Punching Up with Sean Conroy

Decoding Your Sitcom Pilot's DNA: Shortcut To A Better Script

There's a lot of stuff I think about now when I'm starting to figure out how to write a TV pilot script that I would have liked to know when I started out, if somebody was like "hey here are some screenwriting tips for beginners." And writing that script doesn't mean developing a TV series, but it feels like that is something you have to have in the back of your mind when you start, or at least it's something that helps. What is the show gonna be like after the pilot? I was watching trailers for a couple of shows (Mad Men, Reservation Dogs, Deadwood, etc.) and it gave me an idea (honestly, a stroke of genius) for what some people might find a helpful writing exercise. Give it a shot and let me know what you think.

Creative Discipline: Why Showing Up is 90% of the Battle

I've been working on my creative process lately, struggling with overcoming perfectionism and writing consistency, and I feel like I'm kind of winning. A little. Discipline is to creatives as ice cream is to lactose intolerants, but these days I've somehow acquired (ulp) (at least temporarily) some creative discipline. WIth the help of my trusty yellow legal pad and my Sanford uni-Ball 207, and my knowledge of cursive writing, I'm getting some done. See if you can relate on this episode of Punching Up with Sean Conroy.

Writing 4 Pilots a Year: Ed Herro on Overcoming Creative Fear

In this episode I talk to Ed Herro, who wrote for (among other things) Jeff and Some Aliens and American Housewife. Most recently he co-created and co- ran The Sticky for Amazon Prime. In this showrunner interview, we get into a lot: the importance of sitcom pilot writing when you're starting and as you continue in writing for television, some great ideas on writers' room etiquette when you're starting out, and when you've been there a while, and lots of other fantastic gleaned-from-experience TV writing tips. Ed even gets into some thoughts on how to pitch a TV show. He recommends a couple of great books on writing, some of the classics like On Writing, and Save the Cat, and Bird by Bird. This one is a gold mine for aspiring writers (and me)z.

3 Easy (?) Things You Can Do To Get Better At Writing Sitcoms

One thing I've always struggled with as a writer is "paralysis by analysis"- maybe if I read THIS book or follow THIS method or use THIS structure I'll get it right, and everything will be easy. So in this episode I talk about some of the things I've done that have helped me get better at writing, and also specifically helped me get better at writing sitcoms. For example, you know how every sitcom nowadays makes fun of improv comedy for being dorky? Well, guess what's one of the most useful things I did when I was learning? Check out the episode, rate and review, all that podcasting stuff.

Trailer 1: Punching Up With Sean Conroy

TV writer and comedian Sean Conroy and his guests talk about how to write a great sitcom pilot, how to have a career in comedy, how to develop good habits as a writer, and his struggles with all of those things. He gives the advice he wishes he'd gotten earlier on, and gets advice from guests that he hopes it's not too late for. If you're a fan of comedy, this show is for you.