Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Top Three Things I've Learned from Writing RomCom by Melia Alexander


I love writing romantic comedy, especially those laugh-out-loud moments in a book that remind me how special this genre is. But in writing romcom, I’ve learned a few things about life, too. Patience, for one. Well, okay, that’s an on-going lesson. LOL. But read on for the top three things I’ve learned from writing romantic comedy.

Lesson #1 A sense of humor takes the edge off life. Let’s face it, life’s intense enough, especially when your day’s jam-packed with fun stuff like laundry, scooping up dog poop, and finding a kid’s lost shoe so you can get him to school on time. (Fortunately, I’ve not had to do two of those three things!)

If you’re not careful, stuff like that can get to you—so much so that you’d be willing to trade a kid for an hour of peace and quiet. But learning to take a deep breath, chill, and LAUGH at the absurdity of life can make your day flow better. Go ahead, give it a try!
 
Lesson #2 Life’s all about perspective. Ah, that age-old question: potayto or potahto? Tomayto or tomahto? Which is the correct pronunciation? I say both!

Two people can look at the same scenario and walk away with completely different views on the subject. As can two romcom characters. That doesn’t necessarily mean one side is right and the other wrong—in fact, I dare say that both sides have ideas worth exploring. And if you’re lucky, you might learn a thing or two that will help you grow your perspective!

Lesson #3 Romantic love is a worthy option, not a goal. This is perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned from writing romcoms.

Both the hero and heroine are fine on their own—independent, doing their own laundry, cooking, and cleaning. Both can finance their own lives. Neither needs to be saved. I mean, the fact that the hero and heroine end up together by the end of the story means that each ENHANCES the other’s life, not that they MUST be together. At least, that makes sense to me!

So, there you have it. My top three take-aways from writing romantic comedies. Have you learned a lesson or two from your romance genre of choice? Please share!

SEDUCED BY THE SOLDIER

Zandra York just got her big break, photographing a major project for a travel magazine. So what if she’s never traveled out of the country before? Or that she’s more adept at deciphering fraudulent financial statements than reading German train schedules? Her brother Jackson is on his way to act as her guide, and she can’t wait to experience Europe with him. But when Jackson’s overprotective best friend gets off the plane instead, Zandra knows this will not end well.

There isn't a damned thing Special Forces instructor Blake Monroe wouldn't do for his best friend, but babysit Zandra when Jackson is unexpectedly called away on a mission? Nope. Not on the list. Especially not when she proves to be more trouble than he can handle—and far too tempting.

Between accidentally hiring a hearse as their rideshare, an unprovoked goat attack, and photographing erotic-shaped chocolates, Blake and Zandra can’t keep their hands off each other. But Zandra’s new career is about to send her all over the world and Blake is finally ready to settle down after his next deployment.

He’ll never ask her to give up her dreams. And she’ll never ask him to give up his.

Love sassy, sexy, fun romcoms? Pick up your copy of SEDUCED BY THE SOLDIER at one of the following e-tailers now!

Barnes and Noble à http://bit.ly/2No3efn
Google Books à http://bit.ly/2O2tcFt
Apple Books à https://apple.co/38HMysl


Melia Alexander is the author of sassy, sexy, fun contemporary romances, but is also fortunate to spend her week days at The Male Observation Lab (a.k.a. her job at a construction company) where she gets to observe guys in their natural habitat. Though they often behave like typical alpha males, she's often seen through their personas to the heart of who they really are - the heroes of their own stories. A native of Guam, Melia traded in warm, tropical breezes for the rainy Pacific Northwest. She's an avid reader who also loves romantic comedies - preferably with a glass of Cab Sauv and a box of dark chocolates nearby. In her free time, she's busy conquering her CrossFit fears: ring dips, power cleans, and the dreaded 800-meter run.

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4 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

Melia, I totally agree with your first "lesson." A sense of humor does help me move through my day. Some days that humor is "at the ready" and other days I have to go looking for it. Thanks for guesting with us!

Sarah Raplee said...

3 great lessons, Melia!

Here's another: Humor is the great equalizer.

I've learned in writing Romantic Suspense with Paranormal Elements that using humor allows me to create characters readers can easily relate to even though the characters may have unusual abilities.

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Diana McCollum said...

Interesting blog post. Humor does make a dark moment a little lighter. "Seduced by a Soldier" sounds like a great story.