Comedy Writing Secrets: Amazon.ca: Mel Helitzer: Books

Product Description

A comprehensive guide to writing, selling and performing all types of comedy. Includes comments, advice, gags and routines from top comics.

About the Author

Mel Helitzer is an award-winning journalism professor and has written comedy material for such stars as Sammy Davis, Jr., Art Linkletter, and Shari Lewis, Mark A, Shatz is a professor of psychology and teaches humour writing. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

personal transformation(1)

Customer Reviews

9 Reviews

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for writers., Jun 27 2004

By

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comedy Writing Secrets (Paperback)

This is really a wonderful book, but I think the title misleads a lot of people. Not only is this book great for comedy writers, but it's also just as good for comics of all types. Even if you're simply hoping to become a more humorous person in general, this book will for sure help you. I am more able to effectively make spontaneous jokes with my friends and I owe it to reading this book. I'm writing a screenplay for a comedy and that's how I came about this book, and I've run into a lot fewer writer's blocks and I've been able to increase the concentration of humor within the script. The only draw backs are its length and the writing. It's a little long, and the author isn't always easy to understand. His style breaks things down in a very technical sense, which can be hard to grasp at first. Other than that, I'd suggest it for ANYONE interested in humor.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Comedy Writing Secrets by Melvin Helitzer a must!, Jun 21 1998

By

RandyB@Aol.Com (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comedy Writing Secrets (Paperback)

Helitzer's Book on comedy writing is the best book out there on the subject. He has a firm grasp on essential techniques needed to refine your raw material into comedy gold. I recommend this book for anyone seiously interested in the old addage, "if it's funny there's money!" If you perform stand-up, or just write, this is the book to read. His various examples from today's comedians are not only hilarious but keep the reader interested and the book moving along. Helitzer has written the first and best book on the subject. I teach a comedy class and I know I couldn't do it without this book.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book the Pro Comics Read, Feb 29 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Comedy Writing Secrets (Paperback)

I'm a photo journalist and I interview a lot of professional
touring comics when they hit Orange County (California). I'm amazed at the number of times these big time pros have "Comedy Writing Secrets" in their rooms. Last month Drew Carrey was photographed reading the book in a national ad he did for library services. Since I've read and loved the book, I use it as a conversation ice breaker while I'm lightting the set. The
comics then feel more relaxed knowing we enjoy something in common.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 9 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 49 reviews 3.6 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn the fundamentals of comedy writing!
The fundamentals of comedy writing haven't changed since this book was originally published, and Mel Helitzer (who's taught comedy writing at university for decades) delivers a... Read more

Published on Feb 18 2004 by Jane Friedman

1.0 out of 5 stars Put this book back in the time capsule
This book is an antique. I found this book to be completely dated and unhelpful. Unless your are Schecky Green and going out on tour on the Catskills comedy circuit don't buy... Read more

Published on Jan 13 2004