• Writing
• Online
• £250 - £350

Course leader

Sitcom Mission

Since 2010 Sitcom Mission has produced an international sitcom writing competition. Our main focus has always been on what we do best - script development. And so that we can help even more people to understand how sitcoms work and get their script written, we now offer this Sitcom Writing Course!

So here's your chance to finally get that sitcom you've been thinking about into a finished script in a little over a month. AND you'll get to hear it read aloud by actors.

Just think of it - you'll be the most beautiful, respected, powerful and well-loved writer in the field. Better get started.

If you're like most of the developing writers we speak to, you'll have one or more excellent sitcom ideas but right now, can't find the time to make it happen. Or perhaps you keep coming up against the same stumbling blocks.

We've carefully developed this course to include:

• 🔧 Tools to help you develop all aspects of your idea
• ☁️ Concepts to break through mental blocks
• 📺 Classic & current sitcom examples
• 🗣️ In class activities & feedback
• 📜 Key information documents to come back to again and again
• 🏋️ Manageable exercises to work on at home
• 🥳 All leading to your finished sitcom script.

And here's some feedback from our current cohort:

"I just wanted to let you know that the course is absolutely brilliant and already exceeded my expectations. In the first hour, I got so much value that it was worth the money…I got clarity on my first 4 characters just in one session. I’m very grateful for it."

There are a lot of books & interviews on comedy and sitcom writing out there (we've read most of them), but we've found every time the quickest way to get your sitcom written is consistent, short guided bursts with a group of people all trying to do the same thing.

As a result, this course is made up of 6 x 2.5 hour group classes on Tuesday nights 6.30pm - 9.00pm.

AND to ensure that we can help people all around the country and even outside of the UK we host these classes on Zoom! Hopefully this makes writing your sitcom even more effortless.

Over the 6 weeks we cover:

Week 1: Character

Week 2: Character Mix

Week 3: Dialogue

Week 4: Exposition, Settings, Starting & Editing

Week 5: Structure & Tools for Plots

Week 6: Table read of your Sitcom

What will I get from the course?

Your ideas brought to life and a 15 minute sitcom script ready to go. You'll also learn the tools to develop it further and write scripts whenever you like.

An additional bonus is that you can then enter your 15 minute script into the Sitcom Mission competition and be in with the chance of showcasing it in front of comedy production companies and commissioners.

How do I know I'll end up with a sitcom?

We break down this process into simple manageable activities and give you tools to break out of any procrastination or unhelpful thoughts that have stopped you in the past. Lawrence will also offer additional calls and email support to ensure you get it done.

How long will it take?

A little over a month. We find that consistently meeting up online, being given simple tasks and all working towards the same goal is often the perfect way to get out of your head and finally get your ideas into a finished script. In 6 weeks time your script will be ready!

What's expected of me?

Very little when you think about it - the key thing is that we'll be there guiding you with short focused tasks. Every week, for the first 4 weeks, there'll be a 30 minute activity to explore some of the tools that you've learned. You can also take the opportunity to apply the learnings to your own sitcom script.

After week 5 you'll be ready to tweak and finalise those 15 pages of your own script. 15 (formatted) pages really isn't much at all. Usually the hardest thing is cutting it down! It will likely take a bit longer than 30 minutes to write this draft, but you'll have 7 days and will hopefully be adding to your script in the weeks running up to it.

Who's teaching the course?

Lawrence Russell - Co-producer of Sitcom Mission competition

Lawrence is an actor/writer with credits including (Mood, BBC; Trying, Apple TV; The People We Hate At The Wedding, Amazon Prime). He has also adapted classic comedies for comedy dinner shows and toured his own comedy around the UK to No. 2 Theatre Venues. Currently, he’s working on a series of shorts with lead writers from Fraggle Rock and Bob The Builder. 

Lawrence has spent years working with and learning from Sitcom Mission co-producer Simon Wright to produce the Sitcom Mission course. With Simon's 10,000 scripts worth of experience and the hundreds of scripts Lawrence has personally read and given feedback on, there’s a lot we’re looking forward to sharing with you.

This course is for you if you:

• haven't written a sitcom before
• have an idea but haven't pieced it together
• have written sitcoms before but have a new idea
• have written your sitcom but want to tweak it

This course is not of you if you:

• have had sitcoms optioned/produced.*

*Part of the course is the fundamentals of sitcom writing - a lot of which you will probably know. However, if you're comfortable with this, want a refresh and would like the activities and deadlines, we'd love to have you involved!