Writing That Sitcom

by James Cary

Writing That Sitcom is part handbook, part pep-talk, part intervention, helping you get your sitcom idea from your head and into the script. Working through developing characters and stories that jump off the page, Writing That Sitcom is a step-by-step guide which includes advice on generating ideas, writing original dialogue and editing your draft so that the script makes maximum impact when it’s pulled of a pile by a jaded but desperate development producer.
Crammed with plenty of practical and realistic suggestions, as well as chapters on writing for children and radio, this book is bursting with realistic advice from someone who’s actually been there and done it plenty of times. James Cary, writer of the popular Sitcomgeek blog, has co-written episodes of Miranda, Bluestone 42 and Another Case of Milton Jones. He has created sitcoms for BBC Radio 4, including Hut 33, Think the Unthinkable, and written episodes of existing sitcoms like My Family and My Hero.

“This seems a good moment to confess that many of the funniest things I’ve said on radio have been written by James Cary” - Milton Jones.

Genres: Comedy

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2015

Reviews

[Tom O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and comprehensive guide, has been a godsend in my own endeavours. Has a corresponding podcast series too which is well worth a listen. Particularly valuable for British writers.

[Matthew Mclane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latter parts of the book (about having your script commissioned and produced) wasn’t relevant to me at this time - and I assume won’t be relevant to many readers, although it’s the goal - but there were some brilliant tips throughout, with helpful comparisons to existing sitcoms and anecdotes from Cary’s TV and radio work.