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What do you look for in a rom-com? (+ #Giveaway)

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After the ups and downs of 2020, I decided I wanted to devote 2021 to writing romantic comedies. I have always loved funny things—books, movies, and most of all, puns! And my hubby has said that I’m rather funny in writing (not in person, unfortunately, haha!), so I thought this new genre would be easy to tackle. But over the course of writing my new Fab Forties series, I’ve come to realize how subjective humor is. There are almost a dozen forms of comedy (according to my Google search), but the following three come to mind the most:

A) Slapstick humor – This type is physical, from funny facial expressions to someone falling over. Think of The Three Stooges.

B) Witty dialogue – Usually involves a play on words, such as a pun.

C) Surreal situations – Events that are weird, illogical, or just plain silly. A good example of this is the Monty Python comedy troupe.

For me, I enjoy witty dialogue and some slapstick humor. Surreal situations, though, are a bit too much for my stick-in-the-mud personality. LOL. But I do love how God made us with a penchant for different kinds of humor. Comedy is an art form, so it makes sense that people appreciate different creative styles. What one person may find funny may not be funny to someone else. And that’s totally okay. But it does make writing rom-coms challenging. Hopefully, there are folks out there (besides my hubby) who will find my type of humor funny.

So far, I’ve finished two books in my rom-com series and have started a third one. The whole series features characters in their forties, which I hope will be more relatable for my seasoned readers. :) Book one in the Fab Forties series is on pre-order now and will be releasing next month. You can check out Retying the Knot HERE.

Now, I’d love to know—what kind of humor do you appreciate in a rom-com? Please comment and let me know!

Giveaway: I’d like to give away a $5 Amazon gift card. One winner will be randomly chosen from the comments below. The giveaway will remain open until midnight on Friday, April 23rd.

Liwen Ho (65 Posts)

A chauffeur and referee by day (AKA a stay at home mom of two), Liwen Y. Ho writes inspirational and sweet romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).


Comments

  2. Hi Liwen! Thanks for sharing your research on rom-com. This avid reader enjoys humor in books, especially now during the pandemic. Humor is a bit like Mary Poppins’ spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down. A spoonful of humor makes the difficulties in life bearable. Slap stick humor is fun, as long as it isn’t overly contrived or at the expense of another person. Punny funny is my favorite. Also enjoy surreal, especially with animals. Pansy eating the neighbor’s garden (Valerie Comer). Or the goose in Happy Goose Year that nudges a couple into romance or the Mathilda the Moose that creates havoc in Maine (Jan Elder). A SPOONFUL of Humor in life, relationships, marriage makes this last year bearable. Happy writing! Enjoy your week.

  3. I love you have older heroines. There are single people who have never really dated over 40 and 50. I think I like the witty humour. I like the quick comebacks or one-liners that often get said without the person even realizing.
    Although she’s mainly historical fiction, Mary Conneally does comedy really well. I remember clearly writing a scene the men were outside and women inside and they were saying why do men just grunt. and then were inside doing the men’s conversation and were all in stitches. The men came in and just looked and the women were hysterical. the way she wrote it I was laughing as I was reading it you could see what was happening.

  5. I love witty dialogue and the others if done elegantly, not quite the right word, but then I’m not the writer here :(
    In real life I am extremely funny, but only when I don’t try to be funny. :)

  8. I like witty banter between the characters, but I don’t like that to be all there is. I really don’t like a lot of sarcasm, though. I don’t usually read rom-coms, but I’ll definitely make an exception for yours, since I love your other books, and since the characters are older!

  10. Pretty sure I could never write a rom-com. I love it when funny little things land on my page, but I can’t sustain that for an entire novel and admire those who can be funny on purpose!

    Heather Gray and Krista Phillips are both so good at it, and I’m looking forward to reading yours!

    As you said, though, there are different kinds of humor, and they don’t strike all people the same. I love understated humor where you don’t quite see it coming until it’s right there. Dialogue. Thoughts. But if a character keeps tripping over the same thing, over and over, I’m usually done reading!

  11. I’m a fan of unexpected humor – witty dialogue that’s unexpected, and pratfalls that seem totally random but explain so clearly an element of the character! I want so badly to write humor, but I have to be content, now, to sprinkle in funny stories that usually are from life experience! LOL

  13. Hi Mary! Yes, banter does tell you a lot about a character. It also keeps the pace moving quickly, which I like. Thanks for commenting!

  14. Hi Renate! I love your comparison of humor to a spoonful of sugar. :) It definitely makes a lot of things easier to bear. Thanks for commenting!

  15. Hi Ausjenny! Haha, that sounds like a great scene and so realistic, too. LOL.

    Oh yay, I’m glad you like the idea of older heroines. I’ve always liked writing younger characters, but it’s getting more challenging to “think young” now that I’m older. And you’re right, romance doesn’t have to stop in your thirties!

    Thanks for commenting!

  16. Hi Kelley! Haha, this totally reminds me of Tom and Jerry. Thanks for commenting!

  17. Hi Dianne! Haha, it sounds like being funny comes naturally to you then! :) I bet those around you appreciate it. Thanks for commenting!

  18. Hi Merrillee! Yes, I love to read them, too, but I didn’t know they were SO hard to write. I have great respect for rom-com writers now! Thanks for commenting!

  19. Hi Jcp! Yes, I agree that natural humor is the funniest type of humor. :) Thanks for commenting!

  20. Hi Trudy! Aww, thanks for saying that! Yes, I’m excited to be writing about older characters, too! Thanks for commenting!

  21. Hi Cathy! (Ooh, I love your profile pic!) I do have to agree—witty banter is my fave, too. Thanks for commenting!

  22. Hi Valerie! I’ve read your books and you are funny! But yes, I totally agree that sustaining it for a whole book is hard work! I have real respect for rom-com writers now. Thanks for wanting to read mine. :)

  23. Hi Regina! I hope you get to write humor sometime! But how nice to be able to have real life inspiration. :) Thanks for commenting!

  24. Hi Lila! Oh yes, she is a good example of wit. She has a lot of smart lines. Thanks for commenting!

  25. I know what I don’t like – humor that hurts someone else’s feelings, or makes people laugh at them, not with them. I’ve never like the America’s Funniest Home Videos when someone gets hurt doing something stupid. I do love Mary Conneally’s books – they are hilarious! I also get a kick out of Luanna Ehrlich’s Titus Ray series – he is so self-deprecating that I burst out laughing. Looking forward to your new series!!

  26. I like witty dialogue, I usually can’t stand when characters embarrass themselves, so witty is what I prefer

  27. Hi, I like the witty the most , it makes it more fun! Have a Great week and stay safe. I enjoyed your post.

  30. Hi Margaret! Oh man, I’m right there with you! I never like those kind of videos either! I’ll have to check out the books you mentioned—they sound good. Thanks for commenting!

  32. Hi Alicia! Aww yay, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s hard coming up with new topics to blog about. Thanks for commenting!

  36. This is a topic that has intrigued me for quite some time as both a writer and an actor. What makes us laugh? I share the preference that others have voiced for witty, self-deprecating dialogue. James Scott Bell has a short book on Amazon called “How to Write Comedy” that has some very good ideas. One is the idea that humor must flow naturally from the characters themselves not as an afterthought. I think that, as an author, you can approach the writing process with humor in mind in the same way that you would seek to evoke sadness or swooning. It’s another one of the “feels”.

    Standup comedians often talk about humor coming from a place of pain or loss. Your audience will identify with what the character is going through. Example:

    —–
    It had been a rough week for Augie. More like a rough month. His college classes seemed so much harder than the previous semester. And Linda, the girl who had taken up almost all of his thoughts since he met her had not only turned him down for a date, she had laughed. Ouch. All of this was going through his mind as he stood in line at the sub shop waiting as the people ahead of him told the pretty girl behind the counter what kind of toppings they wanted.

    When his turn came, she looked up at him with a smile and said, “Are you the turkey?”

    “Yeah, that about sums it up.”

    —–

    Of course, that also qualifies as a play on words, too.

    I’m looking forward to reading your new series. Chin up and laugh as you go!

  37. Humor and also something that gives you the feels! I don’t mind both laughing and crying.

  38. My favorite humor in a rom-com is witty dialogue (banter) or slight sarcasm. It’s especially funny between the the hero & heroine.

    I love that your H&H are in the over 40 crowd! That makes them much more relatable to me because I’m in the “well seasoned” reader category, lol! Your story “One Vow for September” was the perfect mix of the kind of humor I love and an older couple….I definitely look forward to your Fab Forties series! :-)

  40. Hi Lincoln! Oh man, thank you for sharing that scene! The “punchline” was on point! Did you write it??

    I appreciate how you put it, that humor is another one of the “feels”. That’s so true!

    Thanks for your encouragement and for your insight!

  41. Hi Teresa! It’s a good story when it can make you do both, isn’t it? Thanks for commenting!

  42. Hi Trixi! Haha, we are both well seasoned! ;) So glad you appreciated the humor in September’s story! Thanks for commenting!

  46. I love all types of rom-com books. I’m always getting ones & love to read them from young couples to older couples with kids that make it funny like the movies do. I even have books from movies & there still very funny.

  47. Rom-com are my type of books. Especially with all the humour in the book & makes it even more funny at this time of year when we’re in lockdown.

  48. Hi Amy! Oh, yes, I agree that stories with kids can be great for rom-coms. So glad you enjoy them all! Thanks for commenting. :)

  49. Hi Sylvain! I totally agree! Humor is much needed during times like these. Thanks for commenting.

  50. I enjoy witty banter and situational/physical comedy. I can see where it would be difficult to write though, but I look forward to reading your new series.

  52. Well I’ll go with a combo of witty banter and slapstick comedy 😊 I dont know that I actually tried to categorise fiction rom com before so this is new…

  53. Hi Megan! Yes, it’s much harder than I thought, but still fun. Thanks for your support!

  55. Hi Tamika! Haha, welcome to how authors think! We like to get analytical sometimes. Lol. Thanks for commenting!

  56. Oh my goodness, you had me cracking up at this part: I confess that I am at my wits end. My secretary, Ms. Morganthaler reminds me, however, that it is not always a long trip.

    You have a brilliant sense of humor! Thank you for sharing it, Lincoln!

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