Running this website has given me a deep fasination into what makes a good ‘romcom’ as I have been sent several examples of the genre, some very good. It’s such a tricky genre to conquer because we all know how the story’s going to end but the writer’s trick is to nevertheless keep the viewer guessing while sub-consciously the viewer knows exactly where the story’s headed. If we enjoy spending time with the (usually) warring couple, then that seems to be half the battle.
Here’s a link to a Guradian article about the tricky art of the romcom, more about the casting than the writing but with some interesting things to say.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2010/apr/23/who-can-save-the-romcom
More about what makes a good rom-com later…
Happy Writing!
Philip Shelley
script-consultant
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I’ve never written one, and I don’t intend to start – look fiendishly difficult to me. Having said that, the most sensible thing I ever heard was that you need a really good answer to that fundamental question of “what do you have that keeps the lovers apart?”
Phil