And true fanatics might find the entire writing process fascinating, especially for those who might know something about how movies are put together and assume that television is similar. Television is far more of a writer's medium, with the showrunner (the writer who, well, runs the show) exerting control over all aspects of production. But "television is not a medium of personal expression," Epstein warns a few times, explaining that the staff writer's job is to write the way the showrunner would if he had time. Writing for television is also a hugely collaborative process, often with an entire writing staff, not to mention studio and network notes, contributing to what finally ends up on screen.
The book is peppered with supporting opinions from such diverse writers as Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Chris Abbott (Magnum, P.I.), Paul Guyot (Judging Amy), John Rogers (Cosby), Barbara Hall (Joan of Arcadia), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost), Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing), and Lee Goldberg (Diagnosis Murder). The examples Epstein uses to illustrate his points come from a wide enough range of shows that at least some should be recognizable to anyone who's watched TV in the last 30 years (and if you haven't, I'm a little puzzled why this review or this book would interest you).
Crafty TV Writing's clarity and moments of humour make it an easy read, despite the reams of detailed information, and those who intend to use it as a writing resource will find the sections laid out for easy reference. So for anyone from armchair critic to pro writer, Crafty TV Writing is likely to prove a fascinating peek inside the box.
Article comments
1 - Chris Evans
Good review! I just bought this book last week and can't wait to start reading it.
2 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!