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Dear John

Comedy writers - a dying breed?

First published 17th February 2005

Question:
I am an actor who has been dabbling in comedy writing over the past few years, with enough success to keep me trying but not so much that I couldn't use a bit of advice or even just the chance to swap ideas with other writers over a coffee. Most of the people in my local writing group aren't comedy orientated and unlike actors, writers seem to live quite solitary lives. I've read and enjoyed all the UK comedy writing books - including your own - but I want to keep learning and most of the remaining material available is very US-based. Increasingly it seems like most of the comedy performers on TV or radio write their own material, so is the UK comedy writer a dying breed? And if not where can the species be located?

Answer:
Rumours of the death of British comedy writing are much exaggerated. You will find a very lively and talented bunch of fellow writers among the membership of The British Society of Comedy Writers, an organisation which, while it contains some of the leading lights of what you rightly say can be a solitary business, is also very welcoming of newcomers.

A particular event to mark in your diary is their annual comedy conference. You can find the details at the society's website - www.bscw.co.uk