Having written professionally for thirty-plus years, I've read dozens of books on "how to write." They range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and only a relative few have been -- and continue to be -- helpful. Jerry Rannow's delightful Writing Television Comedy is a welcome addition to my bookshelf, not because I'm interested in writing TV comedy but because it helps me WRITE -- period! While the book does target the aspiring sitcom writer, it also offers valuable tips and inspiration for ALL writers.
I often struggle with so-called writer's block, and Rannow's book provides me with several different techniques for breaking through it. The chapter entitled Managing The Story Muscle is particularly helpful, but I can open the book almost at random and find a jump-start to get me going. Sometime's it's just a reminder, like: "So-called writer's block is simply FEAR, but when you sit down and concentrate and focus on the story at hand, you erase that fear." And sometimes I discover that the problem was in my plot, or a character wasn't ringing true.
The book also reminds me of ways to look for the humorous aspects of life, because I frequently use humor in my own writing: in radio and TV spots, print ads, newspaper articles, and the novel I'm currently completing. So if you're already a paid professional or still a wannabe writer, I highly recommend Jerry Rannow's book. It really IS well worth the price, and a whole lot more!