cologne, little tells like holding their gaze a tiny bit too long, thinking about them when they're not there, perhaps finding themselves absentmindedly touching an object belonging to the other person (eg stroking the wool of a coat hanging on a peg).

Idk. What is slow burn anyway? Is it like, attraction but it takes them forever to get together? Or is it that they are friends for a large part of the fic and aren't attracted to each other until later? I'm sorry, I'm not much use at all!

[emansil]

Okay, I can accept that. And honestly, I still get confused by which is what, and what the main differences are between UST and SLOW BURN. (Except according to kudo's count on A03, you're one of the tops in the UST tag, and who_la_hoop is one of the top under SLOW BURN tag. I guess I need to make a review visit to both.:) )

But your suggestion to make the "burnier" aspect more prominent than the "Slow", makes an incredible amount of sense. So thanks, A lot.

[birdsofshore]

I really do find this discussion interesting and I would still like to know more about slow burn myself. FWIW, the fics I thought of when I initially read your question were sarasgirl's fics, and I see I'm not the only one. But I don't know what makes them slow burn. A romance which takes place over a long fic and they don't get together / make out until near the end? Is that what it means?

I don't know if you need to up the burn, but that was my best guess from what your alphas were saying. I don't tend to have the patience to make my characters wait for long so I'm never going to get the Slow Burn tag! But really delighted to know I'm notable for UST. It's all I live for, truly :D

[emansil]

**But I don't know what makes them slow burn. A romance which takes place over a long fic and they don't get together / make out until near the end? Is that what it means?**

Exactly! I'm not sure either, but I think that's what is generally considered as such. But how one keeps from said fic being hot and sweet and lovely and wonderful in all ways to being unbearably long and boring. I think it takes more skill and PATIENCE (I think it takes lot of patience, which I don't have either) to make the Slow Burn category.

[nia_kantorka]

Okay, this is a rec that's a lot longer but it's the quintessence of slow burn for me.

It's from Generation Kill fandom and nearly 100k long: Born Ready by makeit_takeit. The author says so themselves in the summary: "i.e., 20 years worth of The Making of Brad and Nate."
https://archiveofourown.org/works/13278969?view_full_work=true

It's more than about attraction, but about circumstances and choices and whatnot that makes it so difficult for them to be together. Also, and I think that's a common theme among slow burn fics, their abysmal way of its MCs to communicate with the other.

I also agree with Birds that it's about the little things only the person in love realises about the other.
If you think of Sara's Girl's fic Turn (which is also a very long slow burn fic) what comes to your mind about Harry's Dracos (glimpse version or not)? I immediatly think of his lemon fragrance, his striving for order (and uneven numbers) and his hair. Harry loves these things about him (and we do it with him) and I'm sure nobody else knows them (maybe except for Narcissa who loves him as much as Harry does just differently).
To sum it up. Your readers need to fall for your characters and especially those traits that make them special to each other (flaws showing their humanity included).

So yes, I hope this helps you with your story.

[emansil]

Thanks for the rec. It might be a few days/weeks before I get it read, but I love that you recced it.

I just finished reading Turn a couple of months ago. I loved it, I did. But it was one of the ones that I was sorely tempted to throw it across the room, it tettered right on the edge of being too long, too slow, just too much. I love all of her works, just this one not as much as some others. So, see what I men about me not being the best to try this particular "genre?"

But, I love your comment about makin it be certain character traits that they, the other person, and the audience needs to both fll in love with. That's perfect advice.