How to Become a Writer for Saturday Night Live

If you are a writer who dreams of writing for Saturday Night Live, be prepared for a lot of hard work. If you have the determination and invest the time, you may be able to make your dream come true. However, be aware that it will not be easy; you will be investing a lot of time and must also be prepared for a lot of rejection before perhaps being lucky enough to get an interview.

• You will have to be prepared to live in New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. These states will offer you a better chance of being discovered in the comedy area. 


• Accept that there will be rejections. It will not be easy to get an interview with Saturday Night Live, and it will take years of hard work and dedication. Even then you should know that it might not happen.


• Be involved in comedy as a performer or writer. Most of the cast of Saturday Night Live were performers in comedy clubs or writers on comedy shows. About half of the cast were found performing at clubs, the other half were experienced writers who wrote for other shows before they were brought on to Saturday Night Live.


• Make connections. While working the comedy circuit or writing comedy, you will meet others working toward a career in comedy. This may help you later in your career. You never know, someone you network with early in your career could make it big and give you a recommendation.


• Build a portfolio. If you do get an interview, you will have to show writing samples. Keep your best work in your portfolio. If you were to get an interview, this work would play a huge part in whether you are hired or not.


• Keep trying. Do not let one or two rejections make you give up. If this is something that you truly want, keep working at it. Be persistent.