Successful Television Writing (Paperback)

by Lee Goldberg (Author), William Rabkin (Author) "To write for a television series, you have to understand how the series' concept, the characters, and the storytelling structure all work together..." (more)
Key Phrases: beat sheet, spec episode, medical clue, Murphy's Law, Writers Guild, Diagnosis Murder (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"...Never dull, Successful Television Writing is a pleasure to read. This one goes to the top of my pile..." (The Write Stuff, February 2004)

"...Never dull, Successful Television Writing is a pleasure to read. This one goes to the top of my pile..." -- The Write Stuff, February 2004

Full of practical advice and exercises, the book is an insightful account of the realities of being a writer for hire. -- The Writer's Room 10/8/2006 http://journals.aol.co.uk/alicemcharles/the-writers-room/entries/2006/10/08/book-review/807

If you're looking for the perfect book about writing for television, look no further than Successful Television Writing. -- Theatre Books http://www.theatrebooks.com/creative_writing/screenwriting_television.html

This insider's guide to the television industry, written by two successful showrunners, provides an overview of how the world of TV works as well as excellent advice on how to break into the business. -- The Fabulist Flash 10/6/2005 http://www.fabulistflash.com/fabulistflash/ffarchives/ff051006.html

Review
"Where was this book when I was starting out?! A fantastic, fun, informative guide to breaking in - and more importantly, staying in the TV writing game - from the guys who taught me how to play it." —Terence Winter, Co-Executive Producer, The Sopranos

"Goldberg and Rabkin write not only with clarity and wit but also with the authority gleaned through their years of experience slogging through Hollywood's trenches. Here is a must-read not only for new writers but also for established practitioners whose spirit and imagination could use a booster shot." —Prof. Richard Walter, Screenwriting Chairman, UCLA Dept. Film and TV

"Not since William Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade has there been a book this revealing, funny, and informative about The Industry. Reading this book is like having a good, long lunch with your two best friends in the TV business." —Janet Evanovich

"With sharp wit and painful honesty, Goldberg & Rabkin offer the truest account yet of working in the TV business. Accept no substitutes!" —Jeffrey B. Hodes & Nastaran Dibai, Executive Producers, "Third Rock from The Sun"

"Should be required reading for all aspiring television writers." —Howard Gordon, Executive Producer, 24 and X-Files

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1st edition (June 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471431680
• ISBN-13: 978-0471431688
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,294 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to write for television? Buy this!, July 27, 2003

By	Paulo Joe Jingy (Sanger, Texas) - See all my reviews

I love this book. I got it on a Saturday afternoon and read it within twenty-four hours. (And that includes all the time I spent reading and rereading parts of it, to my family and friends). It has officially joined Martell's "The Secrets of Action Screenwriting" and Trottier's "The Screenwriter's Bible" as one of my three "go-to" reference books. This one will get worn out.

And I don't even watch TV, anymore.

It's only 135 pages. (Well, 209 pages when you count the extra 74 pages of beat sheets, writer's outlines and treatments of TV programs, which were bought and in most cases produced Real examples). It's concise, but packed with useful information.

This isn't a basic "how-to" book. It assumes you're already a writer (and that you know the correct structure for television). It's daunting, what you'll be up against, (and the authors don't sugarcoat it), but if you want to write for television--study this book, apply the lessons it teaches, and it will give you a huge head start.

Within twenty pages, I had a better understanding of how a television series works then I would have ever figured out on my own. If you haven't heard or don't understand the term *franchise* as it applies to TV, you'd better buy this book, if you really want to write for television. It seems obvious to me, now, but that's only because the authors made it obvious.

And most of the lessons apply to all screenwriting, or writing in general, or just doing business. It's like I was a given a cheat-sheet by reading this book and, I guess, that's exactly what it is. These guys don't only say it--they've lived it. From both sides. Writing and pitching--and taking pitches and hiring writers. They back it all up with real-life examples and anecdotes. Even if you aren't a writer, this book is fun to read.

I really enjoyed the examples of how to and how *not* to pitch in this book. The authors gave me a whole new attitude and more confidence. (At least in theory--I'd probably still go into brain-lock ... when it came right down to the pitch. Or worse yet--become a Mr. Blabbermouth). But at least I have a firmer grasp of what I need to do and how I should present myself and my writing, when (or if) I pitch.

This one is well worth it.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More involved than you realize, August 2, 2003

By	Victor Gischler (the wilds of oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This book on writing for television is simply a must read if you plan on breaking into the business. But even if you never plan to write a single script, it's simply a very interesting and insightful glimpse into the world of television. The authors convey useful information with wit and style. Writing for TV isn't as simple as you might think. I was surprised and intrigued by all the intricacies of the industry.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revealing Knowledge, May 10, 2009

By	Kimberly E. Lightfoot "Kim-E" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was purported to be an overall guide on how to write for the TV industry. What to expect on the inside and how to get there. It was exactly that from the writer's perspective. He wrote a spec script with a couple of friends it was chosen from the stack and he was a TV writer from then on.

He explains who to curtsy to, who to fear, and who to shrug off and when. Hints at how to make friends and how to get the job done right all make for a well-rounded, excellently plotted and planned book.