A Writer Directs: Some Potentially Useful Information (Paperback or Softback)

“Dougherty is a humanist who argues that each of us has to look, listen, choose, and commit. His work is as encouraging as it is enlightening.” — Douglas Heil, Prime-Time Authorship


Directing will make you a better writer.

“Directing is where you cross from paper to people. Where the things you imagined have to be articulated to others in the hope of making them real.”

Joseph Dougherty, Emmy winner for his work on the groundbreaking series thirtysomething, brings years of experience “on set” to an exploration of that place where writing and directing meet, interact, and inspire. Where the practical and intangible combine to create something unexpected and unique. Dougherty follows up his hit book on writing, A Screenwriter’s Companion, with a look at what happens when the script is done. A Writer Directs contains Dougherty’s personal thoughts on the craft drawn from a directing career that stretches from thirtysomething to Pretty Little Liars. A Writer Directs continues the intimate creative conversation Dougherty started in A Screenwriter’s Companion. Opinionated, entertaining, thought-provoking, these are books for serious film students and just plain movie lovers. Besides using anecdotes from his professional career, Dougherty uses examples from such films as Narrow Margin, Harry and Tonto, Psycho, Sullivan’s Travels, Columbo, The Verdict, and more.
If you’ve been muttering, “But what I really want to do is direct,” then set the script aside for a moment and open this book.