The Complete Idiot's Guide to Comedy Writing
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Comedy Writing

Author: James Mendrinos

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2004-07-06

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 1440696209

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Comedy is serious business—and serious money. In this guide, comedian, writer, and teacher James Mendrinos explains the principles of comedy and how to apply them to forms from stand-up to sitcoms- including fiction, film, speeches, articles, essays, and more. He also includes exercises designed to hone the craft, break through writer’s block, and tailor a piece to its intended audience. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Foolproof advice for writing scripts, feature films, plays, cartoons, stand-up jokes—even working humor into your presentation at work. • Terrific techniques for brainstorming, free associating, and drafting lists to make your writing better—and funnier. • Stand-up tips on identifying with and writing for your audience and genre. • Navigation tools for the inroads to marketing and selling your comedy.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Comedy Writing
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Comedy Writing

Author: James Mendrinos

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 9781592572311

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You've always known writing comedy was about more than just being funny. But how do you create a joke and work it into a script or a stand-up routine? Comedian, writer, and teacher Jim Mendrinos has the answers. In The Complete Idiot s Guide to Comedy Writing, Mendrinos gives readers the principles he teaches in his popular courses, from understanding what funny is and how to find it, to how to actually construct comedy. Working through the basic constructions and forms including premises, points of view, and twists, he shows the variations of written, verbal, and physical comedy. With useful exercises, Mendrinos helps writers refine their writing, appeal to their audience, and even break writer's block by learning techniques for brainstorming, free association, lists, and finding infinite points of view.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Finding Mr. Right
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Finding Mr. Right

Author: Josie Brown

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2009-09-01

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 1101133597

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In a world of Mr. Right Nows, a guide to Mr. Right . . . Chock full of solid advice, this guide for women offers exercises to help the reader learn more about herself. She then uses that information to recognize mates with compatible qualities. In it are the five myths about Mr. Right, the seven deadly sins that women make while dating, how to spot Mr. Wrong, where to meet Mr. Right, dating DOs and DON'Ts, and much more. • From the editors of John Gray's MarsVenus.com and relationship editors of SingleMindedWomen.com

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ventriloquism
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ventriloquism

Author: Taylor Mason

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2010-05-04

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 1101197773

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The art of "bellyspeaking" isn't for dummies The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Ventriloquism teaches everyone to speak from their bellies, create and substitute sounds, use all the registers of their voice, and create diversions to attract the listener's ear—whether they invest in a fancy puppet or create their own figure out of a sweat sock. • Includes tips for making, manipulating, and talking with their dummy and for it—both at the same time • Advice for getting an act together and taking it on the road-getting gigs, getting paid, and how to improve performances • How to write dialogue and jokes and rehearsal techniques

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture

Author: Benjamin Blech

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 468

ISBN-13: 9781592572403

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An updated and revised edition of one of The Complete Idiot's Guidespopular religion and history titles. Additional information about Jews in early American history through the 19th century. Expanded coverage of Jewish history and culture in the places you might least expect - Asia and South America. Jewish history and culture brought up to date to 2004.

How to Be Funny
How to Be Funny

Author: Jon Macks

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2010-06-15

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 1451603479

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An invaluable guide on how to "lighten up" from a distinguished pro who has provided laughs for JAY LENO, BILLY CRYSTAL, STEVE MARTIN, ROBIN WILLIAMS, BRAD GARRETT, WHOOPI GOLDBERG, AND MANY MORE. Who hasn't wished for the perfect withering comeback line, a clever tension-breaking quip, or a winning flirtatious remark? Being funny is hard work and not everyone is a natural. How to Be Funny is a witty guide that teaches readers precisely how to be funnier in everyday life. It's a must-read for anyone who has to speak in public, be engaging and funny at work or at play, or who hopes to one day go out on a date. Jon Macks, a comedy writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards, Hollywood Squares, and the nation's top comedians, politicians, and corporate leaders, knows his funny business. Here he demystifies the process of making people laugh, breaks down the basic building blocks and types of humor -- which include self-deprecation, misdirection, deadpan delivery, sarcasm, and "the reverse" -- and reveals the best approaches to use in common situations. How to Be Funny features helpful (and hilarious) tips and anecdotes from the comic legends Mack's worked with -- including Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Gilbert Gottfried, Billy Crystal, Rita Rudner, Dave Barry, and Carrie Fisher -- in his eleven years as one of the nation's top television writers. Whether the goal is to give a memorable public address or deliver a killer line with friends, How to Be Funny is a charming, instructive, and practical read.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Songwriting
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Songwriting

Author: Joel Hirschhorn

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 9781592572113

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A comprehensive book for today's amateur musician interested in creating and writing his or her own songs, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Songwriting, Second Edition, is the most complete and up-to-date book available. Beating coverage from other series competition, Oscar-winning (and Grammy and Tony award nominated) author Joel Hirschhorn shares his firsthand knowledge of coming up with ideas, rhyming schemes, hooks, melodies, lyrics, and even titles - everything readers need to create their own hit songs! This new edition features coverage of the music business along with the ins and outs of selling a song including working with publishers, producers, artists, managers, accountants, agents, and even attorneys. Best of all, this newest edition features special chapters on genre songwriting - with all new coverage of Latin music, Rock/Blues, Children's music, writing for television, film, and more.

Bright Lights, Big Ass
Bright Lights, Big Ass

Author: Jen Lancaster

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2007-05-01

Total Pages: 404

ISBN-13: 9780451221254

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Jen Lancaster hates to burst your happy little bubble, but life in the big city isn't all it's cracked up to be. Contrary to what you see on TV and in the movies, most urbanites aren't party-hopping in slinky dresses and strappy stilettos. But lucky for us, Lancaster knows how to make the life of the lower crust mercilessly funny and infinitely entertaining. Whether she's reporting rude neighbors to Homeland Security, harboring a crush on her grocery store clerk, or fighting-and losing-the Battle of the Stairmaster- Lancaster explores how silly, strange, and not-so-fabulous real city living can be. And if anyone doesn't like it, they can kiss her big, fat, pink, puffy down parka.

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America
The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America

Author: Matt Kracht

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Published: 2019-04-02

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1452177392

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National bestselling book: Featured on Midwest, Mountain Plains, New Atlantic, Northern, Pacific Northwest and Southern Regional Indie Bestseller Lists Perfect book for the birder and anti-birder alike A humorous look at 50 common North American dumb birds: For those who have a disdain for birds or bird lovers with a sense of humor, this snarky, illustrated handbook is equal parts profane, funny, and—let's face it—true. Featuring common North American birds, such as the White-Breasted Butt Nugget and the Goddamned Canada Goose (or White-Breasted Nuthatch and Canada Goose for the layperson), Matt Kracht identifies all the idiots in your backyard and details exactly why they suck with humorous, yet angry, ink drawings. With The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America, you won't need to wonder what all that racket is anymore! • Each entry is accompanied by facts about a bird's (annoying) call, its (dumb) migratory pattern, its (downright tacky) markings, and more. • The essential guide to all things wings with migratory maps, tips for birding, musings on the avian population, and the ethics of birdwatching. • Matt Kracht is an amateur birder, writer, and illustrator who enjoys creating books that celebrate the humor inherent in life's absurdities. Based in Seattle, he enjoys gazing out the window at the beautiful waters of Puget Sound and making fun of birds. "There are loads of books out there for bird lovers, but until now, nothing for those that love to hate birds. The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America fills the void, packed with snarky illustrations that chastise the flying animals in a funny, profane way. " – Uncrate A humorous animal book with 50 common North American birds for people who love birds and also those who love to hate birds • A perfect coffee table or bar top conversation-starting book • Makes a great Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthday, or retirement gift

Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School
Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School

Author: Adam Ruben

Publisher: Crown

Published: 2010-04-13

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 0307589455

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This is a book for dedicated academics who consider spending years masochistically overworked and underappreciated as a laudable goal. They lead the lives of the impoverished, grade the exams of whiny undergrads, and spend lonely nights in the library or laboratory pursuing a transcendent truth that only six or seven people will ever care about. These suffering, unshaven sad sacks are grad students, and their salvation has arrived in this witty look at the low points of grad school. Inside, you’ll find: • advice on maintaining a veneer of productivity in front of your advisor • tips for sleeping upright during boring seminars • a description of how to find which departmental events have the best unguarded free food • how you can convincingly fudge data and feign progress This hilarious guide to surviving and thriving as the lowliest of life-forms—the grad student—will elaborate on all of these issues and more.