I’m writing a romcom at the moment. It’s a genre I’ve never written in before, so I’m enjoying the fresh challenge. I’ve directed a few TV movie romances (these films flirt with being romcoms but they’re not quite), and enjoyed the work, but the creative parameters of story and direction can be frustrating, so I had an itch that I had to scratch, and here we are. Page 45 of an original romcom. Get me. I’ve always been a bit genre agnostic with my writing. I started out with primetime TV gigs in mind, and my early scripts were domestic dramas, horrors, and even some comedy. All fairly useful for a burgeoning writing portfolio, and I managed to get work on Doctors and EastEnders.
At the same time, I was an avid industry script reader, reading about 10 scripts a week. I’ve literally read thousands of scripts over the years, and I think being exposed to a wide variety of scripts (and analysing them) has given me an appreciation of good genre storytelling, regardless of my own personal preferences. (I previously worked in Channel 4’s comedy department, which gave me a love of sitcoms.)
What was particularly interesting (and extremely defining for my career) was discovering a talent for writing in the kids/family genre. Something I never actively set out to pursue but happily stumbled across; I met a writer at a short film screening who gave me an opportunity to pitch for his kids’ show, helping me to gain my first children’s TV credit. Later, an agent recommended I exclusively focus on the kids/family genre, as the work seemed to be regularly coming my way. I took the agent’s advice. For the most part. But I always felt ‘genre’ tugging me back to my original impulses, or occasionally in new directions.
During Covid, I wrote a new spec script. A pilot for a supernatural thriller TV series. It was an idea that I had had for a few years, but hadn’t done anything with it. But with some time over lockdown, and the idea refusing to die (always a sign for me that I should do SOMETHING), I wrote the script. And it’s a strong piece of work. I might make movie poster quotes of the feedback I’ve received so far - “a really vivid, characterful and convincing pilot” - “compelling and distinctive leads” - “you obviously know genre well”. (Despite the gushing praise, the project hasn’t moved forward due to (a) it not being IP and (b) it’s a bit expensive).
‘You obviously know genre well’. That’s fitting, and reassuring. And so, as I wade further into the unfamiliar waters of romcom, I’m trying to keep my appreciation of good genre afloat. Respecting the rules, recognising and shaking up the tropes, delivering on the promise of the premise.
You’ll get some people who will tell you to stay in your lane, keep to one genre, but if a story appeals to you, whatever the concept, then go with your gut. Get out of your genre comfort zone, and have some fun.
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