Romantic Comedy Genre

Plotting Formula Romantic Comedy sometimes follows a very simple formula: Boy gets girl Boy loses girl Boy gets girl

More complex formula: Boy and girl meet (forced together by circumstances) There is a misunderstanding Often a subplot beside the love story (eg. A mystery to solve, a job to save, a cause to fight for, a family to heal) Finally they recognize they’re in love Often separate again End up together

Setting Not crucial to this genre Can be: Exotic (fish out of water) Domestic (right under your nose) Sometimes decided by subplot

Character Archetypes Hero/protagonist: male, female… charming but flawed Antagonist (villain): the other love interest, usually dull but nice (good people) Sidekicks (wise person): often best friends

Males The key to romance is the coupling. There are usually strong male characteristics in romance movies and romance literature. There are 8 common Male Archetypes, as presented by Tami Cowden

The Chief This man tends to be at the top of his career field – maybe the CEO of a major corporation, or a prince. If he’s not already number one, it’s only a matter of time He can never admit he's made a mistake

The Bad Boy or Rebel This is the rebel, or the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s bitter and volatile and a crushed idealist. Charismatic and street smart. He hates authority and doesn't buckle under to anyone

The Best Friend He's kind, responsible & decent Mr. Nice Guy. Doesn't enjoy confrontation and can sometimes be unassertive because he doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. We all knew this guy in high school and didn’t appreciate him.

The Charmer Fun, irresistible, a smooth operator not too responsible or dependable. He might be a playboy but he's doesn’t commit to a woman easily He's not crazy about hard work

The Lost Soul Tortured, secretive, brooding, and unforgiving. He’s vulnerable. He might be a wanderer or an outcast…thus, he’s a loner Often conjoined with the rebel.

The Professor Logical and introverted might not be your idea of a hero, but take another look. He is genuine about his feelings.

The Swashbuckler This guy is action, action, and more action. He's physical and daring. he’s a daredevil, or an explorer.

The Warrior This man is the reluctant rescuer or the knight in shining armour. He's noble, relentless, and he always sticks up for the underdog. If you need a protector, he’s your guy.

Women The key to romance is the coupling There are typically Eight Female Archetypes, as presented by Beverly Medos

The Boss This is a "take charge" female, who accepts nothing but respect. Reaching her goal post is the most important thing in life to her; a few ruffled feathers along the way don’t bother her. This woman never gives up until she's on top of the heap.

The Survivor This is a girl who is long accustomed to sizing up everyone in a room the minute she enters. Mysterious and manipulative, she hides a streak of distrust a mile wide and ten miles deep. Cynicism guides her every action

The Spunky Kid She is a favourite of many writers. You can't help but root for her. She's the girl with moxie. She's not looking to be at the top of the heap.

The Free Spirit Playful and fun loving, this heroine travels through life with a hop, skip and a jump She acts on a whim and follows her heart, not her head. She might be a bit on the ditzy side

The Waif This is the original damsel in distress. Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel, all required rescue, and so does she. Her child-like innocence evokes a protective urge in the beastliest of heroes. Yet she has a strong spirit Jane Eyre, a Victorian classic

The Librarian She's prim and proper, but underneath that tight bun lurks a passionate woman. She's learned or was told that her physical charms shouldn't - or couldn't - help her get ahead, so she leads with her brain, not her body.

The Crusader A thoroughly modern heroine is the Crusader. No distressed damsel, here. This lady is on a mission, and she marches right over anyone in her way. Tenacious and headstrong, she brushes off any opposition to her goal.

The Nurturer this lady takes care of everyone. She's serene, capable and optimistic. She might be the laid-back mother that always has fresh cookies in the oven. Or duty and love might bind her as she cares for her family and friends with steely determination.

The Hero and Heroine It takes two protagonists to tango—a hero and heroine they have to be different enough from one another to strike sparks whenever they're in close proximity. Romances certainly aren't about the pair being the same, but rather just how different they can be and still survive the resulting explosion of opposites. The pair is presented as quite literally two opposite sides of a single whole, i.e. soul mates. The end goal is harmony of heart and mind

Theme The two complete each other The two become better people because of each other Even if they move on, they are better for it redemption is possible (definition of comedy)… a pair can reconcile their flaws and become a whole

Another theme… Unrequited love (unreturned love)

Sub-genres Chick-lit: often humorous romantic adventures geared toward single working women in their twenties and thirties Eg. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants Christian: romances in which both hero and heroine are devout Christians, typically focused on a chaste courtship and mentioning sex only after marriage Eg. Love Comes Softly

More sub-genres Contemporary: a romance using modern characters and true-to-life settings Glitz/Glamour: focused on the jet-set elite and celebrity-like characters

More sub-genres Historical: a romance taking place in a recognizable historical period Paranormal: involving some sort of supernatural element, ranging widely to include science fiction/fantasy aspects such as time travel, monsters or psychic abilities Romantic Comedy: a romance focused on humour, ranging from screwball antics to witty interplay

More… Romantic suspense: a novel in which an admirable heroine is pitted against some evil force (but in which the romantic aspect still maintains priority) Spicy: a romance in which married characters work to resolve their problems Young Adult: written with the teenage audience in mind, with a suitably lower level of sexual content