Writing situation comedy is hard. There are, happily, plenty of things you can do to make writing your sitcom easier, giving yourself the best chance of successfully completing a solid first draft.
Writing professionally is as much a test of endurance as it is of skill. Here are some things to bear in mind when it gets difficult, and you need some help and encouragement.
Goals goals goals. All writers need something to aim for, but self-motivation in particular can be a strain. Here we look at setting and achieving goals in the creation of comedy.
Finishing a script can be far more challenging than starting one. Finishing your work might feel like an almighty task, but it is also essential... and it can be done.
All but the most heightened, rarest of creative geniuses will experience writer's block - or at least admit to it. But how to get past that empty page, glaring, mockingly back at you? That is the real mark of a writer in control.
Deadlines. For every writer, they can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. Whatever the case, they're an essential part of the comedy writing job, so here's some advice from us on how to deal with deadlines.
If you've decided that you want to be a comedy writer, or if you're already some way down the road to becoming one, you're going to need loads of ideas. But where can you get them from, and what do you need to do once you've thought one up?
Inspiration is often talked about as if it's the main problem facing comedy creatives. Inspiration is a red herring; what you need are commitment and discipline...
Simon Nicholls, the creator of Falmouth University's flexible online Master's course in Comedy Writing, discusses what you should do in the early stages of a comic idea; before you type your first word.
