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The New Comedy Writing Step by Step
 
 
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The New Comedy Writing Step by Step [Paperback]

Gene Perret (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Book Description

May 1, 2007
Three-time Emmy Award-winner Gene Perret’s Comedy Writing Step by Step has been the manual for humor writers for 25 years. In this new book, his first update, Perret offers readers a treasure trove of guidelines and suggestions covering a broad range of comedy writing situations, along with many all-important insights into the selling of one’s work. Perret covers all aspects of comedy writing in his uniquely knowledgeable and anecdotal fashion.

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The New Comedy Writing Step by Step + The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide + The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not
Price For All Three: $30.33

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  • The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide $10.88

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The classic by three-time Emmy-award winning writer [Gene] Perret . . . offers timeless, nuts-and-bolts practical advice. He discusses finding your voice and your genre, and writing for your audience."  —ASJA Monthly

From the Inside Flap

From the basics of comedy writing as a craft: disciplining one's wit, discovering what works, visualization, and avoiding the obvious.
On through the nitty-gritty of the work: finding a topic, constructing monologues, sketches, scripts, writing to your audience, and writing for sitcoms.
And finally, to comedy writing as a career: overcoming writer's block, how to reach "unreachable" stars, and marketing one's material.
Perret covers all aspects of comedy writing in his uniquely knowledgeable and anecdotal fashion.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Quill Driver Books; Revised and updated edition edition (May 1, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1884956661
  • ISBN-13: 978-1884956669
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gene Perret has been a comedy writer since the early 1960's working for comedians such as Slappy White and Phyllis Diller. He's been a television comedy writer and producer since 1968. Perret has earned 7 Emmy nominations, including one for original music, and 2 Writer's Guild Award nominations. He has captured three Emmy awards and one Writer's Guild Award as part of the Carol Burnett Show writing staff. Gene produced "Welcome Back, Kotter," "Three's Company," and "The Tim Conway Show."
Gene also worked on Bob Hope's writing staff for 28 years, from 1969 until the comic's retirement -many of those years as Hope's head writer. During that time, Gene wrote for all of Bob's personal appearances and TV Specials. traveling with the Bob Hope troupe to the war zones of Beirut, the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, and on a peace time military jaunt around the world that featured stops at the Berlin Wall and in Moscow.
Besides his humorous books and how-to books on the craft of comedy, Gene teaches comedy writing through various avenues, including via e-mail.


 

Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars If you're a comic....you need this for your collection., January 13, 2009
This review is from: The New Comedy Writing Step by Step (Paperback)
I had CWSBS back in the '90s...worked my way through the book and I mean worked. Great for someone new to standup or for a pro that wants to brush up on some skills.

I took some classes with Gene and the guy knows his stuff. This is kind of the old style of standup comedy, but he does get your mind thinking...and about setups and surprise punclines.

This is a review of the updated book, but really, it's kind of the same as the old one, but with some thoughts from some new comics.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Comedy book, July 24, 2010
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This review is from: The New Comedy Writing Step by Step (Paperback)
Nice book, buy it if you are only a beginner. It's good for those people who just want to start. If you are already a comic and you know about writing, I will recommend COMIC INSIGHTS by Franklyn Ajaye, it tells you about view point of other comedians.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, August 1, 2009
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This review is from: The New Comedy Writing Step by Step (Paperback)
This book is just what I have been looking for. Its like a college writting class where you are the only student. Its Hard but fun and it pays off.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
monologue material, sitcom writing, comedy writing, insult humor, sketch writing, joke writing, comedy material, spec script, humor writing
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The New Comedy Writing Step, Bob Hope, Schuylkill Expressway, Phyllis Diller, New York, Comedy-Writing Exercises, The Carol Burnett Show, Jay Leno, Woody Allen, Sonny Liston, The Ability, Dave Barry, Robin Williams, Steven Wright, Getting Ready, The Tonight Show, David Letterman, Round Table, Samuel Johnson, Bill Cosby, Los Angeles, South Philadelphia, Johnny Carson, Valley Forge, Moby Dick
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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