How Does a TV Sitcom Writer Spend a Workday?

Job Description

A TV sitcom writer is the person responsible for creating characters, plot lines, themes, situations, dialogue and other creative ideas for a television show. A sitcom writer must come up with fresh plot ideas daily, especially if she writes for a weekly sitcom. The writer is also responsible for implementing any changes to the script, issuing rewrites and polishing the script before it's finalized. Sitcom writers often work in groups and meet daily to brainstorm and come up with new ideas together.

Typical Workday

A TV sitcom writer works a typical 8-hour day. The writer immediately begins on either a new script for the show or putting the finishing touches on an older script. Most sitcom writers work in groups or teams with other writers. On a typical workday, the sitcom writer will meet with other writers in a large conference-style room. Together, they spend the entire workday thinking of new situations, new characters and new plot lines. They also work on creating the dialogue for the show. The writers work together throughout the workday with a brief break for lunch.

Other Duties

Besides working on character and plot development for TV sitcoms, a sitcom writer also works closely with the show's producers, directors and actors when coming up with ideas for storylines and situations. The writer takes into consideration any suggestions or changes submitted by the producers of the show, and may even cater some of the storylines to actors' needs. For example, if an actress becomes pregnant during filming, the sitcom writer may include this development in the story arc of her character in order to accommodate the actress.