British Comedy Guide

Notes / reviews / rejection

Comedy creators sadly must regularly deal with bad news, and process feedback. Here's some advice in that area.

Post It notes

How to spot good notes

  • Tuesday 3rd October 2023

Spotting good notes is a crucial ability for any writer. Here's how to do it.

Red correction pencil

Producer says no: dealing with rejection

  • Monday 11th September 2023

In this piece, we discuss rejection and how to respond to it.

Chloe Radcliffe. Credit: Andrew Levy

It will get worse (and that is good)

  • Friday 28th July 2023

US comic Chloe Radcliffe provides a healthy dose of the reality of a career in comedy: ups, downs, and putting them into perspective for your long term benefit and mental health.

Illustration of an angry woman pulling her hair in frustration

Coping with rejection

  • Friday 6th January 2023

Rejection. Everyone faces it - and, in particular, all writers face it. It's not pleasant, and it's not easy, but it is something any budding comedy writer - as well as any budding actor, performer, producer or director - will have to deal with.

Mental Health

Mental health: how not to be crushed by creative career despair

  • Friday 3rd December 2021

As you already know on some level, the life of the comedian, comedy writer or producer/director necessarily comes with fabulous highs and lows. Here's some advice on how to deal with the lows.

The Secret Reviewer

The Secret Reviewer #26: We didn't say that

  • Saturday 1st May 2021

Every month our clandestine critic reveals the murky truths behind that infamous trade, and live comedy generally. This month: Sometimes anger is aimed at the wrong target.

Robert Popper

BCG Pro Sessions video: Robert Popper

  • Sunday 25th April 2021

An hour-long video with top comedy writer, script editor, producer and performer Robert Popper. He chats about creating Friday Night Dinner, his writing process, and many other topics.

Heart in hands image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

Giving and receiving notes

  • Wednesday 21st April 2021

Feedback and suggestions appear at every step of the writing, producing or pitching processes. In this article we talk about the best ways to both give and receive notes.

Harry Venning

Harry Venning: Dog turned lamppost

  • Tuesday 14th April 2020

Harry Venning explains how he used to rip sitcoms apart in his job as a TV reviewer. However, when he brought Clare In The Community to Radio 4, he then realised what it was like to be on the other side of things.

Gabby Hutchinson Crouch

Gabby Hutchinson Crouch: Don't kill your darlings, just rehome them

  • Friday 12th July 2019

Gabby Hutchinson Crouch talks about how a lot of a comedy writer's life involves rejection, but how you shouldn't give up but instead look for new mediums for your characters.