Books like Writing television sitcoms by Evan S. Smith

Elizabeth George draws on years of teaching and her own publishing experience to offer clear, practical guidance on the creative process of fiction writing in this engaging handbook.

"Obsessively watched and critically ignored, sitcoms were a distraction, a gentle lullaby of a kinder, gentler America--until suddenly the artificial boundary between the world and television entertainment collapsed. In this book we track the growth of the sitcom, following the path that leads from I LOVE LUCY to THE PHIL SILVERS SHOW; from THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW to THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW; from M*A*S*H to TAXI; from CHEERS to ROSEANNE; from SEINFELD to CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM; and from THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW to 30 ROCK. In twenty-four episodes, SITCOM surveys the history of the form, and functions as both a TV mix tape of fondly remembered shows that will guide us to notable series and larger trends, and a carefully curated guided tour through the history of one of our most treasured art forms"--

Walter Mosley’s practical guide urges writers to overcome hesitation, offering daily‑regimen advice, voice‑selection strategies and tips for drafting and revising a novel in a year.

The Fire in Fiction shows writers how to ignite and sustain the passionate energy that keeps stories compelling, using practical techniques and examples from contemporary novels.

A practical guide by screenwriter Robert McKee that dissects dialogue construction for fiction and screenwriting, covering definition, common mistakes, corrective techniques, and design strategies.

A practical guide by Maeve Binchy that shares her experience and advice for aspiring writers, covering story development, habits, publishing, and resources for fiction, plays, humor, and mysteries.

Moss Hart once said that you never really learn how to write a play; you only learn how to write this play. Crafted with that adage in mind, The Dramatic Writer's Companion is designed to help writers explore their own ideas in order to develop the script in front of them. No ordinary guide to plotting, this handbook starts with the principle that character is key. "The character is not something added to the scene or to the story," writes author Will Dunne. "Rather, the character is the scene. The character is the story." Having spent decades working with dramatists to refine and expand their existing plays and screenplays, Dunne effortlessly blends condensed dramatic theory with specific action steps—over sixty workshop-tested exercises that can be adapted to virtually any individual writing process and dramatic script. Dunne's in-depth method is both instinctual and intellectual, allowing writers to discover new actions for their characters and new directions for their stories. Dunne's own experience is a crucial element of this guide. His plays have been selected by the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center for three U.S. National Playwrights Conferences and have earned numerous honors, including a Charles MacArthur Fellowship, four Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards, and two Drama-Logue Playwriting Awards. Thousands of individuals have already benefited from his workshops, and The Dramatic Writer's Companion promises to bring his remarkable creative method to an even wider audience.

A practical guide for aspiring nonfiction writers, offering exercises, practical advice, and a comprehensive overview of subgenres such as memoir, travel writing, and investigative reporting.

A practical handbook that teaches writers the core elements of fiction—characterization, plot, pacing, and theme—while also covering revision, marketing, and professional tools like cover and query letters.