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Best Screewriting Books

Hey guys!

I'm new here, so I apologize if there's been a thread like this before, but I was just wondering what screenwriting books everyone recommends?

So far I've read:
- Save the Cat
- The Art of Dramatic Writing
- Story (Robert Mckee)

I found all pretty good. Didn't agree with everything that was taught (especially in Story), but I did learn a lot from the different ways each of these guys like to write.

Your thoughts?
 
Hey guys!

I'm new here, so I apologize if there's been a thread like this before, but I was just wondering what screenwriting books everyone recommends?

So far I've read:
- Save the Cat
- The Art of Dramatic Writing
- Story (Robert Mckee)

I found all pretty good. Didn't agree with everything that was taught (especially in Story), but I did learn a lot from the different ways each of these guys like to write.

Your thoughts?

Go with the best and ignore the rest!

David's Trottier's SCRENWRITER'S BIBLE

And the Jarvis Story Craft software tutorial.

And the SPEC FORMAT GUIDE from The writers store (not listed on web site- call and ask) if you can get a copy.
 
Personally, I think the "bible" of screenwriting texts is "Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting" by Syd Field. Excellent book with MANY recent examples (in the updated editions) to make everything easier to understand.
 
Personally, I think the "bible" of screenwriting texts is "Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting" by Syd Field. Excellent book with MANY recent examples (in the updated editions) to make everything easier to understand.

Granted I'm only now getting into screenwriting from a practical stance, but this and Save The Cat have shown me so much. Of course, my big thing with any kind of writing is "Know the rules, so you can break the rules."

Except formatting. That's important. ;)

(Disclaimer: I more or less say the thing about breaking rules as tounge-in-cheek. No wombats were harmed in the making of this post)
 
Screenwriting for Dummies (Laura Schellhardt)

I know some people will turn their noses up when they hear "...for Dummies," but that's a shame. Good book.

I do want to read McKee's Story sometime.

I found this essay written by Sugith Varughese on the net today, and it seems pretty wise to me.

Building the Iceberg: Syd Field or Robert McKee?

I think I'm gonna take the 'you should read 100 screenplays' to heart.

This by Jan Janroy, another thing I just found today, is also pretty thoughtful.

And.
 
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If you're looking for the traditional 3-act structure (which most commercial films tend to follow), it can be summed up with Pixar's 22 rules of storytelling, rule #4:

#4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.

That's the 3-act structure in a nutshell that so many screenwriting books pontificate on. But it's essentially this.

I've read the books on your list, as well as countless others (Robert McKee's STORY while extremely well written - I found to be way too abstract and long winded). However, I still think the best advice (and for FREE) is Pixar's 22 rules of storytelling:

"#1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.

#2: You gotta keep in mind what's interesting to you as an audience, not what's fun to do as a writer. They can be v. different.

#3: Trying for theme is important, but you won't see what the story is actually about til you're at the end of it. Now rewrite.

#4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.

#5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You'll feel like you're losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.

#6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?

#7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.

#8: Finish your story, let go even if it's not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.

#9: When you're stuck, make a list of what WOULDN'T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.

#10: Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you've got to recognize it before you can use it.

#11: Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you'll never share it with anyone.

#12: Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.

#13: Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it's poison to the audience.

#14: Why must you tell THIS story? What's the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That's the heart of it.

#15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.

#16: What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don't succeed? Stack the odds against.

#17: No work is ever wasted. If it's not working, let go and move on - it'll come back around to be useful later.

#18: You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining.

#19: Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.

#20: Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d'you rearrange them into what you DO like?

#21: You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can't just write ‘cool'. What would make YOU act that way?

#22: What's the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there."


I am also an avid listener of John August's podcast (google him). John and Craig Mazin are working screenwriters (not authors of screenwriting books) and chit chat a lot about the craft of screenwriting each week.
 
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