This new series I'm going to be posting segments of every now and then is pretty self-explanatory. In Writing Tips from Around the Web, I'm going to collect writing resources and advice from all over the internet on a different topic each post. This week, we're looking at Sitcom Writing. 1) Sitcom GeekSitcom Geek is just what it sounds, a website dedicated to sitcoms, and more specifically the writing of them. It's written by James Cary, a professional writer who co-created Bluestone 42 and has worked on Miranda, so the guy really knows what he's talking about. The information available ranges from advice on structure, character and outlining to advice and information on the actual business of sitcom writing (where to send your script, etc.) If you want to write a sitcom, basically everything on there is worth reading. Since he's British, he refers mainly to the conventions of British sitcom. Here are some of his posts that I think are good general introductions to the blog: 13 Rules of Sitcom Outlining Your Sitcom Script Writing Original Dialogue: Part 1 Part 2 2) The BBC Writers' RoomThis specific page I've linked to above is the BBC's genre toolkit for sitcom, and it links to a page where you can read scripts for several BBC sitcoms. This is really useful because a) the genre toolkit tells you what a specific production company thinks makes a good sitcom, and b) reading scripts is important to get a feel for pacing and layout and formatting. The Writers' Room in general has good advice on developing a TV show/script, although it's mostly not specific to sitcom. 3) Guardian Article- 'How to Write Comedy: Writing Sitcom'I don't really know what to say about this article except go read it. There's some tips and advice about getting to know your characters and avoiding cliches, so it's a good overview of things to remember when writing a sitcom. 4) Simon Dunn, 'Sitcom Writing Advice'This article is really useful. Dunn outlines the many elements of sitcom writing- knowing your characters, structure, dialogue, rewriting- and provides plenty of examples to demonstrate his points. He also points to shows that he thinks are useful to watch and analyse to learn more about the craft; for example, he says that Dad's Army is a good example of an ensemble cast. 5) British vs American ComedyIt's a well known fact that British and American comedy differs hugely. You only need to compare the two versions of The Office to see that, and although you can enjoy both you need to think about which you're going for, and where your show would be produced. Here's a few different discussions on British vs American humour. A.V. Club, 'The Difference between British and American Comedy Might Be Optimism' Forum thread on The Escapist: The Real Difference between British and American Sitcoms What Culture, 'Are British Sitcoms Really Better Than American Sitcoms?' And Finally, 6) Netflix and Amazon VideoI'm not even kidding. If you want to write a sitcom, you need to know how they work, and the reading above is going to be incredibly helpful for that, but also just watching sitcoms is important. If you want to write a pilot, watch pilots from several different sitcoms and make notes on how they introduce the characters. If you want to tighten the structure of your show, watch a few episodes of different sitcoms and try to outline the structure of them to see how it works practically. If you want to write a mockumentary, watch shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation and make notes on how they use the form. Do your own studying to really think critically about how sitcoms work, and that will be hugely beneficial for you in your writing. Good Luck!Image from: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/news/a44359/friends-inconsistencies-continuity-problems-loopholes/
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