Writing a sitcom?

Question

Im writing a sitcom and have come up with all the characters but I am struggling to come up with any storylines/situaqtions.Can you please tell me how other sitcom writers comeup with ideas for episodes?

Answer 1

Well, they do say write what you know about...your workplace for instance? Or a leisure centre you do to, cinema, pub/bar where you shop? Or do you know any 'Characters'? People whose view on life seen slightly off-line to the rest of us? Go people watching in town, all human life is out there you'll see things that will make you laugh, and you hear snippets of conversations......I once heard two old ladies on a bus, discussing the demise of another ladies husband, the one said, What did he die of, do you know? The other lady said, No...but i know it was nothing serious! The thing is, you KNOW what she means!
Listen to plays on the radio, take a script writing/creative writing course, go to the library, think of a place/s where your characters could meet every week - pub/cafe/hospital waiting room, park bench - the more public, the wider and more diverse characters and jokes you can incorporate in your show
Good luck - and if need be, you can use that story!

Answer 2

I've been (trying to) write sitcoms for a while. I've sent various ones off to agents/TV companies etc, but the best feedback I've received on my scripts comes from critiquing agencies. Some of them can be a bit pricey, but the best one I've found is:

http://www.real-writers.com/

For about £30ish they'll review your script and give good advice where you're going wrong.

When I first started out, I thought that you had to write about "normal-ish" characters so people can relate to them, but from the feedback I get, I'm often told that Production Companies often want "the-wackier-the-better" type situations that will appeal to a wide audience (see Andy Milman's struggle in Extras).

Writing an episode of something revolves two aspects: 1 is good characters who are strong enough that they'll almost write the script for you and can hold their own in any given situation. 2 is the story - the story involves a begining, middle and an end. You have to know where you're starting, how it all ends and how your charcters get there.

I used to think that "a story" was the most complicated part. But if you watch a few sitcoms (old an new) you'll often find that the "story" is the most simple of plots. An old episode of Porridge revolved around a missing pot of pills while even The Office revolved around finding out who sent a dodgy email about Brent in one episode.

You might also want to try any of the Writer's Handbooks. You can get them from Amazon (I think the 2007 eddition has just come out, but even the old ones have good advice on writing and structure)

Good luck! And keep at it, I could wallpaper the living room with all my rejection letters, but I'm still not giving up (maybe I just don't take the hint?)

Answer 3

even however your sitcom is teenager based, it could charm to ALL factors of an objective marketplace, in any different case it does no longer be aired brought about by it being biased. 12 thirty minute episodes is going to require a large variety of innovative enter as a fashion to make it "artwork". it could no longer sound like plenty, yet 10 seconds on movie is a life-time if no longer something is happening. tips on filming and modifying: a million continuously use tripods to stable the cameras. Roving digital camera photos do no longer artwork. 2 exchange digital camera attitude usually. Have verify out an episode of "acquaintances", time 2 minutes and count variety how many circumstances the digital camera attitude differences. you would be greatly surprised. 3 solid sound high quality is a could. 4 continuously, continuously use a narrative board and persist with it. a narrative board is the entire episode in image variety. It lists each and all the digital camera angles, lighting fixtures and various the action. this would help whilst it comprises modifying. 5 PPPPP ( previous making plans Prevents poor overall performance) 6 be certain a optimal budget and persist with it. 7 high quality, no longer quantity. in case you run out of fabric for 12 episodes, do purely 6 or 5 and save the familiar extreme. desire this facilitates.

Answer 4

You take one of your characters and try to think of a funny situation to find them in, i.e. a nerdy character judging a beauty contest. Then you need to think of what events may have led to them being there and how the other characters may have somehow influenced this situation. Basically you start at the end, with the final 'punch line' and work your way back.
Good luck with your show. Let me know if you need anything more.

Answer 5

think about your own experiences or just general situations in life i.e. first date, getting married, high school prom, first day of college, sunday dinner with the family etc

Answer 6

i think they get ideas from various sources.... you need to write about characters that aren't too wacky - people like to be able to relate to characters they watch on screen....