Overview
Comedy has always been one of the most high-profile, glamorous and
potentially lucrative markets for scriptwriters, but it is also
perceived as one of the hardest. In the fourth edition of this highly
regarded handbook, John Byrne breaks down the basics of writing comedy
into simple steps and shows you how to make the most of your own comedy
writing talent and - just as importantly - your ability to market that
talent. Here is a wealth of practical advice both on how to get your
career off the ground and how to keep developing it. Whether you
are writing comedy routines, sketches or sitcoms, and aiming your work
at the page, the stage or the ever-expanding world of broadcasting, you
will find something in this book to encourage, inform and inspire you.
As with any art form, the basics of good comedy never go out of
fashion. While the easy steps in this book are illustrated with examples
of work by classic comedians old and new, you will also find useful
advice on developing and adapting your work for the twenty-first century
market, whether your aim is to promote your work online or simply to
keep your gags fresh and topical in a world where the news changes by
the minute and gets flashed around the world in seconds.