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Stupid Writer Tricks: Tips, Hints, Riffs & Rants
"I was a successful writer before I met Dan, but what I learned from him, especially about visual story-telling, elevated my craft, as it will yours." ~ WILLIAM SCHMIDT award-winning writer of over a dozen TV drama series, including YELLOWSTONE, CARNIVALE, CHARMED, and creator of PREY.
In Stupid Writer Tricks, award-winning and internationally acclaimed dramatist, producer and show-runner Daniel Knauf, creator of HBO seminal cult series, CARNIVÀLE and writer-executive producer on the hit NBC series, THE BLACKLIST, offers a rare window into his methods as an artist, his personal working style and his professional experiences. A rollicking, firsthand look at why and how television series get made and what elements make for a good show.
In brief chapters, Knauf describes the experience of "breaking in" to the crazy, fulfilling and sometimes chaotic world of television with a refreshing, no-holds-barred, self-deprecating candor. He also delivers hard-won screenwriting advice that will benefit beginners and veterans alike.
In a blithe, humorous style, Knauf details the development of his ideas and how he translates them into produceable scripts that attract actors, directors and key crew and inspires them to bring their best game.
"There are a lot of books out there offering advice on how to write screenplays and most of them are garbage. Usually, the people who write them are wannabes or also-rans – spec script writers whose work has never been produced. Stupid Writer Tricks by Dan Knauf is decidedly not one of those books because Dan Knauf actually is a writer—a real, produced, successful, working television and film writer. And, in my opinion, one of the best. Make no mistake, it’s not glib advice. It’s thoughtful and thorough without being pedantic or long-winded—exactly what you need to know to write a successful teleplay, concisely, meticulously, and with a sense of humor. I highly recommend it" ~ Dave Thomas - Emmy Award winning actor, writer, and director for SCTV, STRANGE BREW, SPIES LIKE US, CONEHEADS, RAT RACE, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, BONES and THE BLACKLIST.
In Stupid Writer Tricks, award-winning and internationally acclaimed dramatist, producer and show-runner Daniel Knauf, creator of HBO seminal cult series, CARNIVÀLE and writer-executive producer on the hit NBC series, THE BLACKLIST, offers a rare window into his methods as an artist, his personal working style and his professional experiences. A rollicking, firsthand look at why and how television series get made and what elements make for a good show.
In brief chapters, Knauf describes the experience of "breaking in" to the crazy, fulfilling and sometimes chaotic world of television with a refreshing, no-holds-barred, self-deprecating candor. He also delivers hard-won screenwriting advice that will benefit beginners and veterans alike.
In a blithe, humorous style, Knauf details the development of his ideas and how he translates them into produceable scripts that attract actors, directors and key crew and inspires them to bring their best game.
"There are a lot of books out there offering advice on how to write screenplays and most of them are garbage. Usually, the people who write them are wannabes or also-rans – spec script writers whose work has never been produced. Stupid Writer Tricks by Dan Knauf is decidedly not one of those books because Dan Knauf actually is a writer—a real, produced, successful, working television and film writer. And, in my opinion, one of the best. Make no mistake, it’s not glib advice. It’s thoughtful and thorough without being pedantic or long-winded—exactly what you need to know to write a successful teleplay, concisely, meticulously, and with a sense of humor. I highly recommend it" ~ Dave Thomas - Emmy Award winning actor, writer, and director for SCTV, STRANGE BREW, SPIES LIKE US, CONEHEADS, RAT RACE, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, BONES and THE BLACKLIST.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 12, 2024
two many typos and is the cover generated by AI ?
May 15, 2023
Knauf obliterates all fantasy musings you have of being a screen writer & gives you the filth & the tears & the laughs. If you’ve done any writing, it should feel shockingly familiar AND illuminating, as he has accomplished what many of us have yet to—you really feel if you just allow yourself to be humiliated & irritated, you can also sell a script to some soulless suit behind a glass desk & actually like it. Also it’s funny. Just read it.
April 19, 2024
I read this book as it came highly recommended from
some of my MWA and Sisters In Crime buddies--
very good, fast read. Lots of "inside dope" on what
goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood...
even names names!
Daniel Knauf has written scripts, treatments, etc. for many shows,
has worked on Black List and others...
a good read.
Thanks!
some of my MWA and Sisters In Crime buddies--
very good, fast read. Lots of "inside dope" on what
goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood...
even names names!
Daniel Knauf has written scripts, treatments, etc. for many shows,
has worked on Black List and others...
a good read.
Thanks!
June 9, 2023
Fun to read and probably more helpful in today's showbiz environment than some Syd Field book reminding you to write a heroes journey on every page. After all, Daniel made it really big in the industry.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews