How to Build Up the Steam Between Characters in Your Romance Novel

In romance novels, the chemistry between characters is everything. Whether it’s slow-burn tension or sizzling passion, building up the steam takes skill. You want your readers to feel every moment, every glance, every touch. But how do you create that spark and make it unforgettable? Here are some tips to craft that irresistible tension:

Start with the Right Chemistry

Before diving into the heat, ensure your characters have genuine chemistry. Think about what draws them together. Is it a shared interest, opposites attracting, or a deep emotional connection? Make sure their initial interactions are charged with potential, even if it’s not immediately obvious to them.

Slow-Burn Tension
Patience is key. Don’t rush the relationship—let it simmer and build over time. Little moments of closeness, subtle touches, and meaningful glances can create palpable tension. The longer you build this tension, the more satisfying the eventual payoff will be when the characters finally give in.

Use Dialogue to Spark Connection
Witty banter, meaningful conversations, and playful teasing all help to build emotional intimacy and sexual tension. The way your characters speak to each other—whether it’s flirtatious or full of unspoken longing—can set the tone for their evolving connection.

Create Emotional Vulnerability
Romance isn’t just physical—it’s emotional. Show how your characters open up to each other. Vulnerability, shared secrets, and personal growth all deepen the connection and make those steamy moments more impactful. Readers want to see the characters grow emotionally before diving into the physical.

Escalate the Physicality Gradually
Physical tension should increase as the emotional stakes do. Start with subtle touches, lingering looks, or accidental brushes against each other. As the relationship deepens, so can the intimacy. But remember, the most impactful moments often happen in the build-up—the moments before they kiss, touch, or let go.

Conflict and Obstacles
A little tension doesn’t hurt—sometimes, it even helps. Add obstacles that challenge the relationship. Whether it’s external circumstances or internal conflicts, hurdles keep the tension high and make the eventual resolution more satisfying. Let the characters fight their feelings before they give in.

Know When to Release the Tension
All that buildup needs a payoff. Make sure the moment of intimacy (whether it’s a kiss, confession, or more) feels earned. The release should feel emotional, physical, and deeply satisfying, making the readers feel the same butterflies your characters do.

In romance, it’s all about the journey—the slow-burning tension, the moments that make the heart race, and the ultimate release when everything falls into place. By pacing the steam between your characters, you’ll have your readers swooning every step of the way.

Looking for some reading recommendations?

Many clients published books in 2024, and some have done so even more recently. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on projects in a variety of genres, but memoirs in particular have been more and more popular over the past few years.

Why do I enjoy working on memoirs and self-help books? Because the authors very much want to help readers. They want to share their pain, their triumphs, their lessons learned, so that others can benefit from that hard-won expertise. While ALL books can be helpful (nothing fills my heart with more joy than curling up with a glass of wine and a good book!), these brave authors really put themselves out there, and the insight they share with readers is so valuable.

I try not to choose favorites, but here are the recently-published books by some clients I have enjoyed working with in particular!

​Jet Lag Junkie: Unfiltered Tales of a Compulsive Wanderer by Jeff Johns

2025 Feathered Quill Award Finalist - Best Memoir

Jeff, an overweight and insecure college student on the verge of dropping out, follows an uncontrollable urge ending up alone nearly 10,000 miles from home weeks after the 2004 Tsunami in Southeast Asia. Desperate to chase every experience possible, Jet Lag Junkie is the vulnerable and raw journey behind one man's quest to find meaning, belonging, and love amidst an ever-changing backdrop of the most unique places on Earth.
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Through deeply personal struggles with severe ADHD, imposter syndrome, anxiety, body image, and burnout, Jeff’s two-decade journey through nearly 100 countries reveals issues seldom discussed in a world that worships perfection and happiness on every screen. Brought to life through adventures from Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal, being held at gunpoint in Malaysia, being impossibly lost in Bangladesh and detained by military police in Tajikistan, Jet Lag Junkie inspires readers to experience life more deeply, and to get a bit uncomfortable while doing it.
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Often humorous, always intimate, Jet Lag Junkie reveals the compulsive search and painful struggles of growing up. Testing the limits of what Jeff is capable of, how much he is willing to sacrifice before stopping long enough to find someone to enjoy it all with?

​Jumpseat: Jet Setting in the 1970s by Dianna Bennett

When a 20-year-old college student stumbles on her way to marriage, she finds solace in a new life of travel and intrigue. In 1969, with the Viet Nam War raging and the youth of America on fire, Dianna runs away from the pain of rejection and the embarrassment of an engagement gone wrong. As she searches for meaning, two strangers steer her into the arms of Trans World Airlines and the "Jet Set" age of travel. With each new assignment, especially on the Boeing 747, she soon forgets about the life she left behind. Open eyed, yet naive, she earns her wings as she maneuvers through the new and exciting minefields of international travel.

​A Real Nobody a Fake Somebody and Me: A Memoir of Forced and Closed Adoption by Sherry Bridgette Healey:

In her haunting memoir, A Real Nobody A Fake Somebody and Me, Sherry Bridgette Healey unveils a lifetime of secrets buried beneath layers of deception. Born into anonymity, Sherry Bridgette’s existence was erased by a government mandate, and from the moment she took her first breath, she was condemned to a life of invisibility, and forced to become ‘Sherry.’ But behind this facade of non-existence lies a tale of resilience, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of truth as the true identity of Bridgette, voices her story.
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From the depths of abandonment to the heights of self-discovery, her journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit. As she unravels the tangled web of lies that shroud her past, she confronts the ghosts of her childhood, navigating a treacherous landscape of psychological abuse and emotional neglect. But amidst the darkness, glimmers of hope emerge as Bridgette discovers the power of embracing her fractured identity and reclaiming her stolen heritage.
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As she unveils the layers of her fragmented self, she invites readers to explore the secret underbelly of institutionalized adoption practices, drawing chilling parallels to the darkest chapters of history. But A Real Nobody A Fake Somebody and Me is more than a memoir – it’s a rallying cry for justice, and a roadmap for healing and transformation to all who have felt the pain of rejection and the trauma of lost identity and the ongoing injustices and violations against our basic human rights. With raw honesty, poignant insights, and practical wisdom, Bridgette shares her journey from victim to victor, inviting readers to join her on an expedition of healing and transformation, inspiring hope in the hearts of those who dare to reclaim their true selves.

​Hip Hop x Finance: Become a Financial Gangster! Get off Debt Row and Stack your Cash Flow by Drew Boyer:

Hip Hop x Finance is a unique financial guide that blends personal finance education with the powerful influence of hip-hop culture. Written by a 20+ year veteran of the financial services industry and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, author Drew Boyer takes readers on an engaging journey through the all-to-common money mistakes, lessons, and successes that shaped both his own financial journey and the world of hip-hop.
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Drawing from personal experiences of making financial missteps in his early adulthood, Drew parallels his story with the financial rise and fall of famous hip-hop artists. From the extravagant lifestyles of MC Hammer and 50 Cent to the financial wisdom of moguls like Jay-Z and Dr. Dre, Hip Hop x Finance uses real-life examples from the music industry to illustrate critical money lessons including managing debt, building cash flow, investing wisely, and avoiding common money pitfalls.
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With chapter titles inspired by iconic hip-hop tracks, clever wordplay, and excerpts of classic rhymes, the book entertains while providing practical education on how to turn financial struggles into wealth-building opportunities for Gen X, Y, and Z. Break free from the "Debt Row" trap, become an entrepreneurial hustler to stack your cash flow, and learn the basic tricks about how to build lasting financial success.

​Activate Your Future Self: The Secret to Effortlessly Becoming the Happiest, Healthiest and Wealthiest You by Mimi Bouchard

FINALLY GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE
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​In this transformative book, Mimi Bouchard, founder of the revolutionary Activations app, offers simple but powerful strategies to shift every aspect of your life – from your health and relationships to your career and finances – and help you become the happiest, most successful, most abundant version of yourself. You’ll discover how to:

• Gain clarity on what your dream life looks like and what you really want

• Change your self-image and become your Future Self through visualization, mental rehearsal, Activations, writing prompts and more

• Maintain your Future Self frequency every day using Mimi’s unique achievement tool, the Bounce Back Rate™

You have potential inside of you that you haven’t tapped into yet. This book will show you how to achieve that potential, quickly recover from setbacks and finally become who you’ve always wanted to be. Remember: to create the life you want, you must first become the kind of person that has it.
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It’s time to activate your Future Self.

​Moving Forward with Bold Uncertainty by Lisa Rose:

How do I move forward? What will this new life hold for me?

If others can get "there," will I be able to get "there" too? What does "there" even look like for me, anyway?

Those of us dealing with separation, divorce, or significant loss face difficult questions like these. Author Lisa Rose explores answers to them, sharing raw, personal stories from her own journey through divorce and toward discovering her "there."

Life has a way of sending storms into our lives that make us face how harsh reality can be. Setbacks, mistakes, and missteps might cause us to stumble. Failures, hurdles, and disappointments might sneak up on us. Losses, rejection, and exclusion might catch us by surprise.

A retired Christian life coach, Lisa helps others find answers and shares eight pivotal lessons guiding readers in figuring out their own "there", cultivating the necessary grace and courage to let go of what once was to Moving Forward with Bold Uncertainty into a life full of hidden blessings and unexpected new beginnings. Whatever challenge we face, there are possibilities out there to claim, if we are ready and bold enough to step forward to grasp them.

​The Science of Miracles: One doctor's journey to find hope and healing beyond the broken medical system by Robin Youngson

Driven by childhood trauma, a passionate engineer turned doctor confronts the suffering within the medical system. Expecting to find compassion and care, he instead encounters a broken, inhumane and corrupt system. As his journey leads him to question his own deeply held beliefs, he uncovers an urgent need for strategies prioritizing human connection over technical fixes.

Through profound encounters with patients and wise teachers, the author discovers a new scientific reality where healing flourishes and miracles occur daily – insights with the potential to transform medical practice. After winning New Zealand's highest medical award, he makes a bold decision to leave the system and embrace his true calling as a healer and teacher.

This honest and captivating medical memoir explores how societal myths and trauma misshape our beliefs, and our innate capacity to heal. Blending cutting-edge neuroscience with extraordinary stories of compassion and healing, this book offers fresh insights and new hope by showing how challenging our assumptions can transform our lives and the world we are part of.

I hope you will take the time to check out one of these books – or even work on your own!

To you and your book!

Megan

Guest Post: 5 Uncommon Writing Tips for Beginners

The world is awash in a sea of writing tips and advice. Every writer has their own approach to the craft and, as a result, their own opinions.

The good thing for you as a budding author is that you have a wealth of information to learn from. It’s up to you to work out which is useful and which isn’t, and you do that by trying things out.

In this guide, you’ll hopefully walk away with a few more things to try as we cover some more uncommon writing tips for beginners.

Let’s dive in.

1. Think About Character Development

If you’re writing a novel and you have your cast of characters all ready to go, it helps to think about the journey that those individuals are going to go on. This isn’t just a physical journey, getting from point A to point B, but an emotional journey. How do they respond to the great events you put them through? How does that shape them as people?

Our stories and characters are subject to The Butterfly Effect too. Every action has a consequence and how a character responds usually corresponds with how they develop in the story.

For example, Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings on his quest to Mount Doom runs into obstacle after obstacle. Yet he carries on, it doesn’t let it break him. And this helps him grow as a character.

2. An Important Writing Tip: If You Can’t Work Out the Plot, Focus on Conflict

One of the ways you can help encourage your characters to grow and develop is to place obstacles in their path. These challenges test their skills and their resolve and helps them advance forward.

Much of the time, if you can’t think of what could happen next in the story, ask yourself what your characters want—usually the end goal of the story. Then ask yourself what can you do to stop them from achieving that?

Then list all of your ideas. You can call these points of conflict and you can litter the road for your characters with them.

So one of the best and most important writing tips you can keep in mind is to try and think of ways to stop your characters from getting what they want. You’ll have plenty of plot ideas before you know it.

3. Try Starting with The Theme

One element of writing that many writers struggle with is theme. And it’s understandable as to why.

Theme, or the premise of the story, is in my experience poorly explained. Given the vagueness of the concept it also comes with vague explanations. However, here’s a simple one: the theme of a story is what it’s actually about, what the very point of you telling this story is.

For example, the point of Lord of the Rings was to prove that good can overcome evil, even despite the odds against them. And that you should always hope that good will win.

This is then demonstrated through the story and the characters.

So, thinking about the point you’re trying to make first can help build a structure for everything else because everything should tie back to that theme.

4. Don’t Edit Until After Your First Draft

Writing a story is a process and as part of that process, you’re in no way expected to write something perfect with your first draft.

The manuscript you create evolves over time. It’s analysed, critiqued, and shaped until finally, you reach a point where you can change it no more.

A lot of writers talk about feeling the temptation to go back and fix things as they’re writing that first draft. This can be a dangerous thing to do.

Completing a draft is all about building momentum with your writing. If you’re able to develop a habit where you’re writing a few thousand words a day, you don’t want to disrupt that. Keep it going for as long as you can. And one of the best ways to help you do that is to refrain from looking back.

You may think of glaring plot holes as you plough on, but if you can, just make a note for later that you need to fix it.

5. You Don’t Need to Write Everyday

Many people start writing as a hobby, something to fill their void of spare time. However, it’s an infectious pursuit and soon you may find the desire to write taking over.

We may then become locked in a battle with time. Many of us have to work to live and that takes up a lot of time. And then there are the woes of life itself to contend with.

It’s important to appreciate how much time you have to write. If you only get an hour a week, it’s unreasonable to expect to write a novel in six months.

The more time you put into it, though, the more you’ll get out of it.

But what you can put in is still tremendous progress. Every word you get down on paper is a step toward achieving your writing goal. Don’t beat yourself up for not getting more done. Just do what you can and keep focusing on the finish line.

Writing a big project like a novel is very much like running a marathon. The mental challenges are the same. And they’re often the trickier ones to overcome.

In Summary

Embarking upon a creative writing project is one of the most exciting things you can try. But as you wander into the creative wilderness, you’ll soon find traps aplenty. However, by taking the time to read up on advice like this, you’ll navigate your way without issue.

Above all, stay focused on that end goal. When drafting, avoid editing. And if you get stuck with the story along the way, think about conflict and theme and that should help reveal solutions for your character development too.

Learn from the greats part 4: reading recommendations

As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website but I will continue sharing some of those recommendations here!

This week, let's talk about BOOKS WITH GREAT ATMOSPHERE:

These books have great stories and characters, but the vibe of each book – the way they make the reader feel – is where they really shine.

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

When her grandfather calls, delivering the news that her cousin Allegra has gone missing, Lane Roanoke returns home to rural Kansas. As a teen, Lane lived on the farm, but ran away – is that what Allegra did, or did something more sinister occur? Even though the story is twisted and horrifying in so many ways, there is so much heart and innocence and love that shine through. Some of the scenes between Lane and Cooper in particular made me cry from their bittersweetness. This is a beautifully-written book.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781101906682

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IwH5tu

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Yes, yes, she wrote the amazing Gone Girl, but this is another stellar book by the author. Reporter Camille Preaker returns to her small-town home (everyone is always returning home in books, I guess!) to cover the murders of two preteen girls. Having avoided speaking to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother, and a half-sister she barely knows, she is forced to get to know them once more. As she delves further into her investigation, she begins finding herself identifying too strongly with the victims, and the demons of her past come back to haunt her.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780307341556

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XbIhXt

Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.

First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.

After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).

Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.

It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.

I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.

​Are you ready to play big?

The truth about agents, rejection, and platforms

A quick note about agents, rejection, and platforms:

Being rejected based on your platform (or lack thereof) does not mean that the literary agent thinks your career path isn’t impressive, that you’re not greatly respected in your field, that you’ve accomplished nothing, or that you do not have anything substantive to say. They likely don’t even think you are lacking in talent, that you should keep your day job, or that there is no hope for you and your book in the wide world of publishing.

The reason that agents care so much about platform is because the editors at publishing companies do. And editors equate platform with potential book sales. This makes sense, of course – if you have X number of fans who are already interacting with your content, then you will likely have X number of fans who will actually purchase your book. And as the publishing house is making an investment in you with the advance they pay, they want to feel comfortable they will make their money back (and more). Agents and editors need to know what IS happening and what HAS happened, not what COULD happen. Even authors choosing to self-publish need to have a platform and to build awareness of their “brand”: fans = money, and if you don’t have the fans, I wouldn’t quit your day job.

It may seem outrageous that someone who has worked in a field for 30 years may not be considered a platform all-star. It may not be “right,” it may not be convenient, but that’s the world we live in and write in. If you’d like to continue to “fight the man,” go ahead. But a change of perspective may be more helpful (and fruitful!). 

The good news is, just because your platform may be in its beginning stages, or it may need a little work, does not mean it will always be that way. Platform is something that people need to constantly be working on – even Oprah is consistently finding new ways to reach out to her fans.

It’s important to remember that not all platforms are the same; it all depends on where your audience is. Some folks build their followings on Twitter or on Instagram, others through speaking engagements or a podcast. Find out where your ideal readers are going and interact with them there. You are aware already that knowing your audience makes you a better writer – after all, it’s all about them, not you – and this thought applies to building a platform, too. Do your research, try, and then try again. And yes, this can be time-consuming (I wish I could say to tweet twenty times a day and publishing success will be yours). 

It’s important to think outside the box when you’re doing this. What are your personal strengths? Look at your competition, or at peers in your field for whom you have great respect. What are they doing that seems to be working? How can you put your own spin on it and make those ideas work for you, too? If you can’t make the process fun, think of it as an inevitable, like doing your taxes, waiting in line at the DMV, or paying off your student loans.

If you’re at the beginning, don’t be discouraged. Writing a whole book seemed pretty impossible at one point, right? Nothing will happen overnight. Platform is about the long term, not the short term, even if you want to just write this one book and then wipe your hands clean of this crazy industry. Slowly but surely, you will start growing your tribe. And the people that are excited for this book will be excited for your next one, and the one after that. 

Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.

First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.

After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).

Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.

It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.

I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.

​Are you ready to play big?