The Craft of Screenwriting

"John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, The Anatomy of Story draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby's own unique approach to building an effective, multifaceted narrative."

- Google Books

Create a skeleton to flesh out the themes and plotlines of your story so you can keep clear direction when writing.

This book is suitable for anyone writing an intricate plot with compelling perspectives.  John Truby will help you workshop your script and develop inspirational ideas into suitable screenplays, just like he did for many other screenwriters who successfully saw their scripts debut in Hollywood.

"This is the first true textbook for a course in screenwriting. Story Sense provides specific strategies for writing story, character, and script. A wealth of techniques are suggested so that screenwriters can select those that work best for them. The book has been conceived as a working manual for screenwriters and offers hands-on advice for solving the many problems that crop up as the work progresses. In addition, the book includes examples of script format, a glossary of film terms, the Writer's Guild's compensation terms, and such insider examples as a sample studio script evaluation form, a sample script analysis, a sample studio reader's questionnaire, and a sample re-write."

- Google Books

Learn how to craft concise story concepts that will have people itching to read your script.

This book is suitable for authors of all types and levels. Story Sense provides tools to develop engaging and intelligent storylines with emotionally and psychologically ambitious characters. It will guide you step by step to understand the character's thoughts, actions, and ideas. It also explains how to develop structure, dramatization, and anything else needed to write a perfect script or fictional story. You will continue to highlight passages and refer to this "Bible" throughout your writing journey. So keep this book close by; as a screenwriter, all the answers you need are here.

"The 21st Century Screenplay is the much-expanded successor to the author's Scriptwriting Updated. Many books in one, it offers a comprehensive, highly practical manual of screenwriting from the classic to the avant-garde, from The African Queen and Tootsie, to 21 Grams, Pulp Fiction, Memento and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Whether you want to write short films, features, adaptations, genre films, ensemble films, blockbusters or art house movies, this book takes you all the way from choosing the brilliant idea to plotting, writing and rewriting. Featuring a range of insider survival tips on time-effective writing, creativity under pressure and rising to the challenge of international competition, The 21st Century Screenplay is essential reading for newcomer and veteran alike."

- Amazon

Learn how to break stories down into core concepts so you can give your own story the structure it needs.

Linda Aronson does not simply provide checklists of what should be in a good screenplay but offers incisive analyses and examples that help you understand how to write and rewrite your script. She also uses many chapters to explain the structure of nonlinear plot structures. This book is a thoughtful and informative read, though it's most likely best approached as a manual.

"Anyone fortunate enough to win a seat in Professor Richard Walter's legendary class at UCLA film school can be confident their career has just taken a quantum leap forward. His students have written more than ten projects for Steven Spielberg alone, plus hundreds of other Hollywood blockbusters and prestigious indie productions, including two Oscar winners for best original screenplay—Milk (2008) and Sideways (2006).

In this updated edition, Walter integrates his highly coveted lessons and principles from Screenwriting with material from his companion text, The Whole Picture, and includes new advice on how to turn a raw idea into a great movie or TV script-and sell it. There is never a shortage of aspiring screenwriters, and this book is their bible."

- Goodreads

Take a look at how real scripts are analyzed and critiqued by industry professionals.

Essentials of Screenwriting covers all the big stuff in detail-- theme, conflict, character, and dialogue. But this book goes deeper, exploring the interplay of psychology, art, and commerce before defining a 'foolproof, shockproof, waterproof, tamper resistant' method for reaching an agent. It cuts to the chase with more style, wisdom, and humor than all other screenwriting books combined. It's a fun, and informative read packed with practical knowledge about the biz along with profound insights on every conceivable subject, mistake, obstacle, and challenge a screenwriter is likely to face. For example, professor Walter knows that movies are much more than just a way to kill a few hours on a Saturday night. Great movies express the love, pain, suffering, joy, triumph, and tragedy of the human experience. That's why we love them. This book will help you write them.

"[Screenplay: Writing the Picture is] a complete screenwriting course - from initial idea through final script sale providing in-depth discussions of theme development; story research; script plotting and structuring; character development; dialogue; writing and rewriting methods; formatting; the ins and outs of marketing and pitching scripts; writing for TV, the Web and video games, and much more. Well-written, comprehensive, and filled with both innovative and tried-and-true writing techniques, illustrative screenplay examples, and sage advice from veteran writers, Screenplay will help novices, as well as working screenwriters, improve and sell their scripts. The second edition of this popular manual is completely revised, reflecting current film industry practices, and includes new chapters on such subjects as Webisodes and video games, as well as updates to its many examples."

- Amazon

Learn about how small, easily forgettable details like format can influence the acceptance or rejection of your script.

Russin and Downs have written a masterful book. Considering the number of excellent books on the topic of screenplays that already exist, these authors have not only covered all the typical details of screenwriting craft, but they have also gone above and beyond, making sure to give helpful, often-forgotten advice. They point out that the screenwriter is not writing for an audience, but for a reader. Russin and Downs will ensure that your craft is up to par as you establish yourself as a successful screenwriter.

"Blake Snyder tells all in this fast, funny, and candid look inside the movie business. “Save the Cat” is just one of many ironclad rules for making your ideas more marketable and your script more satisfying, including:

Work your screenwriting muscle with exercises designed to stretch your capabilities.

- The seven immutable laws of screenplay physics

- Mastering the 15 Beats

- How to get back on track with proven rules for script repair

This ultimate insider’s guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a showbiz veteran who’s proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat."

- Google Books

If you want a book that will tell you how to write blockbuster stories for the biggest audience, there's not a better one on the market. The script formulas outlined in this book are easily recognizable in current media and easily translatable into your own work. By following the Blake Snyder's suggestions, you're sure to turn your screenplay into a palatable script.