CAN YOU HAVE A LAUGH IN A ROMANCE STORY?

Humor is a funny thing, but has it got a place in romantic fiction? Maybe you have strong views on this? I suppose like all things it depends on how well it is done. Humor can be a great way of relieving tension in a scene. For the life of me, I can’t think of an example in a book where it has worked well. But I would very much like to hear from anyone that has an example of a good piece of humor in a romance story. I can, however, remember an instance where I laughed out loud while reading a scene. To spare the author’s blushes I will not name either them or the book. All I will say, for me, the scene conjured up Hannibal Lecter skipping like a schoolgirl in ringlets. It was funny, but not in a good way because it took the reader out of what was a very serious scene. I have had similar moments of humor at times, reading love scenes, where the author has put together an unrealistic or quirky sex scene. Sex scenes can be funny, naked men still wearing black socks always make me laugh. Some of the descriptions of people stripping comes to mind, where the writer portrayed it in an odd way. Ric gave me an example of a woman who wrote about her heroine taking off pantyhose while walking. Names for genitalia make me smile too, phrases like his staff of joy, the pole of delight, a cavern of love, the cave of pleasure. He sank into her glory. All bring to mind comical images but is that what you want in your story.

I can’t think of a good example where humor has worked well. But I am sure there have been. Do please write in and tell me.

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