Writing for TV? Am I crazy?

December 28, 2006 4:37 AM

How can I get into writing for (British) television?

I'm currently studying Maths at university, but I'm coming fairly close to thinking "hey, I don't want to actually earn any money, I want to write for TV!" I've been making short films for 4-5 years now, entered a few competitions and even managed to win one, so although my degree might not be relevant, I do have some experience. Would the fact I'm not doing some sort of writing degree be a disadvantage, or would the maths help me stand out from the media studies crowd? Or does it not matter at all?

I've read this previous thread as well as Jane Espenson's blog, but this (along with most of the other advice I have found) is fairly US-centric, and I was wondering if anyone could give a more British perspective.

posted by Orange Goblin to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

Viceroy Google provides the following from the BBC:

What qualifications do I need to be a sitcom writer?

This is a very difficult question to answer. Educationally speaking, there are no academic qualifications which will ensure you a job as a scriptwriter as it is a freelance business and you are only as good as the scripts you submit. However, it is worth stressing that there are one or two essential qualities a writer must have to succeed: writing is far more difficult than most beginners realise, depending as it does not only on a craftsman's skills (which can be learned) but also on an instinct for comedy (which cannot). A writer must also be fully prepared for the great disappointment of rejection and recognise that competition is always extremely fierce; how a writer responds to rejection is a very important part of their career development.

A more thorough source of information being the BBC Writersroom
posted by arruns at 4:53 AM on December 28, 2006

I believe it's immensely difficult. But the BBC site has lots of helpful stuff, like their New Talent site. A BBC site about script-writing is WritersRoom. I doubt they're terribly concerned, especially at the early stages, about your CV/degree etc. The sites seem to imply the system works by writers submitting screenplays, and the BBC selecting a tiny minority to be made. Of course, the BBC sites apply to the BBC's process, other broadcasters may have slightly different processes.

One major difference between the UK and US is that the US seems to have massive, regularly-changing teams of writers, at least for sitcoms, whereas in the UK 1 or 2 people come up with the idea and write everything for the series.

Bear in mind that many TV writers, especially in comedy, started in radio, where the risks/costs are lower so less mainstream scripts may be commissioned.
posted by matthewr at 4:57 AM on December 28, 2006

Have you checked out the BBC's "writersroom"? Channel 4 seems to suggest that contacting a production company would be a good idea. I don't think the degree will matter, from what I've heard from my brother (a journalist who has done a couple of those C4 "top best/worst" shows in the past) it's all down to who you know and whether you can get yourself noticed.

on preview - too slow with the BBC link
posted by TheDonF at 4:58 AM on December 28, 2006

Response by poster: Yeah, I should have mentioned that I've seen the writersroom site, but thanks. I hadn't thought of the radio route before - but does that apply more to comedy than anything else? I'm thinking Little Britain, Dead Ringers etc.
posted by Orange Goblin at 5:05 AM on December 28, 2006

BBC Radio 4 regularly broadcasts drama.
posted by TheDonF at 6:04 AM on December 28, 2006

Also, what about doing your own podcasts? Wikipedia's article on radio drama suggests it's a distinct possibility and would give you a global audience rather than just a UK one and therefore increase the possibility of getting something "official".
posted by TheDonF at 6:06 AM on December 28, 2006

Response by poster: TheDonF: yeah, I meant in terms of people launching TV shows from radio, all the examples I can think of are comedy. Podcasting is another idea I hadn't thought of, but that is partly because I am much more interested in (and better at) writing than performing.
posted by Orange Goblin at 6:47 AM on December 28, 2006

I meant launching your career as a TV writer via radio, rather than transferring a specific show from radio to TV.
posted by matthewr at 6:51 AM on December 28, 2006

1) A few year ago the usenet newsgroup misc.writing.screenplays once a good place to hang out and pick tips and tricks along the way. I haven't been there in ages so I have no idea about the signla/noise ratio. There is a moderated newsgroup as well.

2) in the US market, writer usually submit sample script for other shows (i.e. spin city script to Friends producers)

3) If you have not done so yet, WordPlay is the place to visit and read. Heard about a little movie called Shrek ? One half of the writing team behind that shares advice on all screewriting aspects.
posted by Baud at 6:55 AM on December 28, 2006

I know a couple of people who have found TV writing work after doing the TV Scriptwriting MA at De Montfort University (it took a couple of years in the case of one of them though).

So if you have major problems breaking into scriptwriting it might be worth looking at that course (other courses may be available, but De Montfort is the only one I know about).
posted by drill_here_fore_seismics at 7:59 AM on December 28, 2006

I did a week long writing for tv and radio course with the Arvon Foundaton* many years ago which was huge fun, hard work and led to an offer to develop the script I'd drafted while there. Things might have changed since then but I found it an excellent course. I see that it now costs £475 (yikes!) but if I was in the same position would defnitely look into it. Good luck!


* Courses for 2007 aren't yet on the website but you could give them a ring and request a brochure.
posted by ceri richard at 8:47 AM on December 28, 2006

Why don't you try and attach to any of the new writing producing Theatres like the Bush or Soho. That is how Laura Wade managed to break into TV writing.

Rod Hall are one of the biggest literary agents in the UK and they state that they are happy to read all submissions they get sent in.

I would also get in touch with the National Film School and connect and affiliate with the directors of tomorrow as these are going to be your peers afterall.

Lastly, I would join sites such as shooting people and start networking.

An MA would be useful as far as networking goes especially if you choose the course well. You want to be with people you are going to be working with and that involves going somewhere that backs this with its MA writing alumni list. Birmingham University is no.1 as this where David Edgar started a blazing trail but following a close second is York University where Mary Luckhurst can be found with a whole host of advisory team that just leaves me dribbling!

The course York is offering is MA in Writing and Performance
(Drama/Film/Television) which I think is what you would be after.

I should also mention C.S.S.D where I am currently doing my MA. They have got a MA writing for stage and broadcast media and they also offer a MA Theatre Practice which is composed of specialist strands and one of these strands is writing.

Do keep us informed and you never know I might end up working with you in a couple of years!

Sorry for the long post but the subject matter just gets me so enthused :p
posted by mycapaciousbottega at 11:07 AM on December 28, 2006