-
Romantic Comedy Book Recommendations For Gifts
Here are my romantic comedy book recommendations and some of my favorite children’s books if you are looking for gifts for the holidays.
Romantic Comedy Book Recommendations for Gifts
All of these books made me laugh out loud. There are many light-hearted, feel-good moments, but they also touch on serious issues. (This is in addition to my recommendations in my earlier post.)
- Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
- Big Sexy Love by Kirsty Greenwood
- Star-Crossed by Minnie Darke
- Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Some Favorite Children’s Books
- The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- Corduroy by Don Freeman
- Elephant and Piggy by Mo Willems (or anything by Mo Willems)
- Hippos Go Berserk by Sandra Boynton (or anything by Sandra Boynton)
- Is there a Dog in this Book? by Viviane Schwarz
There are frankly so many children’s books that I love, but I like to give the above as gifts. I’ve read both The Book with No Pictures and Is There a Dog in this Book? to my son’s class, and the kids laugh and love them. For older elementary kids, I recommend Dog Man and anything by Rick Riordan.
I love the dedication in Hippos Go Berserk: “I didn’t invite them. Did you invite them? (For Mom and Dad, with love.)”
Favorite Non-RomCom Book
My favorite non-romcom book was Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams. It does get very dark and I had to put it down a few times because I was like “noooo!” But it has a happy ending and I was strongly rooting for the character of Queenie. And the voice is very funny. (It is also quite explicit.)
It won the British Book Awards, among others.
What do you recommend?
Do you have any recommendations? What romantic comedies have you read in the past year and loved? Why? What children’s books do you give as gifts?
-
Never Have I Ever RomCom Tips
I highly recommend Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever and here are some takeaway romcom tips. If you haven’t watched it, watch it before you read below. It will make you laugh, cry, swoon and feel good at the end. Spoilers alert.
The Flawed Protagonist
One of the most brilliant things about Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever is the character of Devi Vishwakumar, who is definitely flawed, but so appealing that you’re immediately rooting for her. She has a temper, which is why John McEnroe is her narrator (brilliant casting). She storms out on her friend Eleanor when she finds out Eleonor is dating someone and didn’t tell her, and then angrily throws a book out the window, breaking the window, admits that she’s jealous of her beautiful cousin Kamala. . . and this is all in the pilot episode. As she admits, she does not take the high road. She’s also refreshingly honest.
She’s also vulnerable and hurting because she idolized her father and he just died. And their scenes together always bring me near tears.
She’s also incredibly determined. Joining the hot boys lunch table takes guts.
And I love the whole Indian-American cultural aspect, especially the mom’s comments about America. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is an amazingly talented actress.
The Love Triangle
Never Have I Ever has a well-done romantic triangle. There’s the hot, but sensitive jock (Paxton Yoshida) vs. the nerdy smart guy (Ben Gross). And normally I would be all for the nerdy smart guy, but he was so awful in the beginning that I couldn’t get over that, especially because of his UN comment and how mean he is when he’s doing the school project with her friends.
Paxton is also very sweet. And I like that he doesn’t drink at parties during swim season. I liked how he apologized and was there for her on multiple occasions.
- when he comes over to her house to apologize that he wrongly freaked out about her meeting his sister. (He is very protective of his sister.) And he gives that glance back after they part.
- when she gets bitten by the coyote and he rushes out to pick her up and take her to hospital. (And then her mom is so mean to him.)
- When he tells her “you do you.” Which is kind of like Colin Firth’s statement “I like you just the way you are” in Bridget Jones.
- and the kiss in the car (which he even tells his sister about).
So, I will admit that I am Team Paxton and not Team Ben.
I was so disappointed when it switched to Ben Gross’s POV so that we would develop sympathy for him. But it did work, so that definitely gives tips for how to make someone likable again:
- have his parents completely abandon him. As he says, he’s Kevin in Home Alone, except his parents decide to stay in Paris.
- have his self-centered girlfriend ditch him
- show him being lonely
- make him cry when someone is nice to him
- have them work together as a team
And Ben’s behavior improves, especially when he offers her a place to stay when she has a falling out with her mom. And that car drive! So, I definitely saw his appeal. And I was less impressed with Paxton when they did the homework assignment together and his slogan wasn’t very good. And of course, Paxton often ignored Devi.
BUT I am still Team Paxton. And I can’t wait for Season 2 when presumably the love triangle tension will continue.
Or maybe I am just Team Devi.
The Antagonist
In many ways, Devi is her own worst enemy, but she’s a brilliantly developed character. And her fraught relationship with her mother, masterfully revealed, propels the plot.
Another takeaway is to give your character hard choices so that you test your character. I thought it was a tough choice when she has to choose between doing a favor for Paxton by modeling clothes for Paxton’s sister and being there for Eleanor. The right thing to do was to be there for Eleanor, but that’s not what she wanted to do.
Let’s Talk
Have you seen Never Have I Ever? I also love all the subplots (the mom’s, Kamala’s, Fabiola’s and Eleanor’s). What are your favorite scenes? Are you Team Paxton or Ben? And what romcom tips did you take away?
-
RomCom Tips from Sweet Home Alabama
Here are my RomCom tips from SWEET HOME ALABAMA. A friend recommended SWEET HOME ALABAMA; I think I didn’t see it because I was afraid it would idealize the South/Civil War, and it does in parts.
The Love Triangle
Patrick Dempsey is perfect as the Other Guy. Except maybe for his mother. BUT, he loves her and is over-the-top about it: honestly a room full of roses (“one for every time I thought of you”), the proposal at Tiffany’s (ok, actually, I thought that was weird to propose publicly in front of all these store employees, but the thought was good), supports her career, willing to stand up to his mother for her (or is that part of her appeal that she doesn’t appeal to his mother?). But as opposed to the Bellamy of previous posts, he’s the Other Guy with a twist because he could be a viable mate for Reese Witherspoon. As Billy Mernit advises,
“The most effective Bellamy is the one who poses a genuine threat to your central romance, meaning: for maximum triangle tension, design a Mr. or Ms. Wrong who we can believe can actually be a viable mate for your protagonist.”
Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Mernit at p. 134.And that adds to the tension. Is she really going to give up Mr. Perfect?
The Character Arc
The character arc of Melanie was also well-done. She’s run from her past and she has to come to terms with it. She has rejected Alabama and chosen New York, but as Jake says, why can’t she have both? And that’s her arc as she comes to realize that she doesn’t have to reject her past to succeed in her future. The scene at the bar where she insults everyone is also well-done because she is flawed and not very likable. And the next few scenes are her making up for those mistakes. And growing.
The Chemistry
The movie succeeds in large part because of the chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas. Smoking. But the initial scenes also show their tempers and suggest why they have the history they do.
This is one of my favorite scenes–when they have their heart-to-heart talk. And kiss.
She does not have the same chemistry with Andrew. And the fact that she hasn’t told him any of her past is a big red flag. (As it should have been for him.)
The Antagonists
Melanie is probably her own worst antagonist. The conflict between Melanie and Jake is the main driver of the plot. There are also the mothers: her own mother who wants her to stay in New York and marry Andrew, and Andrew’s mother who doesn’t want her son to marry Melanie.
Let’s Talk RomCom Tips
Have you seen SWEET HOME ALABAMA? What are your romcom tips from SWEET HOME ALABAMA? What’s your favorite scene? What did you like about the movie? And did you feel bad for Patrick Dempsey at the end (I did) even though I wanted her to go back to Jake?
-
Define Your Comic Character
Remember to define your comic character’s wants, needs and fears.
“Once you introduce the comic premise, you need to trust that the characters–their wants, needs and fears–will create more than enough action and plot to keep the narrative rolling along.”
The Comic Hero’s Journey by Steve Kaplan at p. 68.Define Your Character Clearly such that the Reader/Viewer Knows the Character’s Reaction
I attended a great family zoom presentation by Jonathan Aibel (Screenwriter, TROLLS, KUNG FU PANDA) and I asked him his advice for making a script funnier. He said (and I’m paraphrasing because my notes are messy) that usually it’s a matter of knowing your character and defining the character more clearly. And so, the comedy comes from knowing the character’s reaction.
It was a family event, so, afterwards, my daughter said to me, like Monica in FRIENDS being a “neat freak.” As soon as the room is messy, you know Monica wants to clean it and she’s having a hard time controlling herself and not cleaning it. My daughter gave the example of the Friends episode “Ross with the Dirty Girl.” Ross tells Monica about a date he had with a very messy woman, and Monica can’t help herself; she goes over to the woman’s house and offers to clean. In that episode, Ross’s date with the woman is the comic set piece (so funny) and Monica’s coming over afterwards to clean it is the topper.
Or if you think of Becky Bloomwood in Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, what will Becky do if she’s passing by a 70% sale on scarves, even though she’s late to a meeting?
Create another Character who is the Opposite
As discussed in previous posts, use comic opposites to highlight the differences. If you’ve defined your character, create another character who is the complete opposite. This will immediately introduce conflict. Sophie Kinsella created Becky’s sister, Jess, in Shopaholic & Sister. Jess is the complete opposite with respect to shopping. Jess is thrifty and doesn’t believe in the value of material goods. Sophie Kinsella uses Jess brilliantly again in Christmas Shopaholic to question Christmas commercialism:
“As for presents, no, there is nothing I am ‘hankering after.’ Tom and I will be exchanging non-tangible gifts, in the spirit of creating a minimal footprint on our ravaged earth.
If you can’t shake off the pressure to buy pointless items simply to follow tradition, could I suggest that they are sustainable, non-consumerist, locally sourced presents that reflect the true principles of fellowship rather than the hollow presents of shopping?”
Looking forward to a festive day,
Jess.”
Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella at p.37In SHREK, the donkey is the comic sidekick who wants to befriend Shrek when Shrek thinks he doesn’t need friends. OR think Oscar and Felix in The Odd Couple (to go way back). In TROLLS, it’s dour Harry meets optimistic Sally again.
Let’s Talk
How are you doing? What is your favorite pairing of comic opposites? Do you have any summer beach read recommendations?
Hoping you are doing well.
-
Comedy Writing Tip: What Can Go Wrong?
My comedy writing tip is ask the question: What can go wrong? Brainstorm all the possibilities.
Writing guru Jack M. Bickham says:
“He must leave in worse shape than he was when he went in.”
Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham at p. 27.And that’s perfect for creating comedy.
What can go wrong?
I just watched THE OUT-OT-TOWNERS (1999), a movie with Goldie Hawn, Steve Martin and John Cleese. HIGHLY recommend. I laughed out loud at several points. John Cleese has some of the best lines.
Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin are flying to New York where the Steve’s character has a job interview. What can go wrong when you are traveling? [SPOILER ALERT]
- Your flight is diverted to another state and there are no other flights in time for your interview
- You miss the train to New York
- The car you rented is defective (or you just can’t figure out how to work it)
- You can’t read the map so you get lost
- A trickster mugs you when you arrive so you have no money
And, all of those things are true-to-life and actual possibilities, but pile them on top of each other, and see how your character reacts. And there you’ve got your comedic plot.
So, if you’re writing a dinner party scene, what can go wrong? Off the top of my head:
- you burn the dinner
- the food is inedible (Bridget Jones Diary, anyone?)
- a drunken guest insults another guest
- hidden history between guests comes out
- a guest is allergic to the food, causing you to have to create another dish on the fly
- the guests get food poisoning
- the napkins bleed, staining something valuable
- your pet throws up (retching noise in the background)
- the neighbors upstairs throw a party, creating a lot of noise, stomping around upstairs.
- fire alarm goes off, such that you all have to evacuate
Some of these are obviously worse than others, but you can see how brainstorming what can go wrong can help build your plot.
Comedy Writing Tip 2: A Flawed Protagonist Makes Bad Decisions
As Evan Smith writes in this brilliant post, “comedy loves bad decisions.” “In many comedies, the lead character is their own worst enemy.” Id. Having the protagonist cause their problems starts their character arc.
Let’s Talk
Can you think of any more bad things that can happen at a dinner party? Or any party? Do you have any comedy writing tips?
Hope you are all doing well and staying safe.
-
Polishing Your Manuscript
I just recently had an epiphany regarding polishing your Manuscript: Polish your MS to add POP and personality (if you’re writing in the RomCom genre). Think fizzy!
If you’ve ever polished anything (and it’s not something I like to do), you know it takes some effort. Some elbow grease. But it shines when you’re done.
I recommend to every writer to take Linnea Sinclair’s online classes, but I recently took her Deep POV class, and I learned so much. And one thing I learned was how to polish your MS.
- Look at each sentence and see if you can make it better – can you tighten it? Can you add pop or personality? Voice?
- Make every sentence count;
- Add vivid description in the POV of your protagonist;
- Read your work out loud. (I resisted this advice for quite some time–because really it seems like it will take a week to read it out loud, but I finally did it and I found so much to fix.)
Here’s an example. My original sentence:
“She’d almost quit during the eight months she’d worked with him.”
Partner Pursuit by Kathy StrobosHere’s Linnea’s suggested re-write:
“Eight months of working for him had made her seriously consider ending her law career.”
Partner Pursuit by Kathy StrobosLinnea’s revised version lets the voice of the character shine through. The desperation is stronger.
Here’s another example. I wrote one sentence as a rhetorical question:
“She didn’t remember reading that in his profile. And didn’t I write I was looking for someone outgoing?“
Partner Pursuit, Draft approx. 51?But it’s more assertive to write it as a statement:
“She didn’t remember reading that in his profile. And I wrote I was looking for someone outgoing.”
Partner Pursuit, Draft 52Write Like a Poet
Bessie Blue in her post on How to Polish Your Manuscript has tools to help you write like a poet.
Let’s Talk: Any Tips for Polishing your Manuscript?
What are your tips for polishing your manuscript?
I hope you are doing well. We are starting to open back up in NYC. Men were lined up outside the barber shops. 🙂 I took the subway for the first time since March to go to a doctor’s appointment. The subway gleamed! The floors were so shiny. Most everybody wears a mask. We still have the nightly clap at 7 p.m. for essential workers. I hope we can continue to keep our numbers down.
-
Baby Got Backstory!
Baby Got Backstory! I’m working on the backstory of my next novel. And I recently read Mia Sosa’s The Worst Best Man and thought she did it brilliantly. As you know, one way to improve at writing craft is to read books in your genre and learn from other authors.
Backstory fuels internal conflict.
“Story is about internal struggle, not an external one. It’s about what the protagonist has to learn, to overcome, to deal with internally in order to solve the problem that the external plot poses.”
Story Genius by Lisa CronRomance Backstory- Why is this absolutely the WRONG guy/gal for your protagonist?
For a romance backstory, why is this absolutely the wrong guy/gal for your protagonist? That will complicate the plot. That will force the protagonist to deal with his backstory in order to move on and fall for romance interest.
The Worst Best Man is a great example to read to see how to do backstory and conflict brilliantly. His brother dumped her on her wedding day, he’s the one who told her, and apparently he said something the night before that made his brother call off the wedding. Ouch. He’s the last person she wants to date.
And he’s in the same boat. He’s always competed with his brother. Here’s Max’s best friend’s advice:
“Disregard all of it and move on.”
…[numerous, numerous reasons].
“Four, you’re trying to escape your brother’s shadow. Pursuing his old girlfriend is exactly the opposite of that.”
The Worst Best Man at location 1486.I also LOVE the relationship between these two best friends.
Or take another example of backstory leading to conflict well done. In When Adam Met Evie, Evie hates liars and what is Adam doing?
He’s lying to Evie. (He has good reasons). But author Giulia Skye sets up that conflict and tension so that you keep reading because you want to know: how is this going to get resolved?
The Backstory Tease
Think of Backstory as a tease. Hint at it initially, but don’t tell all. As Marcy Kennedy states in her post on 10 Writing Mistakes that Kill Your First Chapter,
“Backstory can be hinted at, but it’s normally something you should withhold until later when the reader really wants to know it and it’s pertinent to what’s happening in the present. Why? Backstory, by definition, is over. The reader wants to see your character getting themselves into trouble in the present.”
10 Writing Mistakes that Kill Your First Chapter by Marcy KennedyDonald Maass writes:
“Backstory delivered early on crashes down on a story’s momentum like a sumo wrestler falling on his opponent.”
Donald Maass.Mia Sosa also shows how to do backstory. As the story progresses, the reader learns why her heroine is emotionally reserved. Initially, we just learn her belief:
“We must never let our emotions get the better of us; doing so is either a sign of weakness, one that diminishes our well-earned respect, or a mark of combativeness, which will cause people to say we’re irrational. And as women–women of color, more specifically–we simply can’t afford to be perceived in those terms.”
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa, at Location 468.But then there are specific backstory events that created this belief. I’ll let you read the book to see how she does it. Note that she teases with the belief initially and only gives you the full backstory later on. She doesn’t reveal the first backstory scene that cemented this belief until Chapter 15.
I recommend following the advice in Story Genius to take the time to develop those backstory scenes. Write the “Origin Scene” – the scene in which your protagonist’s misbelief originated– and three Turning Point scenes “where her misbelief was the deciding factor in a decision she made” and which confirms that misbelief as “right.” Story Genius by Lisa Cron at p. 114.
Also, show how the backstory affects her actions NOW.
Let’s Talk: Baby Got Backstory!
Have you read The Worst Best Man? Do you have any advice to share on backstory? Or on creating conflict between your romantic leads?
Also, my writing teacher Linnea Sinclair has another online writing class for $15 from July 6-30. It’s called “Hook ‘Em Dano: Writing the Grabber Opening Scene.” If you are a writer, I HIGHLY recommend taking her class. She is a fabulous teacher.
-
Favorite Black Romance Authors
I want to recommend some of my favorite books by Black romance authors. They are SO GOOD. My earlier post has some of my other favorite books by Black American authors.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
I love the voice of Get a Life, Chloe Brown. Here’s an example:
“What would my eulogy say?
This mind-blowing bore had zero friends, hadn’t traveled in a decade despite plenty of opportunities, liked to code on weekends, and never did anything that was scheduled in her planner. Don’t cry for her; she’s in a better place now. Even Heaven can’t be that dull.”
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert at location 85.I love Chloe Brown’s dry wit. Red and Chloe are so perfectly paired, filling in each other’s gaps. And he cooks. And I loved the whole family interaction. I can’t wait to read her next book about Dani.
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
Highly recommend The Worst Best Man. Max is a sweetheart and Carolina is a kick-ass heroine (literally – I love that Capoeira scene.) It has one of my favorite tropes (the fake dating trope) and the premise promises problems: Carolina is a wedding planner who gets dumped at her wedding by Max’s brother, apparently because of something Max said. If only he could remember what.
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
Oh, where to start? Jesse is such a sweet guy, so heartbroken over the loss of his mom and so in love with Kerry. He’s good with kids. He can cook. And yes, knit. And Kerry is funny, caring and strong, someone you’d want as your best friend. Set in Harlem, the book gives a feel for how NYC can also sometimes be a really small town with a lot of community and heart. Where community circles look out for each other.
I hope Kwana Jackson is going to write a series with how each of the Strong brothers find love. And Val too. She deserves it after Craig. (Her conversation with Kerry about that hook-up was hysterical.)
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
Finally, I also highly recommend The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory. Carlos and Nikole were another great couple. I loved his relationship with his family and her relationship with her friends. I loved the scene where he takes her for tacos (although it made me very hungry) and the scene where they cook together is another winner! Yes, he cooks too. In my WIP, my character is looking for a guy who cooks and I see that I am not alone in this theme 🙂 And Jasmine Guillory’s next book Party of Two is coming out June 23.
Let’s Talk
Do you have any favorite books by black romance authors that you recommend? I will add them to the other books I am buying for #blackoutbestsellerlist #blackpublishingpower. Next on my #TBR is The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon, Intercepted by Alexa Martin and Conspiracy in the Capital by B. Ivy Woods. I’m excited!
I’ve also spent the past days signing petitions, writing letters, donating, reading and listening. And buying more books from Black authors from Black-owned bookstores (the Lit. Bar in the Bronx and Sisters Uptown Bookstore in Harlem). You can also buy books via Bookshop and pick an independent bookstore to support. Black lives matter. They more than matter, as comedian Daniel Che points out in this funny, but poignant and telling routine.
-
Tips for Writing the Comedy Set Piece
Here are some tips for writing the comedy set piece. But first you may ask, what is the comedy set scene?
“A set piece is an extended scene or sequence that exploits the setting or world of the movie to build from one joke or thrill to a series of same, climaxing in a satisfyingly big payoff topper.”
Writing the Romantic Comedy, by Billy Mernit at p. 275.Billy Mernit writes that,
“What a set piece has come to mean in movieland is the thing everyone talks about when they’ve seen the movie.”
Writing the Romantic Comedy, by Billy Mernit at p. 276.Here are a list of tips:
- Start with a Comic Premise,
- Create the set piece as an “inspired collision between character and circumstance” (Id. at p. 276-277),
- That forces an emotional turning point.
- Most importantly, be HONEST (honestly emotional, vulnerable, true-to-life) in the set piece. The comedy will come from readers/viewers recognizing the truth of the scene. Like the scene in the new OVERBARD when the men are discussing married life in my prior post. Ok, it’s a bit exaggerated, which is part of creating comedy, but you get what I mean.
START WITH A COMIC PREMISE
If you have a comic premise, the story writes itself. At least, that’s what Steve Kaplan says in his book The Comic Hero’s Journey, at p. 39. That makes sense. Think of SPY, with Melissa McCarthy and the comic potential in that premise (the desk-bound CIA analyst becomes the OO7 spy). At the very least, the comic premise should provoke ideas of funny scenes. Which may very well become our set scenes. But you only need start with the comic premise, according to Steve Kaplan. From there, you follow the character and do what the character would do. Don’t try to write funny scenes.
“Once you introduce the comic premise, you need to trust that the characters–their wants, needs and fears will create more than enough action and plot to keep the narrative rolling along.”
The Comic Hero’s Journey, by Steve Kaplan at p. 68.So I actually found that encouraging, because it is daunting to try to think of a “set piece.” Sometimes I have the inspiration for a funny scene, but sometimes I have to write the scene and find the humor.
Another way to make it funnier is for everything to end in disaster. Which follows the basic writing advice of writing guru Jack Bickham: “He must leave in worse shape than he was when he went in.” Scene & Structure, by Jack M. Bickham, at p. 27.
So here are some ways to think of comic premises:
- Fish out of Water
- Comic Opposites
- Normal Character vs. Crazy Characters
Fish Out of Water
One of my favorite comedy movies is THE INTERNSHIP. That definitely uses the fish out of water trope. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn sell watches, but nobody buys watches anymore now that they have phones. So they apply for a Google internship, successfully and are competing against tech-savvy young millennials for a shot at full-time employment. One of my favorite scenes is when they are interviewing for the Google internship–in the public library–and they are not tech-savvy. Here’s a clip of that scene.
Comic Opposites
According to John Vorhaus, ask “who could give this comic character the worst possible time?” The Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus at p. 52.
So, in BRINGING UP BABY, you have workaholic paleontologist Cary Grant paired with fun-loving, free-spirited socialite Katharine Hepburn. In the Odd Couple, you have neat Felix paired with messy Oscar. This creates the comic moments and the tension.
Or WHEN HARRY MET SALLY. As Nora Ephron writes in the Introduction to the screenplay (it’s such a brilliant introduction with such much wisdom, I highly recommend reading it – I love Nora Ephron):
“So I began with Harry, based on Rob. And because Harry was bleak and depressed, it followed absolutely that Sally would be cheerful and chirpy and relentlessly, pointlessly, unrealistically, idiotically optimistic. Which is, it turns out, very much like me. I’m not precisely chirpy, , but I am the sort of person who is fine, I’m just fine, everything’s fine.”
When Harry Met Sally by Nora Ephron, at p. X.Normal Character vs. Comic Character
Another comic set-up is a normal character vs. a comic character. See The Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus at p. 24. “The gap between their personalities is the comic premise of the show.” Id. at 24. But note that the characters have an emotional bond. They care about each other.
The Character vs. His World
As noted above, Billy Mernit describes a set piece as an inspired collision between character and circumstance. This parallels Steve Kaplan’s advice that you have to be true to your character. But now, add your character’s world that you’ve created. Here’s Billy Mernit’s tips for creating set pieces:
“consciously comb your story for potential set-piece situations. Explore the world you’ve created and see what’s there to tap into.”
Writing the Romantic Comedy, by Billy Mernit at p. 279.I’m in the middle of watching PRIVATE BENJAMIN with Goldie Hawn, but the set pieces arise out of the obvious collision between pampered Goldie Hawn and the US Army world. My novels are all set in New York City, but I’ve still created my own NY world.
Force An Emotional Turning Point
Set pieces should force an emotional turning point. As Scott Myers writes, the set piece is tied to a plot point. In DESK SET, when she and Spencer Tracy are having dinner at her apartment and Gig Young shows up, it’s the first time Katharine Hepburn is not thrilled to see Gig Young. In ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE, Sasha realizes her boy friend Kevin is a jerk and goes home with Marcus.
Let’s Talk: Do you have any tips for writing that comedy set piece?
What are some of your favorite comedy scenes?
I’d love to hear about what you find funny.
-
More Tips for Addressing “Too Much Dialogue”
Here are some more tips for addressing “too much dialogue” in your MS. You can also check out my previous post on this. And I found very helpful this post showing 8 dialogue problems and how to fix them by Louise Hornby and this post on how to fix common dialogue problems by Kristen Lamb/Alex Limberg. I started blogging because I took Kristen Lamb’s blogging course, so I highly recommend following her blog.
- Add Beats to Tie Dialogue to Setting and Convey Character
- Add Setting Filtered through Emotions
- Add Setting that Conveys Characterization
Add Beats to Tie Dialogue to Setting and Convey Character
“Beats are the bits of action interspersed through a scene, such as a character walking to a window or removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. . . usually they involve physical gestures, although a short passage of interior monologue can also be considered a sort of internal beat.”
Self-Editing for Writers, by Renni Browne and Dave King, at p. 143.So, beats “allow you to vary the pace of your dialogue” and to “tie your dialogue to your setting and character.” Id. at 144-146. I realized that in the initial drafts of my WIP, there would be pages of dialogue without any mention of place. So even just a descriptive sentence about the setting (using smell or taste) helps give the reader the sense of where they are.
Also, beats are “a powerful way to convey your characters.” Id. at 151. The examples in Self-Editing for Writers (one of my go-to craft books) show you how to do it. They explain that the beats “give a feel for the pauses in the conversation.” Id. at p. 149. Beats can deepen the emotional content. Id. at 157.
As they state,
The best way to fine-tune the rhythm of your dialogue, of course, is to read it aloud. Listen for the pauses as you read, and if you find yourself pausing between two consecutive lines, consider inserting a beat at that point.”
Self-Editing for Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King, at p. 151.If it’s a quick repartee, however, don’t add beats, which will be distracting and lessen the tension.
Add Setting Filtered Through Emotions
Add setting, but through the character’s view point and emotional state. Is the character happy? Then the descriptions of setting should be upbeat.
As the writing guru Swain writes, “present[] your material subjectively, as your focal character receives it.” Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain at p. 47. This book is another go-to writing craft book. My teacher Linnea Sinclair recommended it. (It is dry to read, though).
Add Setting that Conveys Characterization
“Don’t give the reader a Better Homes and Gardens description of the heroine’s apartment. Tell her that the week’s mail is piled on the kitchen table beside a dying philodendron or that the clothes she picked up from the cleaners last week are still hanging on the treadmill in her bedroom. These are details that characterize as well as create visual images.”
Writing with Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Cheryl St. John, at p. 125-126.Let’s Talk: Do you have more tips for addressing “too much dialogue”?
So, do you have any tips for addressing too much dialogue?
I hope you are all doing as well as can be. We visited the beach as a family for our second time out in 6 weeks.
We had “snow” (!) last week in New York City, although it melted by the time it hit the ground. Today, the sun is shining. If you go out, most people are wearing masks. I ventured out to the pharmacy, the bank and the post office (this is my first time going into stores since March 13). CVS (the pharmacy) was a bit like the game PacMan where you’d turn to go down an aisle, see a person and then back out to choose a different person-free aisle to go down.
Anyway, thanks for reading!