How to write a rom com short story?

TrixieLox · 01-16-2013, 12:22 AM

I'm doing my friend a favour and writing a short story for her e-zine because the person who was supposed to write it has let her down. Problem is, it's rom com and I don't writ rom com, I write more 'book club' women's fiction. I know the simple answer is: don't write it. But she's my friend and I promised.

I read some rom com a long time back (Bridget Jones's Diary etc) but been a while. Anyone got any tips? Does it have to be a laugh-a-minute or can it be a bit serious sometimes? Her e-zine's aimed at women over 30 - is it okay if the story is about a married couple or am I best sticking to a single woman, newly divorced or something?

Any tips welcome!

Susan Littlefield · 01-16-2013, 12:30 AM

Trixie,

Grab a copy or two of your friend's e-zine and read some stories. Then you will be able to see what they want. You could always ask your friend too.

TrixieLox · 01-16-2013, 12:41 AM

This is the first time they've run a short story, it's a new section! Usually they do reviews and so on, and they promised this would be a new series in the last issue. I did ask my friend and she sent me a link to Sophie Kinsella and Katie Fforde books, arghhhhh! Don't wanna bother her again as she's uber busy.

Ken · 01-16-2013, 03:54 AM

... believe I've cracked the code.
rom com = romantic comedy

what I'd do is write the story
and then look for ways to funny it up
doesn't have to be anything radical
just something here and there would be fine
and if that doesn't work then hey, it doesn't work
your pal will probably be okay with your story anyway
g'luck

jaksen · 01-16-2013, 04:31 AM

Have a girl wake up in a ditch with a stranger. Two weeks later she discovers she's pregnant. She has to work backwards to find the stranger, to figure out what happened, how she got in the ditch, what happened the night before, etc. It's a comedy-mystery-romance!

I've often wanted to write one of these, btw.

WriteKnight · 01-16-2013, 05:59 AM

Meet Cute
Resist
Sidekick convinces her to try him.
Resist
He saves the cat
She falls for him.
He pulls away
Kiss in the rain.
Happily ever after

victoriakmartin · 01-16-2013, 09:45 AM

I'm a big fan of Sophie Kinsella so if that's what they are looking for, I would say it should contain a good amount of jokes but definitely can have serious moments as well. An interesting MC is definitely key.

As for the age thing, most of her books involve women who are single initially but Becky Brandon, the MC of the Shopaholic series, has been married for the last couple of books.

JimHeskett · 03-01-2013, 05:55 PM

in the span of one short story, you probably don't have the word-count space to tell the whole tale of meeting, falling in love, etc. Start with a couple already together, have them fight about something then make up, etc. Short stories have a narrower focus than novels.

01-16-2013, 12:22 AM	#1
TrixieLox Benefactor Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Just outside London Posts: 571	How to write a rom com short story? I'm doing my friend a favour and writing a short story for her e-zine because the person who was supposed to write it has let her down. Problem is, it's rom com and I don't writ rom com, I write more 'book club' women's fiction. I know the simple answer is: don't write it. But she's my friend and I promised. I read some rom com a long time back (Bridget Jones's Diary etc) but been a while. Anyone got any tips? Does it have to be a laugh-a-minute or can it be a bit serious sometimes? Her e-zine's aimed at women over 30 - is it okay if the story is about a married couple or am I best sticking to a single woman, newly divorced or something? Any tips welcome! __________________ "There is absolutely no point in sitting down to write a book unless you feel you must write that book, or else go mad, or die." Robertson Davies

01-16-2013, 12:30 AM	#2
Susan Littlefield Tell it like it Is Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: With my cats Posts: 7,567	Trixie, Grab a copy or two of your friend's e-zine and read some stories. Then you will be able to see what they want. You could always ask your friend too. __________________ Susan Please visit my website: http://www.susanlittlefield.blogspot.com/

01-16-2013, 12:41 AM	#3
TrixieLox Benefactor Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Just outside London Posts: 571	This is the first time they've run a short story, it's a new section! Usually they do reviews and so on, and they promised this would be a new series in the last issue. I did ask my friend and she sent me a link to Sophie Kinsella and Katie Fforde books, arghhhhh! Don't wanna bother her again as she's uber busy. __________________ "There is absolutely no point in sitting down to write a book unless you feel you must write that book, or else go mad, or die." Robertson Davies

01-16-2013, 04:31 AM	#5
jaksen Caped Codder Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: In MA, USA, across from a 17th century cemetery Posts: 3,957	Have a girl wake up in a ditch with a stranger. Two weeks later she discovers she's pregnant. She has to work backwards to find the stranger, to figure out what happened, how she got in the ditch, what happened the night before, etc. It's a comedy-mystery-romance! I've often wanted to write one of these, btw. __________________ Just sold Story No. 28! To EQMM! I am so happy. (New grandson, too. Life is good. ) Eeyore was saying to himself, “This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it.” A.A. Milne

01-16-2013, 09:45 AM	#7
victoriakmartin practical experience, FTW Join Date: May 2012 Location: Ottawa Posts: 275	I'm a big fan of Sophie Kinsella so if that's what they are looking for, I would say it should contain a good amount of jokes but definitely can have serious moments as well. An interesting MC is definitely key. As for the age thing, most of her books involve women who are single initially but Becky Brandon, the MC of the Shopaholic series, has been married for the last couple of books. __________________ ~Imagination and Creation are my MAGIC~ http://www.victoriakmartin.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victoria-K-Martin/100339113495839 (formerly known as i_paint_the_sky)

01-16-2013, 03:54 AM	#4
Ken made you look :-P Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: AW. A very nice place! Posts: 8,447	... believe I've cracked the code. rom com = romantic comedy what I'd do is write the story and then look for ways to funny it up doesn't have to be anything radical just something here and there would be fine and if that doesn't work then hey, it doesn't work your pal will probably be okay with your story anyway g'luck

01-16-2013, 05:59 AM	#6
WriteKnight Arranger Of Disorder Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: 30,000 light years from Galactic Central Point. Posts: 1,703	Meet Cute Resist Sidekick convinces her to try him. Resist He saves the cat She falls for him. He pulls away Kiss in the rain. Happily ever after

03-01-2013, 05:55 PM	#8
JimHeskett Just one more draft to perfection Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 71	in the span of one short story, you probably don't have the word-count space to tell the whole tale of meeting, falling in love, etc. Start with a couple already together, have them fight about something then make up, etc. Short stories have a narrower focus than novels. __________________ @JimHeskett www.jimheskett.com

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