Romance/Love: May 01, 2013 Issue [#5645] |
Romance/Love
This week: The Appeal of Romantic Comedy Edited by: StephBee More Newsletters By This Editor
1. About this Newsletter 2. A Word from our Sponsor 3. Letter from the Editor 4. Editor's Picks 5. A Word from Writing.Com 6. Ask & Answer 7. Removal instructions
Some of the traits that draw me toward someone are their laugh, their smile, and their sense of humor. For me, that's the appeal of romantic comedy – watching a couple confront their conflicts equipped with a light-hearted disposition.
So, what are some of the themes that make a romantic comedy work?
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Fish Out of Water
This is where you take the hero/heroine out of their element and put them in a completely different situation. For example, bring in a "big city" TV reporter to run a small town TV station, or a "big city" cop to be the small town police chief. They're both out of their element. The big city reporter could be attracted to the local fire chief who is a local boy. Or the new police chief from the big city might find himself attracted to the quirky girl next door who teaches at the local school and makes homemade soap on the side.
TIP: What amps up the comedy? Have your characters overreact to the situations they find themselves in.
Deception
Nothing brings out a laugh like a little well- meaning deception. Our hero/heroine is pretending to be something they're not – lying about their job, their feelings or their intentions because they think they might not be good enough for the other person.
Examples: Tess in Working Girl or Fiona in Shrek or Michael in Tootsie.
TIP: Deception helps builds conflict – interior as well as external and conflict is what the characters need to change and grow. Example: Sandra Bullock's character in "While You Were Sleeping."
Mismatched
Think Cinderella with a chuckle. The handsome prince or billionaire sweeps our heroine off her feet only our heroine might be a call girl (think Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman) or a chauffeur's daughter (think Julia Ormond in Sabrina) or Princess Fiona in Shrek.
What makes a romantic comedy resonate?
Ultimately, there's something that terrifies the hero/heroine emotionally. It could be commitment, security, image, or not being good enough, attractive enough, or competent enough. That's inner conflict, and most readers can sympathize with all those elements. The other half of the romance helps them face that fear and overcome it with a little comedy – the tool that infuses their inner strength and courage.
Question: What's Your all-time favorite romantic comedy?
When Harry met Sally
Pretty Woman
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Shrek
Working Girl
Other – (say what it is)
Challenge: Write a romantic comedy and send me a link. I'm giving out MB and awardicons to my favorite.
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Feedback from my 3 APRIL 2013 Romance/Love NL
Sum1's Home
Steph,
I guess I have a muse, but I've never thought to name him (or her). But my muse has inspired me to write several poems, and really changed how I write now. It all started with the poem, "The Jester", which is now a series of 11 poems, all posted here on WDC.
Jim
Thanks for sharing, Jim. Amazing how the muse inspires, isn't it?
Quick-Quill
If I have a muse, he/she is so subtle they don't make their presence know in a formal manner. I find observations, newsletters, news in general will spark a plot. I hear a "What if" in my head. Maybe that is my Muse's name.
What if sounds good to me.
StephBee is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. Her novel, "The Count's Lair" is now available in print. It was nominated for book of the week from Long & Short Reviews. Her children's story, "The Giving Meadow" is available from 4RV Publishing. 5 Stars, Midwest Book Review.
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