Comedy Writing Secrets: How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny, and Get Paid For It [Hardcover]

Melvin Helitzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1987

A comprehensive guide to writing, selling and performing all types of comedy. Includes comments, advice, gags and routines from top comics.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mel Helitzer is an award-winning journalism professor and has written comedy material for such stars as Sammy Davis, Jr., Art Linkletter, and Shari Lewis, Mark A, Shatz is a professor of psychology and teaches humour writing. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 325 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 1st edition (1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898792584
• ISBN-13: 978-0898792584
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #525,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comedy Writing Secrets by Melvin Helitzer a must!, June 21, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comedy Writing Secrets: How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny and Get Paid For It (Paperback)

Helitzer's Book on comedy writing is the best book out there on the subject. He has a firm grasp on essential techniques needed to refine your raw material into comedy gold. I recommend this book for anyone seiously interested in the old addage, "if it's funny there's money!" If you perform stand-up, or just write, this is the book to read. His various examples from today's comedians are not only hilarious but keep the reader interested and the book moving along. Helitzer has written the first and best book on the subject. I teach a comedy class and I know I couldn't do it without this book.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rectangular book ideal for squares, May 31, 2005

By 

Fred "The Book Adder" (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comedy Writing Secrets: How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny and Get Paid For It (Paperback)

Ever wondered why we laugh and why certain jokes are funny?

Well, the answers to those questions set the frame work that Comedy Writing Secrets follows to help you think more like a comedy writer.

Even if you are a naturally funny person (speaking from experience here!) the book is incredibly valuable. If you read a few chapters and then go about your day you might find something magic... all of a sudden you'll start making jokes you never would have thought of.

I didn't buy it with the intention of becoming a stand up or writing hit TV shows but it has helped me create jokes I would previously never thought of.

It's a great read and very funny. There are numerous examples to illustrate the concepts and the book's structure is easy to follow.

It's really a textbook on comedy without being a textbook.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent source for aspiring comedians, November 8, 2000

By 

Scott Strain (Cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comedy Writing Secrets: How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny and Get Paid For It (Paperback)

I am an amateur comedian and I found "Comedy Writing Secrets" to be extraordinary. It actually helped me write comedy and structure it so it flows and makes sense.I am now performing in Cleveland and this excellent source has been a great help. Thank you.