by Typhoon Lance
There are many books on screenwriting, but only some are worth your time. If you want to learn about the industry and how to craft stories, you need to read the best advice out there. Film school can be expensive, but these books are a fraction of the cost. These are five of the best screenwriting books based on experts’ recommendations. You can buy some of these books to succeed. You can purchase or read none of them and still be okay. But if you’re serious about learning about screenwriting, give some or all a read.
“SAVE THE CAT: The Last Book On Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need.” -By Blake Snyder
“Save The Cat” is a book on screenwriting that provides a scene-by-scene breakdown of a successful screenplay. The book’s title refers to the idea that the protagonist must do something early to make the audience care about them, such as saving a cat. While there is no one secret formula to a successful screenplay, Save The Cat gives screenwriters an excellent overview of potential beats throughout the script. Some writers swear by the book, while others don’t want anything to do with it. Either way, whether they agree with the book’s philosophy is a must-read for anyone interested in screenwriting.
“Screenplay” -By Syd Field
“Screenplay” by Syd Field is a classic screenwriting manual that writers have praised for generations. It is a barebones guide to the craft, covering everything from the importance of the first ten pages to how to write visually and adapt other works. Field’s book thesis is that all successful screenplays follow a three-act structure, each divided into two parts. The first act introduces the main characters and their conflicts, the second act shows them struggling against those conflicts, and the third act resolves the conflicts. Field also emphasizes the importance of visual storytelling. He argues that screenwriters should think about their stories through images and scenes rather than words and dialogue. Screenplay by Syd Field is an essential read for any aspiring screenwriter. It is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the craft that is still relevant today.
“Your Screenplay Sucks!” -By William A. Akers
The book “Your Screenplay Sucks!” Akers offers writers a checklist of 100 questions to answer before considering their script ‘finished. The author uses examples from other writers on how they solved their script problems. Use this book to guide your rewriting process.
“Lew Hunter’s Screenwriting 434” -By Lew Hunter
“Lew Hunter’s Screenwriting 434” is a comprehensive guide to the screenwriting process based on the legendary graduate-level seminar at the University of California Los Angeles. The book guides readers through every process step, from developing ideas to writing and rewriting their original script.
Each chapter of the book focuses on a different aspect of screenwriting; throughout the book, Hunter provides examples from successful screenplays and exercises to help readers develop their skills. He also offers candid advice on the screenwriting industry and how to navigate it successfully. Lew Hunter’s Screenwriting 434 is an essential resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write screenplays. It is a clear, concise, and informative book that covers every aspect of the screenwriting process.
“Write Screenplays That Sell” -By Hal Ackerman
UCLA professor and co-head of the screenwriting program Hal Ackerman taught hundreds of aspiring screenwriting students. Many of Ackerman’s students work in the industry with legends like Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott and in films starring Tom Hanks, Diane Lane, and others.
That’s it for today – Lance.