About the Book:

Successful Television Writing is recommended by the Writers Guild Initiative!

Do you dream of a job as a successful television writer on a hit show? Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin are veteran TV "showrunners" who give you practical but essential advice to help make your dreams a reality. They teach you how to discover the "Franchise" or structure of a television show in order to write a successful and eye catching spec script. The four-act structure is covered, along with the elements that go into telling a good story. After you've blown them away with your spec script, learn how to pitch confidently and concisely. You'll also find invaluable information on how to work with producers, how to handle your first writing assignment, and tackle revisions. Also included are Writer's Guidelines, and beat sheets, from several television shows to help you familiarize yourself with the way writer's work.

Successful Television Writing is a classic in the field of TV writing.

What people say:

"Where was this book when I was starting out?! A fantastic, fun, informative guide to breaking in – and more importantly, staying in the TV writing game – from the guys who taught me how to play it." — Terence Winter, four-time Emmy Award-winning writer and Executive Producer of Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos

"Goldberg and Rabkin write not only with clarity and wit but also with the authority gleaned through their years of experience slogging through Hollywood's trenches. Here is a must-read not only for new writers but also for established practitioners whose spirit and imagination could use a booster shot." — Prof. Richard Walter, Screenwriting Chairman, UCLA Dept. 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, best-selling author

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

"Should be required reading for all aspiring television writers." — Howard Gordon, Executive Producer, 24 and Homeland

About the Author:

Lee Goldberg is an American author, screenwriter, and producer who has written and produced scores of highly successful TV series and is the author of over forty novels and non-fiction books. As an international television consultant, he has advised networks and studios in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, China, Sweden, and the Netherlands on the creation, writing, and production of episodic series.

William Rabkin is an American television producer, television writer and author. He has written a dozen pilots for broadcast and cable networks, and written and/or produced more than 300 hours of dramatic television.