Romcom Tropes: A Guide for Writers
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
Romantic comedies are one of the most popular genres in film and literature, and they often rely on certain romcom tropes to get their stories across. Writers looking to create a successful romantic comedy, or “romcom,” should familiarize themselves with these romcom tropes and how to use them effectively.
Popular Romcom Tropes
The most popular romantic comedy tropes include the Cute Meet-Cute, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Destiny, Childhood Sweethearts, Forbidden Love, Impossible Love, and Second Chance Love.
The Cute Meet-Cute is when two lovers first meet, usually in an unexpected or humorous way.
Enemies to Lovers is one of those romcom tropes that people love to hate, when two people who initially dislike each other eventually fall in love—the reasons they initially dislike one another can’t be too contrived, or else readers won’t go along for the ride.
Forced Proximity is when two people are forced to spend time together, often leading to romance, even if they claim it’ll never happen. (The “One Bed” romcom trope is a classic example of this.
Destiny is when two people are meant to be together, no matter what obstacles stand in their way. Sometimes they know this, sometimes they don’t, which makes it one of the more versatile romcom tropes.
Childhood Sweethearts is when two people have known each other since childhood and eventually fall in love, though their path might not be very straightforward. Sometimes, this also dovetails with a Second Chance Romance romcom trope.
Forbidden Love or Impossible Love are when two people are not allowed to be together due to social or cultural reasons. The lovers come from different worlds and must overcome great obstacles to be together.
Finally, Second Chance Love is when two people reunite after a long separation and fall in love again. This is one of modern readers’ favorite romcom tropes.
Remember the Audience When Writing Romcom Tropes
When writing a romantic comedy, it is important to remember that your writing audience will be able to tell if you are just going through the motions—or cynically using romcom tropes without enjoying it.
To avoid predictability, writers should think of different spins they can place on the situation, or subversions of obvious tropes. It is also important to establish the tone of the story. Romcoms are typically light-hearted affairs which emphasize the idea that Love Makes You Dumb and can lead you into all manner of silly, embarrassing situations.
However, even if you lean hard on fun romcom tropes, you will want to make sure that your novel has both humor and heart or drama, as conflict and tension keep readers actually turning pages.
By understanding the most popular romcom tropes and how to use them effectively, writers can create a successful romantic comedy that will keep readers hooked.
Elevate Your Storytelling
Wherever you are in your writing journey—from an initial outline to a draft to pitching your project—the experienced team at Good Story Editing can take your work to the next level.