If you're a sucker for romance (um, that'd be Em) or tales of teen angst--or even better, if you love the point at which the two meet--then you've got to check out the site firstkissproject.com. Its mission is "to record as many first kiss stories as possible, to capture those clumsy sweet first attempts to end our innocent and bumbling foolishness." We chatted with the site's founder, Sy Ingoglia, about all things osculation-related.

Em & Lo: What first gave you the idea to start the First Kiss Project?

Sy Ingoglia: I'm not sure how the conversation started, but a friend of mine and I were discussing the whole idea of a different kind of kissing booth. We wanted to throw a party, get everyone a little tipsy, and then send them into the confession booth where we'd tape them talking about their very first kiss. There's something about watching and listening to someone tell that story. It's a moment that is different for everyone, of course, but, in it, there are such commonalities. Everyone starts by saying they don't have a good story, and they inevitably dive into a sordid tale of awkwardness that is just an absolute pleasure to hear them tell.

Women, usually, remember and use the first and last name of their first kiss. Everyone kind of reverts to that time and place. People close their eyes or look to the sky, as if the memory is going to float down on top of them. Or else it's horrid and embarrassing--which is usually just as good to listen to...

Of course, we lacked follow-through at the time, but a couple of years later, after I moved to New York, I decided to start up the website and see how it went. I wanted to collect stories from everywhere, just to see the overlap. I'd still like to throw that party though. I think it would be a blast.

Is your own first kiss story on there?

Mine is the very first story posted. I even made a podcast of it at one point (a direction I thought the website could take). Just search First Kiss Project in the iTunes store and it's there. My own first kiss was with a boy who was a friend of mine. We were hanging out at his parents' house one afternoon. Night Court was on. And right when Judge gives Roz some sage advice about love, bam, we're kissing. There was no moment of panic beforehand, no wondering which way to tilt the head. We were not kissing, and then we were kissing. This is what I remember: very soft, very wet and very warm. And he smelled like a boy, which I'll never get over. After a couple of minutes, I kind of panicked and called my mom to come pick me up. Because I'm smooth like that.
 
What makes a great first kiss?

First of all, you've got to know it's probably not going to be fireworks. It's weird feeling, and new and exciting. But, man, the first one is just odd. It's a strange idea, to be sure. But worth it. Being sober, I think, is a good idea. Some people have had horrible experiences that they don't want to remember, and, of course, you have to respect that, too.

And what makes a great first kiss story?

Oh goodness. Anything, really. Especially if it's awkward or heartbreaking. It's really more in the telling. Most of the kisses I've collected happened during the tellers' teenage years--and teenagers are just incredibly dramatic, so every story has got some pretty good juice in there. A good thing to note when sharing any story is that while detail is key, it's important to be selective. I have files of people's first kiss stories that are just way too long to publish. At the beginning I used to offer to edit them down, but now it's just too much.

What's the funniest first kiss story you've ever heard?

That's a tough one. The first one that comes to mind was sent in by a girl who'd had quite a bit to drink. She came out of the bathroom, in true "boot-and-rally" fashion, and into her first kiss. The part that made me laugh out loud was the drunken, stage whisper she used to implore her friend not to mention the puking to her kissing counterpart. Gross, but precious.

Your favorite ever first kiss story?

I think one of the greatest stories was sent in by a young man who described his first kiss as a little less than what he expected, only to reveal at the end of the story how much more thrilling his real first kiss was years later, with a boy.

The worst?

I hate to say this, but the average and pleasant first kisses don't make for great stories. So, in terms of storytelling, these are not my favorite. But even a kiss that seems average on paper is usually wrapped up in so much angst. As long as that delirious yearning and confusion is conveyed, then there is no real "bad" first kiss story.

So do you have any kissing tips you could share...?
 
If it's a first kiss, a good rule to remember is "less is more." No one wants to suffocate here. But aside from that--just relax and enjoy.

Submit your own kiss story at firstkissproject.com.