Sitcom Geeks

20/09/2024

Excited that my new book Funny Up Your Fiction: How to Add Light, Shade and Laughs to Your Novel is out next Thursday and is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.

If you're hoping to make a living writing comedy sign up for my fortnightly newsletter (out tomorrow) and pick up your free copy of So You Want To Make A Living Writing Comedy?

Writer, comedian, Edinburgh Festival Perrier Award nominee, founder member of the Comedy Store Players...

14/09/2024

Funny Up Your Fiction: How to Add Light, Shade and Laughs to Your Novel is out on Thursday 26 September. Apologies for the weird temporary cover but it would be wonderful if you could pre-order it (and I promise the cover will be better on the day) and, assuming you enjoy it, give it a nice lil review or several stars on you-know-where...

Funny Up Your Fiction: How to Add Light, Shade and Laughs to Your Novel eBook : Cohen, Dave: Amazon.co.uk: Books

12/09/2024

What are the BBC looking for in a Comedy Drama script?
I interviewed BBC Writersroom Head of Development Simon Nelson:

A recording of the webinar in which Simon Nelson from BBC Writersroom talks about what sort of comedy dramas the BBC is looking for in the next BBC Writersroom Script Call Window.

11/09/2024

What is meant by the term "comedy drama"?

With the BBC Writersroom Open Call for scripts coming up in November, I've produced a guide to help you work out where your own style fits on the spectrum.

You can find it in my short book Build A Script - Writing Comedy for the British Market - which for just 24 hours is yours for nothing.

"There are few more experienced comedy writers than Dave. Take heed of his wise words." Jim Howick (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) What makes a brilliant comedy script? Compelling characters, great stories, funny jokes. This short entertaining book guides you through everything you need to prepare y...

10/09/2024

The BBC Call for DRAMA and COMEDY DRAMA scripts runs Tuesday 5 November to Tuesday 3rd December. Planning to enter? My book Build A Script - Writing Comedy for the British Market - is on offer for nowt, now.

"Brilliant, motivating book to get your script written"

"There are few more experienced comedy writers than Dave. Take heed of his wise words." Jim Howick (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) What makes a brilliant comedy script? Compelling characters, great stories, funny jokes. This short entertaining book guides you through everything you need to prepare y...

09/09/2024

Fancy entering the BBC Writersroom Open Call for Scripts at the end of the year? Later in the week I'll be blogging with lots of advice - plus a detailed interview with Development Producer Simon Nelson about what they're looking for.

Meantime for the next three days you can pick up Build A Script: Writing Comedy for the British Market for the princely sum of zero.

"There are few more experienced comedy writers than Dave. Take heed of his wise words." Jim Howick (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) What makes a brilliant comedy script? Compelling characters, great stories, funny jokes. This short entertaining book guides you through everything you need to prepare y...

07/09/2024

Can You Make a Living As a Comedy Writer? Yes...

Find out how - sign up for my newsletter - out at 630pm today

Writer, comedian, Edinburgh Festival Perrier Award nominee, founder member of the Comedy Store Players...

14/08/2024

🎵Summer's here
and the time is right 🎶..for deciding if now is a good time to think about planning to be a comedy writer.
My short book Ready, Steady... Joke! Why Hard Times are the Best Times to Build Your Writing Career is currently free...

“Dave knows his onions. In fact he can probably write jokes about onions. And they’ll have you crying with laughter (don’t worry he didn’t write that one).” Lee Mack In 2008 the world economy tanked.The entire financial system was 48 hours from collapse. What has any of that got to do with...

14/08/2024

Want to write comedy but worried what people will think of you? You're not alone...

If you can write, you can write funny.

08/08/2024

*Puts on US 70s Cop Show voice*
You've got just 24 hours left to pick up Stand Up, Barry Goldman for zilcho on Am*z*n.
I'm giving it away cos that Bezos guy needs a break
Barry Goldman: The Wilderness Years kindle currently just £2.99

Stand Up, Barry Goldman eBook : Cohen, David J: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

06/08/2024

Still ploughing through the "What to read this summer" sections?
Stand Up, Barry Goldman "funny and fascinating, a lovely tale" Jo Brand is currently free on Am*zon.
+ Barry Goldman: The Wilderness Years just £2.99.
Go on - save reading time and cash

Stand Up, Barry Goldman eBook : Cohen, David J: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

05/08/2024

First time I went to the Edinburgh Fringe was 1977, the summer of punk. How does it still hold such a sway on me?
Read about my longest love affair:

It's 40 years since my first professional appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe. I'm still hooked.

08/07/2024

Fancy an early evening writing burst?
I'll be playing good cop bad cop tomorrow night TUE 9 JULY 7pm BST, urging you to crack on with whatever's been holding you back and praising if you succeed.
For tough love, laughs and solid writing time details email [email protected]

05/07/2024

What hope for comedy writers in this new media landscape?

I've written about my minuscule contribution to Labour's manifesto and what the win could mean for our industry.

New newsletter out tomorrow (Saturday) evening. Sign up here

Writer, comedian, Edinburgh Festival Perrier Award nominee, founder member of the Comedy Store Players...

21/06/2024

Folks might be interested in last of three articles I've written about the lack of sitcoms on our TV screens. Long story short: sitcoms are very very risk and can crash and burn horribly. And many production companies simply can't take that risk and have little incentive to do so.

How Sitcom is a Risky Business

14/06/2024

If you're interested in why there just aren't many mainstream sitcoms on the telly right now - compared to the 70s and 80s - here's a reason, plus a cute picture of another endangered species. Can you guess what it is?

The ecosystem of situation comedies

31/05/2024

Lots of existential questions about mainstream situation comedy - especially the studio sort. I think we've lost our way in terms of the balance between art and entertainment:

And what I would have said to all those comedy commissioners.

12/03/2024

Hey folks. James Cary here. Was thinking about doing some more one-off pay-what-you-like webinar classes but would be interested to know that you'd like me to cover. So I've got nine options that you can vote up or down here. I'd love to know what sort of thing you're wanting me to cover (if anything!):

Help us turn these opinions into a stack ranked list by voting to show what's most important to you.

08/03/2024

How do you market your fiction? How about setting up your own local Book Festival? Sign up for my author newsletter (out tomorrow) and find out how I did it - and how I did.

Author of Stand Up, Barry Goldman

26/02/2024

If you're planning to enter one of the many current sitcom script competitions with looming deadlines don't forget to join me this evening for a live webinar with Ten Top Tips For Your First Ten Pages 730pm GMT

Two competitions in March - BAFTA Rocliffe and David Nobbs Memorial - are asking for the first ten pages of your sitcom. Time is tight - find out the fastest way to delivering scripts that jump off the page and into the final with top comedy writer Dave Cohen

25/02/2024

Fancy entering the BAFTA sitcom script competition? All you need is 10 pages of funny script. Join me for a live webinar tomorrow 7pm GMT

Two competitions in March - BAFTA Rocliffe and David Nobbs Memorial - are asking for the first ten pages of your sitcom. Time is tight - find out the fastest way to delivering scripts that jump off the page and into the final with top comedy writer Dave Cohen

23/02/2024

Wannabe a BAFTA winning comedy writer? There are four competitions with looming deadlines including BAFTA's own. How do you write the best ten page script in the time available? Join me for a free webinar to find out how next Monday, 26th February, at 7pm GMT.

Two competitions in March - BAFTA Rocliffe and David Nobbs Memorial - are asking for the first ten pages of your sitcom. Time is tight - find out the fastest way to delivering scripts that jump off the page and into the final with top comedy writer Dave Cohen

02/02/2024

"So Dave... what's got two thumbs up and just got their first radio credit? Yes! Twas me! Thanks for all your support along the way, your advice has been super helpful!"
Thanks Mike! Sign up for my newsletter (out tomorrow) and learn more about how to pick up radio comedy writing credits.

Writer, comedian, Edinburgh Festival Perrier Award nominee, founder member of the Comedy Store Players...

24/01/2024

What's the one truth that hasn't changed since I began writing comedy for a living 40 years ago? It's that the quickest way to start is to pick up Radio writing credits. Here's last night's webinar telling you exactly how.

There's two new series you can try writing for in February. If you want to try now, or want to work with me to plan for the autumn 2024 season, email me [email protected]

It's still the fastest way to kick start your comedy writing career. Find out how here.

22/01/2024

Are you hoping to pick up your first radio comedy writing credit this year? Or are you not sure you're ready to dive in yet?
Join me and top radio writers Dan Sweryt and Ellie Hayward tomorrow evening to find out what to do next - for details email [email protected]

Writer, comedian, Edinburgh Festival Perrier Award nominee, founder member of the Comedy Store Players...

17/01/2024

I'm going completely against what everyone else in the UK comedy industry is currently saying and Hereby Declare that 2024 will mark The Return of Sketch Shows.

Sign up to my fortnightly newsletter (out this Saturday) including details of how to access Dave's Random Sketch Generator™

Writer, comedian, Edinburgh Festival Perrier Award nominee, founder member of the Comedy Store Players...

09/01/2024

As we bid farewell to "Happy New Year" as our email subject message here's the last chance to pick up your gratis copy of Ready, Steady Joke - Why Hard times are the Best Times to Build Your Writing Career. Offer ends tomorrow 0800 GMT

“Dave knows his onions. In fact he can probably write jokes about onions. And they’ll have you crying with laughter (don’t worry he didn’t write that one).” Lee Mack In 2008 the world economy tanked.The entire financial system was 48 hours from collapse. What has any of that got to do with...

08/01/2024

Sketch shows are back!

How do you come up with ideas? By using my Random Sketch Generator™ of course. Join me this Thursday 7pm GMT for a short but fun guide to coming up with TONS of ideas:

A Zoom webinar at 7pm on Thursday 11th January in which Dave Cohen will talk about generating sketches.

06/01/2024

Happy New Year! Want to develop your career as a comedy writer?

Bad news: it's going to take a while. Good news: this book telling you how is currently yours for free.

Ready, Steady Joke! Why Hard Times Are the Best Times to Build Your Writing Career (offer closes 0800 GMT Wednesday 10 Jan)

“Dave knows his onions. In fact he can probably write jokes about onions. And they’ll have you crying with laughter (don’t worry he didn’t write that one).” Lee Mack In 2008 the world economy tanked.The entire financial system was 48 hours from collapse. What has any of that got to do with...

05/01/2024

Fed up with the Happy New You Resolution Make 2024 Great Again pep talk that'll be forgotten by the end of next week?

Here's a chance to think about the future at your leisure: my recent short book Ready Steady Joke! Why Hard Times are the Best Times to Build Your Writing Career - is packed with advice about planning your comedy writing career for the long term. And it's absolutely zilcho gratis nowt for a limited period:

“Dave knows his onions. In fact he can probably write jokes about onions. And they’ll have you crying with laughter (don’t worry he didn’t write that one).” Lee Mack In 2008 the world economy tanked.The entire financial system was 48 hours from collapse. What has any of that got to do with...