Recipe for a Rom-Com By Georgia Clark

[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to have author Georgia Clark guest posting on the site today. She has a delicious recipe for a rom com. Take it away, Georgia!]

You love rom-coms! Who doesn’t, love is YUMMY. I love whipping up clever kissing stories and today, I want to share with you how to make a delicious rom-com the comfort of your very own home. 

INGREDIENTS:

Two lovers: Any gender expression okay: I prefer two women, but chef’s choice. If you’re working in ensemble, keep doubling the recipe until you have your preferred number of lovers. (My new book, It Had To Be You has five couples: the sky’s the limit!)

Two internal wounds. These are mistaken beliefs about self or love. These aren’t logistical (i.e. “I live in a different city than you”), they are deeply personal and painful; (i.e. “I am unlovable”). 

Chemistry: You’ll need a lot. Look for the kind that is effortless and undeniable; I like the type with witty banter. 

Kisses, etc. : Choose your heat level, from sweet kisses to NSFW f*cking.  

Small fights: Find these in the same aisle as your wounds. 

One big fight/break-up: Again, so woundy!

One grand gesture: Must be extremely romantic. A rom-com is only as good as the quality of its ingredients and this is so true when it comes to the GG. (Bonus points if it’s somehow related to your lovers’ wounds, but not strictly necessary.)

RECIPE:

1. Meet Lover # 1. Ideally someone you’d like to be seated next to at a dinner party. Season them with a goal. 
2. Meet Lover #2 through Lover #1 in a memorable and charming way (aka meet-cute). This is the story they’ll be telling their grandkids, so make it a good one. Lover #2 also has a goal (bonus points if it’s in opposition to Lover #1’s goal: drama!). Add a bucket of chemistry to get things simmering. Do not add kisses. 
3. Cool and separate. Show us why these crazy cats can’t just bone and get married! Hint: it’s because of their wounds. Get your lovers focused on their goals again. Maybe throw in a few friends or work colleagues, whatever you have lying around. 
4. Reheat. Bring your lovers back together (ideally in a situation beyond their control: force them back together). Add chemistry and slowly keep adding heat. Have fun here; give us something to root for. When you reach a rolling boil:
5. Add kisses! The first one should pack a real punch. Hot tip: While physical attraction is important, it can’t be the sole basis for your lovers’ connection. Show us how they make each other better people, as well as how much they want to put their mouths on each other. 
6. Reduce heat and add a pinch of wound to remind us of their mistaken belief as to why they can’t just be together already! 
7. Allow to thicken slowly. Let your lovers truly feel that being with each other is better than not being with each other. Maybe they’re wrong about their wounds, maybe their beloved holds the key to dismantling that painful belief, forever. Allow to simmer to roiling boil until your smitten kittens are head-over-heels in l-u-v (even if they can’t admit it to themselves and/or each other).
8. Remove from heat and add a full cup of wound. You might need those friends or co-workers again here. Your sweet and spicy mix will eventually coagulate to:
9. A small fight. Make sure it’s motivated by fear or insecurity that we completely understand. Keep adding small fights till you feel it’s time to add the:
10.  Big fight/break-up. Let your wounds guide you. Screaming and crying is perfectly okay here—it’s heartbreak territory!
11. Separate leads. Allow to chill overnight so they can contemplate the horrible sensation of feeling so completely wrong about, well, everything. 
12. Reheat with a little chemistry, then add in your gorgeous grand gesture. For a classic finish, do this step in public. It might be a wedding proposal, a thoughtful gesture, or just some heartfelt words that have yet to be said. Liberally add kisses! A LOT OF KISSES. 
13. Brava! You’re done. Serve warm, with a sunset.