The Post Pub: Interview: Billy Mernit of Living the Romantic Comedy

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I'm pleased to present The Post Pub's first author-blogger interview and spotlight: Billy Mernit.

Billy is the blogger behind Living the Romantic Comedy. By day he's a UCLA writing instructor, a story analyst at Universal and a private script consultant. He is also the author of the screenwriting how-to classic Writing the Romantic Comedy and the novel Imagine Me and You, to be published by Random House (Shaye Areheart) in April 2008.

I selected Billy as the premiere interview for the site because he treats blogging as a craft. On Living the Rom Com (as insiders refer to it), he consistently delivers thought-provoking essays in the spirit of film and cultural critics like David Denby and Maureen Dowd. His focus: contemporary and classic films, books, cultural trends, the writing craft, and dating, all seen through the lens of that genre we call "romantic comedy".

Keep reading to view his tips to newbie bloggers about finding a focus and building an audience.

On to the interview:

How long have you been blogging?

Nearly 2 and a half years. I started in June of 2005.

What got you interested in starting your own blog, Living the Romantic Comedy?

There was a lot of it going around. I felt like I was already late to an ongoing party. Others writers spoke of having blogs as if it was an obvious necessity, like a cyber-business card: Here are my loafers and this is my blog.

How did you develop your voice -- the tone, the topic and the style for your posts?

The voice and the tone and the style of the posts is just… me. The general topic for the blog (romantic comedy on screen and in real life) was a more deliberate choice, though it was a logical outgrowth from my book and my being a screenwriting teacher and consultant. The blogs I liked the most were usually ones where a specific territory had been mapped out, so I did want some boundaries. I wanted a net on the tennis court.

From where do you draw inspiration for your blog posts?

What’s that old quote, one out of ten is a line that falls from the ceiling? The best is when something happens to you in the day, some passion is ignited, some toe gets stepped on – you’re already hepped up and talking about it, whether aloud or in your mind, so it becomes a post, fait accompli, before you even consciously think that. But to be honest, half the time I’m reacting to what’s already in the media and what my fellow creative creatures are doing. Something in the morning paper makes me spill my coffee, a song or scene or sentence I come upon becomes a happy obsession. I suppose what most easily gets my motor going is a little explosion of thought and emotion occurring at a new intersection of art and culture – something that feels like news, and raises questions.

What was your biggest challenge in taking to blogging?

The loneliness of the newbie was daunting. You go through a period where you really are just talking to yourself. There were days, when I hadn’t yet established some kind of an audience, when it would’ve been easy to just go “f—k it, I’m outta here,” take my toys and go home.

What's your favorite aspect of blogging?

Tough question, as for me it’s been a case of duck to water: I just like the entire process. I like the “a-ha!” that can happen when I’m in the middle of writing a post. I like stumbling into jokes. I like making the connections – the linking is fun. Also big fun is trolling the web for images and stealing them to illustrate the posts. That’s chocolate, it’s dessert. And then of course no writer who’s not a liar will have to admit that getting your comments is great. We’re whores for any evidence that we’re being read.

Least favorite?

I edit my posts obsessively, and nonetheless, no matter how anal I can be, some little typo or misuse of word pops up when I re-read it a day later – drives me crazy. And (don’t hate me, blogosphere) but I’ll confess that sometimes just HAVING a blog can be an energy drain. I like it when I’m doing it, but getting to it is often tough because there’s only so many hours in the day.

How has blogging changed your work life?

Well, now I have a deadline every week that never used to be there: Monday morning. I’ve pledged to post at least once a week, and I always post by the end of the weekend. So blogging has definitely increased my writing hours.

How about your personal life?

I’ll just note one issue: the question of “what can be public and what can be private?” Never had to think about it before, other than in the time-honored tradition of how fiction and autobiography perennially duke it out. It’s gratifying to have readers, however few, but a little odd to think in terms of a real-time “audience” out there. For example, since my girlfriend is a journalist, I protectively refer to her only by nickname, and there’s many a funny thing that’s happened to us or to me – wonderfully suitable for “romantic comedy” storytelling – that cannot be told on my blog so as not to publicly character-assassinate the guilty.

What impact has blogging had on your writing habits?

I think it’s been very good for my writing chops. I firmly believe that Hemingway’s years as a news-hound were the cornerstone of his genius; it makes perfect sense. Just as a firing squad can have a marvelous effect on one’s focus, that deadline thing – combined with the primal need to catch a reader’s attention and then hold onto it – can only help the writing. You stop being precious. You kill your own darlings with greater speed and accuracy, because you’ve only got this limited amount of time in this specific space to get your point across.

It’s great exercise. I credit blogging for having kept me in such good muscle tone that, when I had to take another pass at my novel for my editor months after having “finished it,” I was not only able to hit the ground running, I was able to get a serious set of revisions done in very little time.

Some professional writers think of blogging as "giving away the milk for free". Why don't you feel this way?

Oh, c’mon – Have a place to go every week where I can shoot my mouth off about whatever the hell I want, and have people listen and then respond almost immediately? That seems like a privilege and a luxury. Sure, it would be great to be paid for it. But when commerce isn’t involved, you have a freedom you wouldn’t otherwise enjoy.

Who are your favorite bloggers?

Out in the big blog world, it’s Glenn Greenwald – his daily Salon posts are required reading; the L.A. Weekly’s Another Green World is always good.

I think Neil Kramer over at Citizen of the Month set the bar for us under-the-radar bloggers. I’m fond of Tod Goldberg, Jen Winn (Law of Sympathy); an early favorite, the Purgatorian, is currently retired.

For screenwriting/movie stuff I regularly read Scott the Reader (Alligators in a Helicopter), Mystery Man on Film and Anne Thompson; for writing inspiration, Barbara Abercrombie’s Writing Time, and for laughs you never go wrong with Overheard in NY. The resource blogs I love (i.e. beautiful procrastination tools) are Bibi’s Box and Blue Tea.

Who are your favorite authors?

Way too many to list here, but I’ll cite Julio Cortazar as a lifetime influence and his sort-of-heir Roberto Bolano as a current fave; Chekhov remains my main man, with Tolstoy right behind. But if we’re talking blog-related writing, Pauline Kael is a sort of spiritual avatar.

What's the last book you read, and how did you find out about it?

I’m slowly working my way through an obscure treasure trove, Felix Feneon’s Novels in Three Lines, which is deliciously true to its title; I found it through a Sunday NY Times book review. And I’m currently re-reading Roth’s Zuckerman novels, in preparation for his just-published conclusion to that series (Exit Ghost).

Name something interesting or fun you found recently on a blog.

I’m infatuated with the photos (and concepts) on “if charlie parker was a gunslinger”, as it’s nothing BUT finds.

What's the most innovative thing you've seen online, period?

Now you’re making me think too hard. Those graphic parodies of movies done in 30 seconds starring bunnies over at Angry Alien Productions are pretty damn cool. Got anything faster and funnier?

Make one prediction about the future of publishing.

The present day typesetter refuses to die.

Share one piece of advice with people starting new blogs.

Find a piece of personal property – stake out a specific turf and more or less stick to it. And don’t go long.

What's on the horizon for you and for Living the Romantic Comedy?

We’re gonna hang in there at least until my novel comes out next April (if that really tanks, I may slip off into the cyber-shadows). But specifically in terms of concept and content… I’ve been wanting to get a “Romantic Comedy Classics” series going, where I study and analyze some faves, maybe once a month or so. That, and naked ninja cat juggling contests. You never know what might develop.

Tell us a little about your favorite blog post (written by you).

Oh, Lord – I don’t have a “one favorite!” One that comes to mind in terms of personal history is called “Buckets of Rain”; I’m proud of the “My Romance in Amsterdam” series, as I believe it succeeds in mixing up real life and fiction in an unusual way; “Mythbusting: The Good Writer and the Bad Execs” could serve as an example of my industry-related posts. For criticism, I think I did a pretty good Godard.

Thanks, Billy.

The Post Pub's picks for Best of Living the Romantic Comedy are:

Clouds in My Coffee #3: The Lost Diane Keaton Tapes - About Billy's experiences vocal coaching Diane Keaton on an unreleased album
This Cliche Must Die - Why must romantic comedies include the obligatory airport scene?
Wanted: Romantic Comedy Heroines (Or Not?) - Are the new "macho" rom coms expressing male fears about strong career women?

Comments

Great interview Kristen Havens,

Love how you'd lob a question over the proverbial volleyball net, and Billy would spike it back with a dazzling zinger. Having read his blogs AND responces for a little over a year that's how I see him handle all the monkeys who dare visit his blog. But I would also like to note, Billy does respond to all who do post on his site.

The boy'z got wit, I tell ya. The boy'z got wit.

Found out about this place through a link on Billy's site. Look forward to checking in from time to time for more witty interviews.

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

Posted by: E.C. Henry | October 13, 2007 at 05:39 PM

Thanks for a great interview! Billy, we love you and your Living the Rom Com blog! I couldn't imagine life without it. And I plan to visit this blog often, too --- a girl has to have a place to go when procrastinating :) I always learn something that helps me with my writing. Thanks Billy, Barbara and all the amazing writer/bloggers!

Posted by: debbieb | October 21, 2007 at 06:21 PM