Comedy Writing Self-Taught: The Professional Skill-Building Course in Writing Stand-Up, Sketch, and Situation Comedy

by Gene Perret

In “Comedy Writing Self-Taught,” Perret (a legendary comedy writing teacher as well as a famous TV comedy writer and producer) teaches aspiring comedy writers how they can teach themselves the essential principles of comedy writing through comedy analysis and writing exercises. Covering the essential principles of writing stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, and TV situation comedy, “Comedy Writing Self-Taught” is professional level training from a master who has spent decades at the very top of the entertainment industry. Expressly designed for home self-study, “Comedy Writing Self-Taught” teaches that the most effective way to learn is to create comedy yourself. Perret teaches how to analyze the work of professional comedians to learn the principles of comedy and presents a full set of writing exercises to hone one’s skills. A companion workbook provides even more comedy writing exercises, giving readers the equivalent of a master class in comedy.

Genres: Humor, Comedy, Writing

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2014

Reviews

[Jim Kuenzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've loved Perret's work in the past, but this almost seems lazy. I can sum up everything he says in this book in two short sentences. 1. Study the greats. 2. Buy his workbook and do those exercises.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is aimed at comedy writers of jokes, gags, sketches and sit-coms, the self-taught approach Perret describes is applicable to so many other fields.

Gene Perret is a veteran comedy writer having worked for Phylis Diller and for Bob Hope for thirty years. His training approach is to have you adopt a comedian as a mentor and to study that mentor in depth. Try to write for that comedian and, if you can get that comedian to perform some of your work, so much the better - tricky if your mentor is Bob Hope, though.

A good book, lots of ideas and lots of anecdotes from a lifetime in comedy.

[Josue Pariz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Li uma tradução livre, ótimo livro! Mesmo levando em conta a época que foi escrito seus conceitos podem ser aplicados como se fossem escritos hoje. Ótimo livro para quem que se aprofundar na parte estratégica de criação de roteiros de humor, desde standup comedy até histórias em quadrinhos.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent course for success---in any endeavor!

This book provides solid advice, examples, and exercises to succeed in comedy--or anything else. The details for non-comedic endeavors will differ, but the general principles will not.