With guidance from top sitcom producers and examples straight from the screen, this book can help anyone write, revise--and sell--a script. With twenty years in the business--as a writer, programming executive, and university instructor--Evan Smith knows what it takes to get from spec script to sitcom success. Here he offers the first published description of Premise-Driven Comedy, the writing method he has developed and popularized; tips from writer-producers who have worked on series from "Frasier" to "The Cosby Show" to "Roseanne;" a complete story outline from the series "Home Improvement;" explicit advice on how the business works and how to get an agent; and script layout guidelines for all three sitcom formats. Clear, comprehensive, and cutting-edge, this is the true insider's guide to becoming a sitcom writer. Who knows--it might just be the book that inspires the world's next Seinfeld! * Includes examples from classic and contemporary sitcoms, tips from successful writer-producers, and a complete "Home Improvement" story outline * An author with twenty years of experience in the business * Advice on both the business and creative aspects of a sitcom-writing career, including a discussion of Premise-Driven Comedy, Smith's innovative new writing technique
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Killer book on writing the sitcom:
The best book on sitcom writing, bar none. Tells you everything you need to know, from character construction to story arcs to how to get an agent... even if you don't live in Los Angeles. I've made my living as a writer for 20 years, and this book is very, very helpful. It's also very, very funny, which one would expect in a book about sitcom writing. Highly recommended, look no further.
Fluffy:
Not very impressed. Just general information. A lot about dealing with the business side. If you want to learn to write a sitcom, study story structure first. Get a Syd Field book and learn about plot points, ect. The "writers journey" is a good book to pick up too. Find some sitcom scripts online and study those. Study well written shows like "30 Rock". Also study crappy shows like "Two and a half men".
A Solid Book:
Although it has an unfortunate title (who the hell wants to write sitcoms? - aren't they supposed to be dead?), this book is one of the better resources on the subject of television writing in general. It paints a very realistic picture of the business and acknowledges some of the changes that are taking place within the industry. This is a good book for someone who already knows how to write a solid script, but who'd like to learn more about the TV biz.
I scanned it straight to the money:
I scanned right throught the pages like I needed the cool breeze and stopped on the "how much will I make" page and well, it looks good to me. I also looked in other areas of the book and before I even read it I know it's exactly what I was looking for. A must for even a dream sitcom writer like me. This is a real shortcut, it covers all the information you will ever need.
Privacy policy: we don't collect information
about visitors except for the standard technical server logs. We don't send unsolicited emails. We don't
sell the information that we don't collect about you to anyone. When you follow
links to other sites, their privacy policies apply. Thanks for visiting!
