Being funny can be a tough job, and if you want to become a comedy writer, you should be prepared to do a lot of legwork. You will not need any specific level of education in order to become a comedy writer, but you will need to have keen writing skills; these can be developed through high school classes or college coursework if you are not yet confident in your writing abilities. Various writing workshops may also be an option. Once you feel confident in your writing skills, the real hard work will begin.
You will need to become a student of comedy. This means you will need to research other comedians and comedy writers, not to mention hone your own skills as a comedic writer. Many comedic writers will try their hands at stand-up comedy or work with a comedy troupe to develop a sense of comedic timing and relevant jokes. If you want to become a comedy writer, it is a good idea to find groups or organizations that will help you practice and develop your skills, often in front of an audience. Some of the highest concentrations of opportunities for comedic writers are in large cities, particularly U.S. cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
Writing as often as possible is a great way to hone your skills to become a comedy writer as well. If you are trying to break into this highly competitive market, you will need to have plenty of writing samples to show a potential employer. Writing scripts is a great way to showcase your writing talents; be sure to write for the appropriate audience as well. If, for example, you are trying to get a job writing for a sitcom, you should have one or more sample scripts that you have written in sitcom form ready for a potential reader. Movie writers should prepare a movie script, or have other types of writing credits to their name.
Internships are sometimes offered by film or television studios, and these positions are great ways to learn more about the industry. Do not expect to get hired for an internship and immediately find a successful career awaiting you; rather, think of this time as an opportunity to learn and to develop important relationships in the industry.
