British Comedy Guide
James Cary
James Cary

James Cary

  • 49 years old
  • English
  • Writer and script editor

Press clippings Page 5

Habits of highly effective writers #3: making notes

Writers don't just write. They read. They listen.

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 30th December 2020

Habits of Highly Effective Writers #2: Listening

Ingest more books. Make time to read them. Listen to them. Buy some decent wireless headphones and listen to more proper books.

Sitcom Geek, 29th December 2020

Habits of highly effective writers #1: reading

If you want the year ahead to be a better year writing-wise, consider changing some of your habits.

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 28th December 2020

What's the difference between sitcom & comedy drama?

It sounds like the step up to a joke, doesn't it? Ask three different people and you'll get three different answers. But this stuff really matters if you're trying to write one and don't know how to get the tone and balance right.

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 22nd December 2020

Are you writing fan fiction rather than a sitcom?

You're basically in love with the form, and so you try to create your own. This is where a lot of people start, and I did this. In fact, fan fiction is technically writing something from an existing universe...

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 17th December 2020

What makes a truly great sitcom?

If you're not a comedian who appears on panel games and chat shows, if you're a writer starting out, if you don't have a YouTube Channel with a million subscribers (which still wouldn't be enough), if you don't have a Twitter hander with a million followers, you need to write a pilot script for a sitcom that has to have a reason to exist now. It's all about timing.

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 16th December 2020

Mistakes in the 1st ten pages of your sitcom script: 5

Mistake 5: You're writing a series of vignettes, not a sitcom.

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 21st March 2019

What makes a truly great sitcom?

I was asked this question the other day. (Actually it was on the private Facebook group for Patreon Subscribers for Sitcom Geeks. One of the perks of supporting the podcast): What makes a truly great sitcom?

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 4th March 2019

The Sacred Art Of Joking by James Cary review

Much comedy output comes with the disclaimer: "Not for the easily offended." But that's precisely who SHOULD be reading this book about how jokes can backfire.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 18th January 2019

5 mistakes in first pages of your sitcom script: 4

You're writing a panel game, not a sitcom.

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 12th December 2018

Share this page