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Comedy Writing Secrets, 2nd Edition: The Best-Selling Book on How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny, And Get Paid For It (Paperback)

by Mel Helitzer (Author), Mark Shatz (Author) "THE FIRST STEP IN HUMOR CONCEPTION IS IMAGINATION..." (more)
Key Phrases: humor material, paired phrases, humor writers, Woody Allen, New York, Bill Cosby (more...)

3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Updated and revised, this new edition of the best-selling favorite enables readers to master the fundamentals of humor writing and better understand the demands of the comedic market. Comedy Writing Secrets now includes:

-Examples from comedy greats as well as cutting-edge contemporary comedians, including Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, and Tina Fey

-A complete spectrum of techniques, from writing one-liners and stand-up routines, to finding a market for one's work

-Step-by-step writing exercises accompanied with sample answers, so readers can practice and hone their skills

With this guide, aspiring comics can learn how to sharpen their comedic talent and turn it into a well-paying pursuit.

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.

Product Details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 2 edition (October 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582973571
ISBN-13: 978-1582973579
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,005 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
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#7 in Books > Entertainment > Humor > Comedy

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
THE FIRST STEP IN HUMOR CONCEPTION IS IMAGINATION. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
humor material, paired phrases, humor writers, card publishers, paired elements, humor writing, writing humor, gag writers, humor column

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Woody Allen, New York, Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, George Carlin, Johnny Carson, Rodney Dangerfield, Lily Tomlin, Los Angeles, Robert Orben, George Burns, Steve Allen, Erma Bombeck, Gene Perret, Mel Brooks, Art Buchwald, Henny Youngman, Reader's Digest, Richard Pryor, Emo Philips, George Bernard Shaw, Milton Berle, Russell Baker, Sid Caesar, White House

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 51 books:

The Rite of Spring (Dover Miniature Scores) by Igor Stravinsky on page 74, and page 75
Confusion Reigns: A Quick and Easy Guide to the Most Easily Mixed-Up Words by James S. Harrison in Back Matter
What If? by Asma Pumpi Moore on page 9
The Far Side � by Gary Larson on page 240
Life Studies of Comedy Writers (Classics in Communication and Mass Culture Series) by Melanie Allen on page 291

See all 51 books this book cites

21 books cite this book:

The Art of Film Acting: A Guide For Actors and Directors by Jeremiah Comey on 6 pages
Writing TV Sitcoms by Evan S. Smith on 4 pages
Publicity for Mental Health Clinicians: Using Tv, Radio, and Print Media to Enhance Your Public Image (Haworth Marketing Resources) by William Winston on page 57, and page 204
How to Write Funny by John Kachuba on page 110, and page 115
Jokes and Their Relation to Society (Humor Research, 4) by Christie Davies in Back Matter

See all 21 books citing this book

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Humor as an Instructional Defibrillator by Ronald A. Berk

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5001 Nights at the Movies by Pauline Kael

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On the Real Side by Mel Watkins

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	76% buy the item featured on this page: Comedy Writing Secrets, 2nd Edition: The Best-Selling Book on How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny, And Get Paid For It 3.7 out of 5 stars (32) $14.10
	8% buy The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not 4.4 out of 5 stars (40) $10.17
	7% buy The New Comedy Writing Step by Step 4.8 out of 5 stars (6) $10.17
	6% buy The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide 4.3 out of 5 stars (43) $11.70

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Customer Reviews

32 Reviews

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4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

Average Customer Review

3.7 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	RandyB@Aol.Com (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comedy Writing Secrets (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.

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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn the fundamentals of comedy writing!, February 18, 2004

By	Jane Friedman (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Comedy Writing Secrets (Paperback)

The fundamentals of comedy writing haven't changed since this book was originally published, and Mel Helitzer (who's taught comedy writing at university for decades) delivers a step-by-step course on comedic writing, thinking, and acting.

You'll learn the basics of comedy writing, the anatomy of humor, and the avenues by which you can turn your comedic talent into a well-paying pursuit�and why the demand for humor writers far exceeds the supply. You'll also find more than a thousand one-liners, bits, and speech excerpts covering the entire range of comedy techniques.

If you want a comprehensive guide to writing, selling, and performing all types of comedy, then this is the book you must read cover to cover and keep on your shelf for a lifetime of reference.

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29 of 30 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 (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.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Old jokes abound, too many dirty jokes
Sure, people like dirty jokes or very old, dated jokes, but that's not what I want to learn. Instead, I want to learn how to actually be funny, not just crude or dull. Read more

Published 17 days ago by Bren808

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong book on comedy writing.
I thought this book was a wonderful read that goes about deconstructing what makes people laugh and a collection of techniques to improve comedy writing in all areas of... Read more

Published 22 days ago by Giuseppe Pantaleo

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a great book!
This book is a masterpiece. If you are into comedy just like me, you need to get you this book right now. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Tanael Joachim

3.0 out of 5 stars Comedy Writing Review
The information in the book was very insightful but the print was too small for me personally.

Published 12 months ago by Robert J. Golden

2.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't even finish this!
Perhaps this reveiw is a little unfair to the author. After all, I didn't actually get to finishing the book, but I've gone as far as I ever want to go with it. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Robert D. Watson

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introductory book on the technical aspects of comedy
This is an excellent book on the technical aspects of comedy. After reading this you will be able to analyse how the pros do it - and why some jokes are funny and some are not. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Peter Hoogenboom

4.0 out of 5 stars Comedy Writing Secrets, 2nd Ed: The Best-Selling Book on How to Think Funny...
- I had found this book first in my local library. In all spheres of my professional endeavours, this book has been a godsend. Read more

Published 18 months ago by Nigel Bell

1.0 out of 5 stars You'll love it!... if you're 67
The reason there are no good books on comedy is because it is an inherently impossible field to "break down" and "explain. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Vic Ramalot

3.0 out of 5 stars Dated, but useful
If you can get this book cheap, then I would recommend it simply for the fundamentals. However, it is very old (1987) and, ahem, in some ways politically incorrect (but then... Read more

Published 22 months ago by G. Birkman

5.0 out of 5 stars Well done!!!
This is a good book for anyone who wants to learn methods and concepts on comedy writing, or even how to construct material/jokes for their own personal life. Read more

Published 24 months ago by ColtsFanXLI

› See all 32 customer reviews...

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