Synopsis of Created By...: Inside the Minds of TVs Top Show Creators

As entertaining as it is enlightening, Created By... presents a stellar cast of 21 show creators who candidly talk about writing and selling hit television series: J.J. Abrams ( Alias , Lost ); Alan Ball ( Six Feet Under ); Yvette Lee Bowser ( Living Single , Half &;amp Half ); Mark Brazill ( That '70s Show ); Ilene Chaiken ( The L Word ); Larry David ( Seinfeld , Curb Your Enthusiasm ); Tom Fontana ( Oz ); Tracy Gamble ( 8 Simple Rules ); Dave Hackel ( Becker ); Barbara Hall ( Joan of Arcadia ); Brenda Hampton ( 7th Heaven , Fat Actress ); Bill Lawrence ( Scrubs ); Dennis Leoni ( Resurrection Blvd. ); Max Mutchnick and David Kohan ( Will &;amp Grace ); Tracy Newman and Jonathan Stark ( According to Jim ); Josh Schwartz ( The O.C. ); Shawn Ryan ( The Shield ); Amy Sherman-Palladino ( Gilmore Girls ); Joss Whedon ( Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Angel ). They discuss influences: writing spec scripts; first jobs in TV; getting an agent; mentors; being staffed as a writer; the pitch; writing a pilot; putting yourself in the characters you create; rewriting; producing a pilot; marketing; hiring a writing staff; making a show last; TV writing vs. film writing; drama vs. sitcom; cable vs. network TV; what show creators look for in a writer; writers block; luck..and much more. This is a lively, well-written must-have book for all screenwriters and television writers - wannabes, novices, and professionals - as well as all avid TV fans.