Television Writing from the Inside Out: Your Channel to Success

by Larry Brody

Television Writing from the Inside Out is a how-to book with a Larry Brody is a television writer-producer who has helped shape the medium. The book is rooted in experience, and told in the breezy style that is the trademark of Brody and his award-winning website TVWriter.Com, which has helped launch the careers of many new writers. The information given by Brody and the manner in which he gives it has made him a writing guru to thousands of hopefuls.

Television Writing from the Inside Out what writing jobs are available; the format, structure and stages of teleplay development; tips on the writing of different genres – drama, comedy, action, the television film, soap opera, animation; and sample teleplays by Brody and others, with analyses of why they were written the way they were in terms of creativity, business, production and “insider politics.”

Television Writing from the Inside Out presents all that Larry Brody has learned about writing, selling and surviving in the television industry. The best-kept secret in show business has been that it is a business, but Brody's readers will know the truth – and armed with their new knowledge, they will have a significant edge as they set out to conquer this fascinating field.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

350 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Ricardo Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m sure this book will become my tv writing bible as I progress through my career. It offers a deep dive into the television industry, its origin, important Writer’s Guild of America rules to have in mind, along with other helpful insights. Highly recommend it.

[Speculargloss]

skimmed

[Jeffrey Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever have a desire to write for television, this is the first book that you should pick up. Not only does Larry Brody draw from his many years of experience as a showrunner, writer or producer of such shows as Police Story, The Fall Guy and Mike Hammer, but he also uses analogies from other's experiences on what to-do and what not to-do in writing for the television industry.

However, this book is so much more than a script manual. Yes, there is the technical stuff like writing for spec, first assignments, outlines, teleplays and how to write them. But Brody also covers things like where to live, how to get connected in the business in order to get to a pitch meeting, the numerous types of meetings, realistic timeframes that set things occur and how people respond by what they say and what they really mean. He really makes the business of television writing real.

After reading Brody's book, if you ever had illusions about how easy writing for television could be (ideally), they will be completely dispelled. When you are finished, sit back and ask yourself if it is what you REALLY want to do. If the answer is yes, he gives you a great outline. If the answer is no, now is the time to stop and find another worthy pursuit. Brody comes across as honest with how demanding the business-side of television writing is, and it is not always about the writing. This is one of the best books I have ever read on this subject.

[Manaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really eye-opening and informative. Provides a great step-by-step guide for breaking into the industry and formatting your work. I need to buy this...