"Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?" "Practice, practice,
practice." That's more than a joke; it's solid advice. Consider
world-class performers in any field -- golf, figure skating, music,
whatever. One thing you can safely say about each is that they achieved
their level of skill through practice. To excel in any endeavor, you
must work on and perfect your technique. Comedy writing is no exception.
In this book, Emmy-winning TV writer and producer Gene Perret and
professional writer Linda Perret have compiled a collection of over 100
comedy writing workouts that will challenge your joke writing skills and
develop your sketch and sitcom writing abilities. This book suggests
that talent is earned through observation, study, analysis, and
repetition. The authors also encourage you to analyze your writing,
discover where improvement is required, and create your own
skill-creating exercises. The work can be demanding, but that's what it
takes to become a success in any field, including comedy writing. If you
study "Comedy Writing Self-Taught Workbook" -- with or without the
companion volume, "Comedy Writing Self-Taught" -- when your break comes,
you'll be ready.