Reddit mentions: The best screenwriting books

I have read many screenwriting manuals over the years, but for me, the best one by far is the humble Teach Yourself: Break Into Screenwriting.

After that the most essential resource I have found is the columns at wordplayer.com. These are written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek etc.) based on their many years of first hand experience at the epicenter of the Hollywood machine.

As for software, the gold standard is Final Draft. It's expensive, but it does take all the headache out of screenplay formatting. There is also an application called Celtx which I think is free, but I haven't used it.

An essential practice in becoming a screenwriting is to read other peoples' scripts, good and bad. At Kevin Spacey's Triggerstreet or Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope you can read scripts by other aspiring writers, and at imsdb.com you can read scripts of films that have been produced and released. Try to get into the habit of reading a script a day and watching a movie a day.

As a (very small time) indie producer who gets sent scripts all the time, I would say the number one beginner's mistake is writing stories that are too expensive to produce. The major studios are the only bodies that can shoot big budget projects, and they won't read unsolicited scripts from unrepresented writers (i.e. without an agent). Getting an agent is a Herculean task in itself (you need to have two great scripts completed and be working on a third before you should even start the process of approaching agents). Independents aren't in a financial position to shoot FX heavy scifi or cast-of-thousands historical epics. So to get the first script produced, screenwriters have to think like a producer, and figure out how to write a story that can be filmed in a cost effective manner. For inspiration watch as many micro-budget films as you can and figure out what works and what doesn't work.

Best wishes for your ongoing endeavors - it is great that you're starting so young and I hope you will achieve success.

I can't think of any resources online off the top of my head, but I'll give you my top tip I wish I'd known when I first started

Everything is visual. It helps to 'see' the scene happening in your head. However, don't over-describe things. General convention says a page of your script is about a minute of screentime. When you're watching a film, a camera panning over scenery quickly becomes dull, so cut the fat on the descriptions and pack it full of dialogue and action.

A quick bit of google-fu has produced this site. I don't really know if it's any good though... Personally I found the book Break into Screenwriting incredibly helpful when just starting out.

I'm by no means an expert, but feel free to shoot me any questions you have - and have fun! I find screenwriting to be incredibly freeing and things I write in this form seen so much more original compared to the prose I write, hopefully you enjoy it just as much.

Agreed. And if you can score a copy, Lawrence Block's Telling Lies For Fun and Profit is also great.

If I may be permitted a plug for a good friend, Alexandra Sokoloff's Screenwriting Tips for Authors

(http://www.amazon.com/Screenwriting-Tricks-Authors-Screenwriters-ebook/dp/B0032JSJ9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1302211307&sr=1-1)

has a lot of excellent advice about three-act structure and the like.

This book will brilliantly solve your problem. He outlines using a “3 disaster” structure for creating a plot and has a brilliant method for starting super-big picture then getting more and more detailed about what should happen in the plot.

How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method (Advanced Fiction Writing) (Volume 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1500574058/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UfXBDbHX2NH44

Yeah I suggest you watch/listen to the following to amuse yourself while you wait for deaths arrival.

This is a must listen before you die.

This is the version to listen to if you can find it online.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosencrantz-Guildenstern-Dead-Radio-Collection/dp/0563226102/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EJ7ZPDMJGQH6&keywords=rosencrantz+and+guildenstern+are+dead+audio&qid=1568717721&sprefix=rosencr%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-1

but failing that there is this version which should be ok.

[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead] (https://archive.org/details/TheDogItWasThatDied)

there is then the film adaptation to watch of it with tim roth. not to be watched before the audiobook though.

[waiting for godot] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izX5dIzI2RE)


Then you should try watching A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence this one you'll have to find a version with subtitles for yourself.

Oh yeah and synecdoche new york is good.


I have a bunch of others if you like.

Obviously go and wathc monty python and the life of bryan and airplane 1 and 2 first if you haven't seen those yet.

There aren't any templates, every show is different and every network is different, but try reading this book: https://www.amazon.com/little-book-SITCOM-John-Vorhaus-ebook/dp/B006IHZ9KU where he goes into detail how you COULD break down an episode and what you should look for. The most important things I found are CHOICES the characters make in your episode. It makes sense to make sure that you have enough emotional beats in your episode and those beats usually come from the choices the characters make.

yes! questions. I did this game at an acting competition back in college... so much fun. the play is by tom stoppard and you can probably order it from amazon or whatever LINK!

I second doesFreeWillyExist. It's from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard. It's described here. And here's the amazon page.

Great play. If you like it, you should also read Waiting for Godot and Buried Child. Similar styles.

Might I recommend this: http://www.amazon.com/little-book-SITCOM-John-Vorhaus-ebook/dp/B006IHZ9KU/

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Book)

This totally reminds me of the cover of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

They're going to get way more than one ton.

I couldn't gift-wrap the Tampons and send them a card but the thought is there.

> "If you leave that sand on your clit it will turn into a pearl."

Holy shit if anyone else reads this and decides to send salt and wants to add a bonus gift