Writing TV Scripts: Successful Writing in Ten Weeks (Studymates Writers Guides): Successful Writing in Ten Weeks (Studymates Writers Guides) by Steve Wetton and Graham Lawler
A brilliant book!
Recommended books on writing sitcoms, etc
Moving this to Writers' Discussion.
I found this one very good. See Amazon product listing
Quote: Perry Nium @ March 16, 2008, 7:10 PMI found this one very good. See Amazon product listing
oops - same one quoted. Still, it's a good read.
Or you could just read some scripts, watch a bit of comedy and stop wasting your time reading about it when you should be sitting down and writing.
How many 'How to write songs' book did Paul McCartney read? How many 'How to play football' books did Wayne Rooney read? (How many books full stop, in his case).
I see no point in reading books by people who have written bugger all for the telly. I can get just as good advice on these very forums.
Quote: Griff @ March 17, 2008, 4:55 PMWell, Marc Blake has written for plenty of TV and radio shows including Spitting Image and the great Frankie Howerd.
As for Paul McCartney, he famously endorses Bert Weedon's guitar book Play In A Day, so reading around the subject clearly wasn't beneath him.
But that's not the point. Comedy writing's a subject I'm interested in, and so I like to read about it. And Marc Blake is a pithy and interesting writer.
Being 'interested' in it is fine, sure. That's why people read about stuff.
But I think that being 'interested' is a world away from believing you can do it for a living, and wanting to improve.
Quote: Griff @ March 17, 2008, 4:58 PMWhat, reading books about comedy writing means I'm not serious about wanting to improve ? Take a chill pill, my pixelated friend!
Hey, no, that's not what I was trying to say.
My point is I think THE best way of learning - especially in a creative field - is by just doing it. And reading script / studying programs.
I'd always recommend just sitting down and writing over reading about it to anyone who wants to give it a go.
Quote: Griff @ March 17, 2008, 5:05 PMYeah I'd agree with you there. But I guess this thread was someone innocently recommending a book about sitcom writing, and you were ever-so-slightly telling us all off for reading such things...
We're all friends again now.
Ah, I see.
I just thought because this is the writer's discussion section, I took it that way.
I was telling you off as if I'd found some old pornos under your bed.
Quote: Seefacts @ March 17, 2008, 4:48 PMOr you could just read some scripts, watch a bit of comedy and stop wasting your time reading about it when you should be sitting down and writing.
How many 'How to write songs' book did Paul McCartney read? How many 'How to play football' books did Wayne Rooney read? (How many books full stop, in his case).
I see no point in reading books by people who have written bugger all for the telly. I can get just as good advice on these very forums.
Whatever works for whoever. Books have helped me and I know other writers that have loads of guide books. I wouldn't be so dismissive just because you don't use them. Also people on here aren't on telly and their advice might be from books too so I don't think you need to be in telly to say what you do or don't like. We are writing for the public after all.
You know when I took the experiential learning approach to vetenerian medicine. The RSPCA took my cat away, fined me £50 and banned me from keeping pets. The inspector called me a wanker as well.
My cat-opus was a great idea.
More seriously books can help alot. Especially with the rather esoteric laws of sitcom. But writing has improved my work more than reading.
I agree with Seefacts point about writing being the most important activity. But if you have hit a wall with something, reading a useful guide can sometimes help. There are certain rules and mechanics to sitcoms that can be taught by anyone. Its what you do with those mechanics that get you commissioned.
It's surprising how quickly one can read one if you keep it by the loo. And who said men can't multi task?
the only problem with "just doing" something is that sometimes you may not be "just doing" it correctly. I agree that doing something is the best way to learn and improve, but if you don't know how you should be doing it in the first place then reading about it is a good place to start and get answers. plus sites like this are just an extension of "reading" about how to set out scripts, etc. the only difference being is that you get to converse with the people doing the answering.
Absolutely. There are few things more horrible than watching some one do their first stand up, with out having practiced, studied, or trained.
Same with scripts that set out to over turn how sitcoms are written, with no idea of what they're chucking out.
The basic rules of sitcom are quite simple, but are frequently ignored.
Not sitcom, but two books about writing comedy by two great comedy writers:
Rewrites by Neil Simon
The Crafty Art of Playmaking by Alan Ayckbourn
The scripts from Frasier are a delight. You will learn more reading them than a 'how to write sitcoms' book.