Screenwriting : Favorite Books on Writing and on Screenwriting by Bill Costantini

I don't know any books just about general writing, so I'll name my two favorite screenwriting books: "Your Screenplay Sucks" by William Akers, and "My Story Can Beat Up Your Story" by Jeffrey Alan Schechter. Oh, and Robert McKee's "Story" is essential of course... but I assume the prison library would already have a copy.

I'm taking Richard Walter's Essentials of Screenwriting AND Lennon and Garant's Writing Movies for Fun and Profit. I might sneak Save the Cat in, as well.

About writing in general, I would take either The Art of Dramatic Writing - by Lajos Egri, or Story - by Robert McKee. About screenwriting in particular, I would take Writing for Emotional Impact - by Karl Iglesias (amazing book), or The Moral Premise - by Stanley Williams. All of those books helped my writing tremendously, once I had mastered structure.

I would have said to the other side of the galaxy, if you really want to think outside of the box. LOL.

Good choices. Thanks for your comments thus far.

Guess I need to look into other books cause I only read the screenwriter's bible

I like The Screenwriter's Bible, especially for newbies to screenwriting.

Screenwriter's Bible

I read a lot of books about writing and screenwriting. Afterwards it was like Goethe said: 'And here, poor fool, I stand once more, // No wiser than I was before.' Hence, I gave up reading books about writing by which I have now more time for writing. :))

So you didn't learn anything from all those books, Elizabeth? My rule is, if I learn only one useful thing from a book then it was worth the money. I have several dozen screenwriting books and feel I haven't wasted a cent because I've learnt something from each one.

No, because for some reason I knew these things already, learned them by doing and some things I found and still find logical to do. Hence, all these books disappointed me and cost a lot of money. I found most interesting Dorothea Brande's 'Becoming a Writer' as it is of 1934 and everything she wrote is still valid, because she concentrates on the writer. Too long for here... but a recommendable book.

The entire Samuel French Bookstore screenwriting section....

Also, the entire Writers Bookstore screenwriting section...

The 'Paris Review' Interviews. There are several volumes. Any large public library will have them. Each volume has a few dozen in-depth interviews with writers, poets, screenwriters and playwrights. It's another writer interviewing them (so the topics are really interesting). They show a few pages of their manuscripts too, so you can see how they each re-write (and why). It's been going for decades, so you can learn about the creative process of all different types of writers from various eras. Inspiring stuff.

I'm currently re-reading for the third time my favorite screenwriting book, by Joe Eszterhas, "The Devil's Guide to Hollywood". Next up, I want to buy and read John Jarrell's "Tough Love Screenwriting".

Elizabeth, you suggest you did not learn anything from the film books you read, you begin writing without instruction, that it was all logical for you to do this or that - the said books all disappointed you, but you gleaned so much from a 1934 book, Becoming a Writer, by Dorothea Brande - I suggest that is not the same as Becoming a SCREENWRITER. You provide 5 loglines, 5 sentences or paragraphs - no offence, but big deal - I would love to see some of your work, I would love to explore this natural talent that you possess that does not require instruction, please allow us to view a sample of your work - 10 pages will suffice - I couldn't do it, but would welcome an opportunity to witness your natural talent, that somehow you understood a 3 Act Play and the nuances, the set up, the first turning point, the mid-point, the second turning point, the subtext, how you create the dramatic tension, all this ALL of your logic - please, this I gotta see, SHOW US SOME OF THIS MARVELLOUS WORK, I await with bated breath, cheers.

If you download and read several dozen screenplays, you'd have a pretty strong idea of how to write one.

Chanel, I don't give a damn on what people think about me and am not interested in you, but find it strange that you are so interested in me and then can't spell my name correctly. Really strange. I just speak my mind and enjoy that you literally offend me and underline it by 'no offense but big deal'. Wonder what you got done here with these 3 screenplays that you wrote 'years ago' as you mention it on each and what you did so far ever since. I started very early and learned by watching films, by filming and reading others screenplays. Then, yes, you are such a 'pro'.... that you welcome newbies to this site the way you did it here. This is my first week on stage32, hence, forgive me that it takes a while to post things and find out how it works. But it is more than you got presented here since you came here ... when was it? Three years ago - WOW. Thumb up! Such a pro like you should know that all the things you say, write and think about me tell more about you than it will ever tell about me.

@Fiona - Exactly. Thanks. Plus, obviously I never said I did not learn from other's advice or had no teachers. Only these books don't help me as their advice differ from book to book. Hence, I discovered the best way how to write a screenplay is to find your own way by doing = trying what works best for my stories and not to follow structures all others follow which leads to films like TV series where you know from begin on how it will end. Nevertheless, I appreciate the promotion some people gave my profile. Thank you!

STEP 1: 1-3 words... Type the TITLE

STEP 2: 5-8 words... Ty[e the THEME

STEP 3: 15-25 words... Type the LOGLINE

STEP 4: Describe (A) GOOD GUY, (B) BAD GUY, (C) SETTING, (D) SITUATION and (E)......

STEP 5: Figure out (E) CONFLICT... and when you Type the LOGLINE of 15-25 words have 5-9 words state the CONFLICT... i.e. "And Conflicts arise when.... (Duh-Da, Duh-Da....)

STEP 6: Type 2-3 pages, double-spaced prose and write the TREATMENT

STEP 7: Instantly, in TREATMENT, state the 5 Ws & H (Who, What, Where, Why & How)... www.WebFilmSchool.com

@Dov S-S Simens: ;)) you are so cool.

Bill, my favorite book is "Invisible Ink; A Practical Guide to Building Stories That Resonate" by Brian McDonald. The author talks extensively about themes and subtext -- understanding what your story is really about; reveal its inner workings. This is the first book I ever read about storytelling and it encouraged me to delve further. :)

Read scripts. That's the best way to learn the craft.

I love Dara Marks' Inside Story. It's particularly helpful with second act issues.

Fiona, if it were that simple, why did you bother with a Master of Screenwriting from VCA film and TV - oh, and you did mention incase we missed it, the top university in the country - I don't dispute your claim, but I would suggest it is extremely unlikely in 99% of cases, so let us agree to disagree, cheers.

Dear Elisabeth, thank you for taking the time to respond, I suggest before you correct my spelling error, perhaps you should concentrate on your grammar, or did you not learn that from books either as it all came naturally for you - I presume 5 loglines suggests 5 screenplays, that is considerable work and an excellent body of work - it is daunting to upload screenplays for public scrutiny and I admire writers with the courage that do so, so I ask you again, let us see some of your work - you initially inferred that it all came naturally to you from reading scripts, now you mention you took advice and had teachers - I don't doubt your ability, but I would love to see/read what NATURAL talent looks like on paper - cheers.

Either Saving the Cat or The Screenwriter's Bible

Channel :))),, I speak 5 languages and I placed more here in one week than you in 3 years. Thanks again for the free promotion for my person and profile.

Hahaha, so we are talking short films, 3, 4 and 8 pages, plus 5 loglines, not only, but also 5 languages - English and German, may I ask the other 3? - so this is your MORE in one week than my 3 years, lol - Elisabeth, you obviously don't aim high if that is the best you can come up with - happy to oblige with the promotion, but I respect the fact you uploaded 3 short screenplays for public scrutiny.

Ladies, please. And, Elisabeth, sorry, but in all fairness, Chanel has been contributing to this community for three years now. You've been here for a month or two. Nonetheless, both of you and your contributions are greatly appreciated. So, let's not get too carried away in any language. Let's keep the peace. Besides, this behavior is beneath us, yes? Please, let's get back to the subject of the thread. Thank you so much. :)

Some good books mentioned already. The first book I read was really good for an introduction to the fundamentals of formatting. It's called."The Hollywood Standard" by Christopher Riley.

@Beth I'm here since a week and wonder why I am now blamed for this conversation that Chanel started with her insults. Have you read the whole conversation? So you don't see how Chanel - no matter how long she is here - offends others (like Fiona and me) publicly? And I may not defend myself? Hello? I want peace and I didn't want to react first, but she insulted me and I'm awaiting her excuse. Thanks

Elisabeth you kinda bought it on yourself by saying you have natural talent and knew how to write a screenplay some how mystically or by osmosis by watching films. chanel simply doesnt believe you knew how to format and write stories without any guidance. i agree with her. we see this big talk all the time and i guess some of us get fed up with it. that is why chanel asked you to prove your big talk. i'm not interested in keeping this going, just wanted to explain the why for you.

Beth, I realise you have a difficult role to play as a referee, but an experienced referee knows when to let the game flow - the small skirmish between Elisabeth and I is incredibly tame and shouldn't warrant your attention - you are an experienced writer, you should appreciate the sub-text in my conversation with this new member - the subject of this thread is Favourite Books on Writing and on Screenwriting - most here acknowledge the value of the multiple books at our disposal, but one dissenting voice suggests it's unnecessary and it all came NATURALLY to her - fair enough, she might be gifted, but I was skeptical and asked for a sample of her work - to my mind it is keeping within the bounds of the subject matter and a valid question - again, please read the sub-text, you are, after all a semi-finalist in Page and have the expertise, there is no malice on my part, merely curiosity and examples of her work - the new member has graciously uploaded her short film scripts of 3, 4 and 8 pages, I respect that token, other members can read her work and cast judgement as to whether perhaps she should re-visit those book opportunities rather than rely on outside "advise" - cheers.

Elisabeth, it was not an attack nor offensive, you need to acquire a thick skin - you made assertions, I simply challenged those assertions - your work of short scripts is up, I congratulate you for this, other members that read your work will determine whether you erred in not reading the said books, or praise you for the quality and magnificence of your work - there is no "excuse", so there is no need to wait - I suspect Fiona can defend herself, if she was offended by a little facetiousness, she needs to hand back her degree - welcome to S32, we are here to help you, one only needs to ask, cheers.

Simply forget it. I am not interested in you and just spoke my mind to the question of this topic and you don't like my answer - and reacted in a way which is really not acceptable. There is really no reason to insult and defame anyone. Never. Absolute NO GO! Again: I am not interested in you and your friends and I will not show any further scripts here to avoid a new confrontation and your prejudices against me. And @Beth: This is what people like her cause and I think this should not happen. I know what I can and I sold my scripts so far and make my living by writing since over a decade, almost 20 years now. Hence, my work and I can't be so bad - no matter whether you like it or not. Simply leave me alone finally. You made a mistake and then even don't have the fairness and the decency to excuse. With such people I definitely don't want to work with. Hence, I will simply ignore each further comments by you and your friends and also all contact and conversation. But, thanks again for all the attention you brought to my person and my profile - no sarcasm, I'm serious with that. Actually we should become fellows and work this out as a PR strategy (just my optimism to make the best out of everything). But again: No, thanks!

Oof. "Chanel's been here longer than you" gave my inner 10-year-old a tummy ache. The principal told me the same thing when I got beat up my first week at a new school. I understand why you said it, @Beth, but it's easy to read than sans context as suggesting Elisabeth has less standing here than the veterans. And that should never be the case. Sorry, no extra points for moderating the moderator (or jumping into a fray that's already on probation) but my inner 10-year-old couldn't keep quiet. I'm done now.

@Kerry True was pretty unfair, but I think I gave her the right answer - first to read everything. Thanks anyway, made me feel a little better while being in the line of fire. Everything I said is true; that's all I know and so I can leave this battlefield with my head held high. Thanks anyway for speaking your mind.

Let's get back to the subject. Thanks.

Read my free screenwriting articles every day. There's 400 of them, and they add up to a stack of books: http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip226.htm

It's a Bloody Formula that we (Hollywood) stole from Shakespeare, who stole from Marlowe, who stole from Chaucer, who stole from Plato, who stole from Socrates, who stole from a Mayan, who stole from an Aztecan, who stole from a caveman... It's a Formula... Every script of 40-50 scenes has 5 UH-OHS, 5 OH-SHITS & 1 OH-MY-GOD. That's what I call structure. Now everyone stop reading this and get to your script be you use Final Draft or Celtx asnd move your fingers. Writers write, Thinkers Think, and if any of you have a job paying you money to-think then you better keep that job... If not... Then move your fingers God Bless & Happy Filmmaking Dov Simens "The Cranky Old Film-Teacher"