What does "slow burn" mean?

[schneefink]

In the last posted chapter of DD's MDZS WIP, the main characters (spoiler!) finally kiss! After more than 100k, but less than a month actually passed in the story. So we talked about the term "slow burn" and decided that similar to game speedrunning categories, there should be categories for "slow burn."

Poll #25610 Slow burn

This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 55

View Respondents

"Slow burn" means the relationship develops slowly from the point of view...

View Answers

of the characters
2 (3.6%)

of the reader
5 (9.1%)

both
12 (21.8%)

either/or
3 (5.5%)

mostly the characters, but not too fast for the reader either
3 (5.5%)

mostly the reader, but not too fast for the characters either
27 (49.1%)

idk it's just a gut feeling
3 (5.5%)

other (please comment)
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[moonvoice]

Huh, I've never really thought about that before, and realised for me it's slow burn from the perspective of the reader, not the characters. I suppose because I consider FFS a slowburn, but in reality it's like both characters admit they're attracted to each other within like two weeks and are in a relationship in a month, lol.

And likewise I think there's different kinds of slowburn. Like you can get to the sex quickly, but get to the love really slowly, and I would still consider a fic like that a slowburn if there were pining feelings and it was taking the characters a really long time to admit an emotional connection. Stuck on the Puzzle has been described as a slowburn despite the fact that their first kink experience together is 3 chapters in. But it takes nearly the whole story for them to admit they love each other, *to* each other.

I've never really... thought it out before but yeah given my thoughts are so weird about it, there must be tons and tons of different variations for people re: what slowburn actually means!

[schneefink]

There's definitely many different kinds of slow burn. I've been trying to think of what's necessary for me to consider a story a slow burn. I think it might just be any kind of highly anticipated emotional pay-off - usually related to romance, but not necessarily.