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4.0 

Successful Television Writing

By Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin
Successful Television Writing by Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

The industry speaks out about SUCCESSFUL TELEVISION WRITING

"Where was this book when I was starting out? A fantastic, fun, informative guide to breaking into?and more importantly, staying in?the TV writing game from the guys who taught me how to play it."
—Terence Winter, Coexecutive Producer, The Sopranos

"Goldberg and Rabkin write not only with clarity and wit but also with the authority gleaned from their years of slogging through Hollywood?s trenches. Here is a must-read for new writers and established practitioners whose imagination could use a booster shot."
—Professor Richard Walter, Screenwriting Chairman, UCLA Department of Film and TV

"Not since William Goldman?s Adventures in the Screen Trade has there been a book this revealing, funny, and informative about The Industry. Reading this book is like having a good, long lunch with your two best friends in the TV business."
—Janet Evanovich

"With sharp wit and painful honesty, Goldberg and Rabkin offer the truest account yet of working in the TV business. Accept no substitutes!"
—Jeffrey B. Hodes and Nastaran Dibai, Coexecutive Producers, Third Rock from the Sun

"Should be required reading for all aspiring television writers."
—Howard Gordon, Executive Producer, 24 and The X-Files

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Successful Television Writing Reviews

4.0
“A good solid 4.0⭐️ read about writing for the broadcast television industry. This book doesn't go into the semantics of writing a television episode with formatting tips and basically how to divvy up your story to fit within the time. What this book does give is candid advice about the industry itself. An insider's POV that you may not have or would never know without experiencing this firsthand. I enjoyed the way the book read. It was like chatting with a BFF who has all this knowledge and gave you the truth rather than take an easy route and feed you a bunch of nonsensical information that panders to your dreams. It was fun to read. The examples and real life knowledge dripped from the pages (or oozed from the screen since this was on my kindle) and it was helpful. It is dated, by shows that haven't existed for a long while. I know streaming channels have changed some of this game, BUT... The advice and knowledge is still applicable and viable even today. And while most shows (even broadcast ones) don't really have an opening credit sequence, their advice on really understanding what a show is rings true. WATCH these things and get to know the SHOW before diving into a spec script. Even more helpful are the Appendices that have examples of Show Episode/Leave-Behind material-beats. That's like invaluable. Even if today's leave behind is more an email, you can see what to do, or the best way to tackle it. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to get into the game. This book was honest about the reality of TV writing vs. the dreams we all have. It helps to have someone in your corner, and the authors of this book.... I really felt had your back. Definitely a worthy read for this genre! Couldn't recommend more.”

About Lee Goldberg

LEE GOLDBERG and WILLIAM RABKIN are veteran "showrunners" whose executive producing credits include the long-running drama Diagnosis Murder and the action-adventure hit Martial Law. Their writing and producing credits also include SeaQuest 2032, Spenser: For Hire, Hunter, Baywatch, Sliders, The Cosby Mysteries, Monk, and Nero Wolfe, to name a few. Both are former journalists who covered the television industry for Newsweek, American Film, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, among others. In addition, Rabkin has directed episodes of Diagnosis Murder and has taught a popular television writing course at UCLA. Goldberg is also a mystery novelist (Beyond the Beyond, My Gun Has Bullets) and the author of a definitive book on television series development (Unsold TV Pilots). He has taught writing seminars in Seattle, Miami, Denver, and Edmonton, Canada.

William Rabkin

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