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Comedy Writing Books
Showing 1-50 of 190
Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today's Top Comedy Writers (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 5 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.12 — 2,058 ratings — published 2014
Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life (Hardcover)
by (shelved 5 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.88 — 108,350 ratings — published 2007
Bossypants (ebook)
by (shelved 5 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.96 — 1,066,653 ratings — published 2011
What Are You Laughing At? A Comprehensive Guide to the Comedic Event (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 4 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.69 — 70 ratings — published 2012
The NEW Comedy Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing Stand-Up Comedy (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 4 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.30 — 321 ratings — published
Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy (ebook)
by (shelved 4 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.66 — 13,373 ratings — published 2015
Comedy Writing Secrets: The Best-Selling Book on How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny, And Get Paid For It (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.66 — 1,140 ratings — published 1987
The Hidden Tools of Comedy: The Serious Business of Being Funny (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.24 — 921 ratings — published 2013
The Serious Guide to Joke Writing: How to Say Something Funny about Anything (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.93 — 455 ratings — published 2010
The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.85 — 737 ratings — published 2001
Writing the Romantic Comedy (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.13 — 297 ratings — published 2000
Funny on Purpose: The Definitive Guide to an Unpredictable Career in Comedy: Standup + Improv + Sketch + TV + Writing + Directing + YouTube (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.99 — 246 ratings — published 2015
Comedy Writing for Late-Night TV: How to Write Monologue Jokes, Desk Pieces, Sketches, Parodies, Audience Pieces, Remotes, and Other Short-Form Comedy (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.23 — 173 ratings — published 2014
And Here's the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers on their Craft and the Industry (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.05 — 2,124 ratings — published 2009
The Eight Characters of Comedy: Guide to Sitcom Acting And Writing (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.03 — 359 ratings — published 2005
The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.97 — 955 ratings — published 1994
The New Comedy Writing Step by Step: Revised and Updated with Words of Instruction, Encouragement, and Inspiration from Legends of the Comedy Profession (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.91 — 141 ratings — published
Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture―and the Magic That Makes It Work (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.10 — 976 ratings — published 2023
Ten Steps to Nanette (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.45 — 16,860 ratings — published 2022
The Humor Code: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.44 — 1,038 ratings — published 2014
How to Write Funny: Your Serious, Step-By-Step Blueprint For Creating Incredibly, Irresistibly, Successfully Hilarious Writing (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.12 — 971 ratings — published 2014
The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.42 — 1,325 ratings — published 2013
Zen and the Art of Stand-Up Comedy (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.84 — 264 ratings — published 1998
Spoiled Brats (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.98 — 4,978 ratings — published 2014
Yes Please (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.85 — 561,763 ratings — published 2014
Me Talk Pretty One Day (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.01 — 726,308 ratings — published 2000
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
by (shelved 2 times as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.86 — 516,461 ratings — published 2011
It Wasn't Me (Hardcover)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.24 — 41 ratings — published 2008
How to Write a Funny Speech...: for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Graduation & Every Other Event You Didn't Want to Go to in the First Place (Hardcover)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.60 — 128 ratings — published
The War of Art (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.96 — 121,885 ratings — published 2002
Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.01 — 22,481 ratings — published 2005
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.96 — 122,494 ratings — published 2002
The Art of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.19 — 3,353 ratings — published 1942
Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You (Mass Market Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.08 — 21,757 ratings — published 1973
The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation Into the Writing Life (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.07 — 6,437 ratings — published 1998
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.97 — 345,538 ratings — published 2012
The Elements of Style (Hardcover)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.18 — 87,789 ratings — published 1918
The Art of Witty Banter: Be Clever, Be Quick, Be Interesting - Create Captivating Conversation (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.32 — 1,455 ratings — published
Comedy Writing Step by Step (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.64 — 61 ratings — published 1990
My Wonderful World of Slapstick (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.30 — 760 ratings — published 1960
Everything You Need to Write Sketch Comedy (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.50 — 2 ratings — published
Now That's Funny!: The Art and Craft of Writing Comedy (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.20 — 15 ratings — published
How To Be Hilarious and Quick-Witted in Everyday Conversation (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.71 — 79 ratings — published
Bird by Bird (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.24 — 113,192 ratings — published 1994
Little Miss Sunshine: The Shooting Script (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.22 — 1,129 ratings — published 2006
Juno: The Shooting Script (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.09 — 1,762 ratings — published 2008
Louis de Funès. Ne parlez pas trop de moi, les enfants! (Paperback)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.14 — 57 ratings — published 2005
Le Comique. Principes, procédés, processus (Pocket Book)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 4.00 — 4 ratings — published 1996
Rire est une fête - Mémoires cash d'un réalisateur culte (French Edition)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.57 — 7 ratings — published
Mémoires d'éléphant (French Edition)
by (shelved 1 time as comedy-writing)
avg rating 3.00 — 1 rating — published
“Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987) was released in theaters — unheard of for a standup concert film — and grossed over $50M. Behind the scenes there was some grumbling over Keenen’s credits as both a writer and producer. Murphy's then-manager, Richie Tienken, insists Keenen’s work on Raw was negligible.
“Eddie was working on his routine and was having a problem with a line,” says Tienken. “He talked to Keenen about it and Keenen basically said, ‘Well, why don’t you say it this way?’ And it worked. I said to Eddie, ‘That was really nice of Keenen to help you with that.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, he asked me for a co-writing credit.’ I was like, ‘What? It was one fucking line. This guy’s your friend.’ ” Tienken points out that comedians are always helping each other out with bits. He’s worked with comics such as Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Reiser, and Ray Romano. “They all helped each other. They didn’t ask for anything. I think I even went to Keenen and said, ‘You’ve got some pair of fucking balls asking him for that.’ ”
Chris Rock, who was just getting to know Eddie and Keenen around this time, recalled watching Eddie prepare for the shows on his Raw tour, batting around material with friends. Occasionally, Rock and others might help “tag” a joke. “I might have got a line in,” Rock told Marc Maron during a 2011 interview, referring to Raw. “That’s what friends are for, for tags. It’s only when they’re not your friends when they go, ‘I should get a writing credit for that tag.’ ”
Eddie and Keenen had a falling-out over all this, and one person close to the situation at the time says Arsenio Hall called Keenen afterward and said something to the effect of “You’re out and I’m in.” For his part, though, Eddie never publicly complained about Keenen’s contributions — or lack thereof — to Raw.”
― Homey Don't Play That!: The Story of In Living Color and the Black Comedy Revolution
“Eddie was working on his routine and was having a problem with a line,” says Tienken. “He talked to Keenen about it and Keenen basically said, ‘Well, why don’t you say it this way?’ And it worked. I said to Eddie, ‘That was really nice of Keenen to help you with that.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, he asked me for a co-writing credit.’ I was like, ‘What? It was one fucking line. This guy’s your friend.’ ” Tienken points out that comedians are always helping each other out with bits. He’s worked with comics such as Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Reiser, and Ray Romano. “They all helped each other. They didn’t ask for anything. I think I even went to Keenen and said, ‘You’ve got some pair of fucking balls asking him for that.’ ”
Chris Rock, who was just getting to know Eddie and Keenen around this time, recalled watching Eddie prepare for the shows on his Raw tour, batting around material with friends. Occasionally, Rock and others might help “tag” a joke. “I might have got a line in,” Rock told Marc Maron during a 2011 interview, referring to Raw. “That’s what friends are for, for tags. It’s only when they’re not your friends when they go, ‘I should get a writing credit for that tag.’ ”
Eddie and Keenen had a falling-out over all this, and one person close to the situation at the time says Arsenio Hall called Keenen afterward and said something to the effect of “You’re out and I’m in.” For his part, though, Eddie never publicly complained about Keenen’s contributions — or lack thereof — to Raw.”
― Homey Don't Play That!: The Story of In Living Color and the Black Comedy Revolution
“Don't concentrate on becoming a better humor writer, just concentrate on being the best writer that you can become. If you're funny, the work will end up being funny. And if you're not funny, the work will still end up being good. Concentrate on being the most honest writer you can be, and let everything else follow--because it will.”
― The Areas of My Expertise: An Almanac of Complete World Knowledge Compiled with Instructive Annotation and Arranged in Useful Order
― The Areas of My Expertise: An Almanac of Complete World Knowledge Compiled with Instructive Annotation and Arranged in Useful Order
