so , I've written a few sketches.....

Advice please, for me and probably others, I suspect. I am totally new to this funny stuff and really need someone to give me a clue and a bit of direction, so here we go.

I've written the 3 sketches that I've made everyone read (sorry about that!) and they've been kind and encouraging and made me want to crack on. What I need to know is this -

Do I keep turning them out and punting them out? If so how many does one send out to a company at a time?

Should I be looking to join a group? I live in the country (between Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, Kent) and am not aware of a group in my area. Any ideas?

Should I try to attend courses? Like most folk I'm skint and so unless they really cut it I can't justify the money or time (I have an animal sanctuary).

Finally, should I try to get my teeth into a good comedy writing book and follow it to the letter? If so can anyone recommend any?

I'd rather like to be rich by Monday week so please do reply!!!!

Many thanks, Marion.

Hi Marion, that sounds like a lot new to writing people - looking for a quick way into it. Well all are.

I have a few books that have helped me before, I wouldn't go on a course as they do try to give you rules that get disproved almost instantly and they are usually run by people who have never achieved what they preach.

But the most important thing is to keep writing, writing, writing. The opportunities for sketches are when competitions are run (and usually listed here). Or if you have the relevant skills, try recording a podcast or sketch and hope it gets picked up.

Research producers too. You'll have to acquire those research skills (ie internet).

What do you want to do? Sketches, sitcoms?

Quote: ContainsNuts @ October 16, 2007, 3:45 PM

But the most important thing is to keep writing, writing, writing.

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As a quick piece of advice, this is what I was going to say.

thanks for that, ContainsNuts .... er .... is that what I'm meant to call you?!!! Anyhow, back to the question.

I think that, like most comedy writers, I want to write a sitcom at some point. I think that writing sketches is probably very good practice and, should you get noticed then gives you a foot on the ladder. Having said that, I'm loving this sketch stuff. No hardship there.

When you say research producers do you mean find out what makes them laugh and what they work on? If you can do that it's gotta help I suppose?

I can't record a podcast etc, so that won't happen. Brill idea and I've laughed at a lot of other people's work but I just don't know anything about such things.

In fact, I'm not new to writing at all and fully understand your point of writing till your fingers drop off. What I am is totally new to writing comedy for tv etc.

It seems to me that it's much the same as trying to put out other type of written material and competitions are important there, too. You just have to keep on keeping on.

What books would you recommend?

Do you submit to more than one company at the same time with the same material?

Thanks for that helpful feed back. It's nice to learn stuff without too many hard knocks!