Writing the Romantic Comedy

by Billy Mernit

“Writing the Romantic Comedy is so much fun to read it could pop a champagne cork.” —Alexa Junge, writer and producer of Friends Revised and expanded to celebrate a new generation of romantic comedies, Billy Mernit’s insightful look into the mechanics of writing Hollywood’s most enduring genre features case studies that reveal the screenwriting secrets behind classics new and old . Whether you’re a first-time screenwriter, an intermediate marooned in the rewriting process, or a professional wanting to explore the latest genre trends, this thoroughly charming and insightful guide to the basics of crafting a winning and innovative script will take you step by step from “meet cute” all the way to “joyous defeat.” You’ll learn the screenwriting secrets behind some of the funniest scenes ever written; how to create characters and dialogue that getsparks flying; why some bedroom scenes sizzle and others fall flat; and much more.  Written in a refreshingly accessible style and updated and expanded to recognize the contributions of a fresh generation of romantic comedies, this newly revised 20 th Anniversary edition of Writing the Romantic Comedy  features case studies drawn from beloved romantic classics such as  When Harry Met Sally, Annie Hall, Tootsie, and  The Lady Eve to modern-day favorites including Hitch, (500) Days of Summer, Bridesmaids, and Silver Linings Playbook . Field-tested writing exercises are also included, guaranteed to short-circuit potential mistakes and ensure inspiration.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Film, Comedy, Reference, Media Tie In

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2000

About the author

Also wrote under the names Leigh Anne Williams and Lee Williams.

Reviews

[Shouty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TRULY INVALUABLE RESOURCE BUT IF I NEVER READ ANOTHER ANALYSIS OF ANNIE HALL AGAIN I’LL BE FINE

[Terri London Mabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you write romantic comedy, even novels, this is a great book on dialogue, sex scenes, pacing etc. His chapter on theme was the best I've read from any book on writing. He also analyzes a few movies, which was helpful, and I like his 7 point plot structure. I highly recommend it, and would suggest supplementing it with the Popcorn Dialogue podcasts by Jennifer Crusie and Lucy March (Lani Diane Rich.)

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no intention to write screenplays, only novels, but I still found use in the lessons this book offers. Many of the exercises are helpful for novelists. However, the readers of romantic comedy novels are not as insistent as movie audiences are about requiring something that subverts expectations. One can feasibly make a living writing numerous romance novels that recycle the same tropes and beats with minimal subversion, as long as there is plenty of sex! Ha! Sad but true. Or, I dunno, maybe it’s not sad. It’s fine. It is what it is.

Although the book is useful, I believe that the author’s obsession with Annie Hall is misguided. Sure, it’s interesting as an academic study to observe how it was possible to reverse all the beats of a romantic comedy to create an anti-romance, but I simply do not believe that Annie Hall attracts a romcom audience and it doesn’t help you learn to write for that audience. Same with Tootsie, actually. I’m not saying anything against the films, necessarily, I’m only saying they may be instructive for film writers in general, but not for romcom screenwriters in particular. I think probably those films influenced the author early on in his career and now they’re his darlings he couldn’t bear to kill for the new edition, though he should have.

[Janet Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book. But then I also love old romantic comedies and wish Katherine Hepburn was still around! That said, it's a great book for giving you insight into the romantic comedy genre. I don't even think you have to be a writer to enjoy it. Some of the behind the scenes info into movies like When Harry Met Sally and Tootsie are really very good. Plus, it's so well written that it's fun to read no matter what your reason. If you're a writer - all the better as, unlike some books on writing, this one is actually useful. I loved it. I hope you do too!

[Hannah McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this off the back of an intensive screenwriting course at film school so I understood the legs and bones of writing a script which definitely helps when reading this book.

Cracking read, really engaging. There’s something for everyone in here and breaks down the beats and fundamentals of writing a good romantic comedy and an easy to understand way.

Looking forward to actually cracking in with my script with the help of this book and it’s exercises to help you on your way to a first draft!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was some good nuggets of information in here, but overall this book was written 20 years ago, so some things are outdated, even though this is an updated version. There should have been a note that it would be helpful for readers to view the movies tootsies when Harry Met Sally, Moonstruck, etc., because there are a lot of references. However the book is problematic with his appreciation of Woody Allen. even in his introduction, announcing changes he has made for his 20th edition of this book where he tries to justify all his references to Woody Allen. 😢

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thus far the my favorite screenwriting book. I'm not saying the best, but certainly my favorite. Although it focuses on the romantic comedy, it has content applicable to all genres.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable, engaging book, more broad than deep.

[Richard Carilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical Score: 4.25
Personal Score: 5
Total Score: 9.25

[Ophelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a well-rounded overview of the romantic comedy genre, and an excellent reference book for those interested in writing within that category.
I did find it was a little too focused on all-too-specific run-of-the-mill rom-coms at times, neglecting to mention the history and conceptual birth of the cross-genre, or it’s different takes around the world, instead favouring more modern (at least when this book was written) American titles and their construction. I also would have appreciated some reference or ‘what next?’ note regarding some more in-depth analysis’ of the concepts written about in this book, as, though it was an extensive overview, I found that (understandably, considering a book can only be so long) some of the contents had to be brushed over rather hastily.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happening upon Mernit's book in the local library, I picked it up about a month ago. I've been working on a novel, not a screenplay, but at some point I realized that the pacing and style I was going for was similar to a romantic comedy.

It's fabulous. Mernit breaks things down carefully, uses many accessible examples, and writes it all with humor and a contagious enthusiasm. I highly recommend this book, not just for screenwriters, but for others who write with a strong emphasis on human relationships.

[Tara L. Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good guide for all types of fictional romantic comedy, not just the screenplay. So much of the genre right now focuses on the titillating or the slapstick/immature that it's hard to critically examine how a successful rom-com works. Mernit uses examples starting back with silent classics through to the early 00s that helps writers understand what makes an audience love the story. I highly recommend this for any writer who is interested in character development and interaction, especially if it involves romance.

[Neri]

How fun! I enjoyed Billy Mernit's books as Lee Williams and flipped through this at the local library without even knowing Williams was Mernit.

I don't have any screenwriting or novel aspirations, but it was very digestible for someone who knows nothing going in and I kind of want to take a crack at it for fun to see what the brain can come up with now. I suppose that's what you want out of any instructional book -- leaving with the desire to actually 'do'!

Also, judging by the quality of Mernit's romance novels, he knows what he's talking about (I quite like his books).

[Sabrina Hofkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book was published in 2000, there is a lot of great information. I met Billy Mernit when I attended his workshop at a screenwriting conference in Los Angeles in 2009, and he signed my copy for me. I still refer to it over and over. Who doesn't love to watch classic romantic comedies to inspire your writing? I want to read the updated version!

[Audrey Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for writers who are even remotely interested in this genre. Will make you respect the craft all that much more, and it's full of practical advice and exercises too. My copy is now covered in notes and annotations.

[Robert Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent analysis of romantic comedies.

[Once-a-librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best craft books I’ve read

[Ron Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative; well-organized. Good screenwriting info.

[Nici · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good advice here and there, but it definitely aged poorly. There are better resources out there now for sure.

[Lex Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll take a leap and say this book is highly underrated. Because I'd never heard of or been recommended this book in all my years of writing student-hood, and it's a shame. It's extremely insightful and makes some truly refreshing points on not only the rom com genre, but also the general points of writing like crafting dialogue and thinking differently about your story's imagery. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their craft-- NOT just the rom com writers.

[Michelle Cornish · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a comprehensive resource! This book is jam packed with practical tips and useful information for writing romcoms. Many, many examples are included to demonstrate why certain techniques work (and others don't) and Billy does an excellent job explaining the technical aspects. You will be kept busy for weeks watching recommended movies, but it really helps - plus it's fun! A very worthwhile purchase!

[Eugenia Doran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the updates on the previous version (which I have also read), and there's a lot of great advice in this, well expressed. I agree with everyone else who says the author should let the obsession with Annie Hall and Tootsie go, neither of which are particularly useful to analyse for people writing the romcom in 2020. I would have liked a deeper look at the rise of the Netflix romcoms instead. Still, a helpful reference.

[Ashiish V Patil · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who's written & produced 4 romcoms and directed 2, I love the genre. And this book really breaks down the genre, it's tropes, elements so well. Using some iconic movies as case studies, examples, it illustrates the points well.

Great lessons also overall for building characters, screenplays and more.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took Billy Mernit's class at UCLA and later, bought this book but never read it. It's basically the class in book form. It can't hurt if you are interested in the romantic comedy but it won't change your life.

[Roland Denzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and interesting book on writing a romantic comedy screenplay. Of course, now I have to go write one.

I loved how many of my old favorite films (and some new faves) were used as examples, broken down, and analyzed.

[Maha Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful companion for any film writer or novelist. Romance threads all subplots of other fiction genres. So if an author wants to convince readers that their stories of love or lust are authentic - be they happy ending or stories of love lost or unrequited love, then this book is a must-read.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I got through my library ebooks section. It was so helpful in creating my recent romcom script, I ended up buying an iBooks copy to reread and have nonstop access to the material.

Good read indeed

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was feeling a little stuck writing my latest novel and this helped perk up the old creative juices. Highly recommend!

[Ana Mancholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Super funny and very very clear in everything it explains.