This hands-on book will take you, step by step, through the stages by which most successful comedy writers develop their craft and careers

This practical but inspirational book guides new and more experienced writers through the process of each comedy genre and gives space for your creativity to shine as you gradually build your skills.

Beginning with sketches - the basic building blocks of comedy - you'll find how you can quickly create great premises, and then structure them into two-minute slices of hilarity. The same techniques will help you write a string of jokes and one-liners.

· A practical guide to comedy as you write it, from creating mind maps from which to glean your raw material, to techniques of structure, characterisation and dialogue which work.
· Covers the distinct approaches and mindsets needed by each genre in turn, in the usual progression of a writer's career - from jokes and sketches to sitcoms.

You'll also learn how to find outlets for your work, from submitting to the BBC to staging your own show or filming comedy for the internet.