The KEY Building Blocks to Writing a GOOD Romantic Comedy

The romantic comedy goes all the way back to Shakespeare, with plays such as Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream being full of love triangles and comic misunderstandings. If done right, writing romantic comedy can be a surefire way to crowd-please both critically and commercially.

It’s a genre that has evolved through time but has remained extremely popular with audiences and the box office. Although sometimes reduced to cliche, romantic comedies, at their core, are about happiness and human connection. It is this value that has allowed them to endure and become such a beloved genre. 

However, despite the simplicity behind them, writing romantic comedy that is funny, compelling, and original can be difficult. It’s a genre fraught with cliches and one that it is ultimately hard to break new ground in.

We, however, have broken down the key elements to writing romantic comedy that will satisfy your audience. In a genre with many expectations, where do you start?

Genres

Romance + Comedy

As the name suggests, a romantic comedy blends elements of both the romance and comedy genres and finds the perfect balance between them. 

Ultimately, a romantic comedy is centred around a romantic relationship. There must be a romantic arc (or multiple) at the core of the story.

Don’t be afraid of being too straightforward when it comes to the romance, it is largely what the audience wants to see. Similarly, the audience didn’t sign up to see a tragedy or drama, so don’t let your romantic conflict become too dark or serious without being undercut with humor.

In terms of comedy, no comedy is universal. So if you try to write humor that appeals to everyone then it will likely miss the mark. Instead, simply write what you think is funny. 

The comedic tone should be consistent. Whether it be slapstick, sarcastic, quirky, or dark try to stick to one. If the comedy is too overpowering or stretched too thin the film won’t feel right to the audience. 

A comedy script should contain at least a few very memorable hilarious scenes and set pieces. So look for aspects of your romance story that are humorous and maximise them. Where are there misunderstandings and miscommunications? Who are the characters that will provide consistent humor?

A Third Genre

A lot of romantic comedies also expand into a third genre or a secondary setting. This can give the romantic comedy a new twist and make it more original. 

Some of the most successful romantic comedies have been mixed with another genre. This could be sci-fi (About Time), teen (Clueless), or even superhero (Deadpool – a self-proclaimed “love story”). 

This adds an interesting and fresh aspect to the film that engages audiences and also expands them. 

Furthermore, don’t worry too much about relatability when it comes to genre and setting. The humorous trials of love are universal and the audience will always be able to relate to a well-written character and relationship arc. 

So if when writing romantic comedy you find yourself slightly leaning into another genre, try and embrace the elements that will make the story feel unique within the romance genre. Exaggerating this new setting or element could add a distinctive spin on a well-tread narrative. Moreover, it gives the story a relatable beating pulse, something for the audience to grab onto in otherwise potentially new territory.