books | "the TV writer's workbook"

by ellen sandler. (paperback, 2007)

I always secretly enjoyed Everybody Loves Raymond, foremost because Marie reminded me so much of my grandma. But there was a finely tuned rhythm to the writing on that show, and Sandler's experiences on her way to and in the writers' room at Raymond provide the backbone of this TV how-to.

The heavy lifting here isn't in the reading, which is why zipping through such a book feels like cheating. This is a textbook, a workout plan for the writing muscle. Sandler keeps things concise, uses relatable examples, and peppers relevant quotations throughout these 300 pages.

Reading this was easy; applying it to the writing process is difficult. We'll see how that goes come Script Frenzy in April. I'm thinking having a clear set on instructions on my side will at least keep things orderly; making them amazing is up to me.