How to Become a Sitcom Writer

Are you the type of person who watches a sitcom on television and thinks, "I could write funnier stuff than this?" Well, since most sitcoms are pretty lame and void of intellect, you probably could. The even better news, is that there is a lot of money to be made as a sitcom writer. An average sitcom writer makes about $15,000 per half hour episode. Imagine how much you would make if the show was actually a hit. So, how does one become a sitcom writer? Well, in this article I will go over the basic steps to becoming a sitcom writer.

Read Other Scripts: Before you start writing your own script, read the scripts to other popular sitcoms. You can find scripts to shows like Seinfeld, South Park, and The Simpsons easily online. Develop a good understanding of how a script is written. Notice that most sitcoms have an A-plot and a B-plot. Also, observe how many acts and scenes are within the script. There's a pretty standard formula to sitcom writing, and it should be easy to pick up after you read a couple scripts.

Write a Spec Script: A spec script is a sample script. It's how you show off you're talents. You see, you're going to need to prove yourself as a writer, and the best way to do that is by writing an original script for a sitcom that already exists. Why would you write a script for a sitcom that already exists? Because people are already familiar with the sitcom, so there's no need to explain who the characters are, or the basic premise of the show. Make sure that you pick a sitcom that has been on the air for about 3 to 5 seasons. Any less than 3 seasons, and show might not be popular enough. Any more than 5 seasons, and the show is outdated.