Writing for Performance

Like much of the internet, many of the sites featured in this chapter are American. But it's not only the US that can produce sites overflowing with good advice, contacts and information. This British site proves the point.


As it's title suggests, this site has something for writers of any field of performed writing and you'll find this a helpful site whether you write, or want to write, for the television, radio, cinema or stage. However, the best section is the Television section. Occasionally, it becomes a portal site. It links you to the cream of a number of other sites, which appear without you actually leaving the Writing For Performance site. It's all simply designed, but attractive, which means that when you click the links down the right of every page, it loads fast, which we always approve of.


SPECIAL FEATURES


Television Robin Kelly, who runs the site, writes mostly situation comedy, so this section is exclusively dedicated to this especially tricky form of writing.


For starters, there's a complete guide to writing a situation comedy. Then there's a list of the top twenty places in Britain to send your completed script to. The Central Television Sitcom Workshop is a short page that describes, almost minute by minute what your episode should consist of, while Creating Comedy Characters speaks for itself. There are also a number of interviews with top writers of the genre, analysis of how the Americans create their situation comedies and a close look at the sitcom 'Friends'.


Film Small collection of links. David Zucker's 15 rules to writing comedy are a must. The Award Nominated Screenplays list Oscar nominees, but more importantly there are links to where the official books, and sometimes the scripts themselves, can be bought.


Radio There's an introduction to writing drama, information of what producers are looking for, which is essential if you are planning to sell your work and a guide to writing radio drama for the BBC, which is dated 1997, but is still relevant today.


Stage Read the lengthy book by Jerome K. Jerome, written in 1888 about the craft of writing dram for the stage. For a slightly more up to date view, Arnold Wesker's guide is there too.


Other Features There is a large collection of links under the Resources heading that include discussion lists, Industry News, places to pitch your work online and a list of templates that help you set out your writing properly.


You will also find a list of writing courses, recommended books. And various other more than useful links.