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FIVE BOOKS EMERGING SCREENWRITERS NEED TO READ!

Copyright (c) 2003, Lenore Wright

All screenwriters, whether aspiring or experienced, benefit from the achievements of produced screenwriters. We can learn from the excellence of these writers; but we can also benefit from the common mistakes screenwriters have made in the past by learning to avoid common pitfalls.

Let's face it, some writers would rather READ about writing, than actually WRITE. Unfortunately, most screenwriters I know learned to write great screenplays by writing screenplay after screenplay.

Of course I realize most unproduced writers need input or helpful guidance. So I will cautiously recommend a few well-known books that might help you transform your story into a screenplay.

These books are not difficult to read, however they are challenging to absorb. There is so much to learn. Don't expect to polish them off in one rainy weekend. (CLICK on the author's name to learn more or read a sample.)

~ The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script by Dave Trottier.

TIP: Read this book first. Dave is a great teacher as well as a screenwriter, so he has a gift for making ideas understandable.

~ Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field.

Crisp, succinct, pithy -- just like a good screenplay.

~ Writing Screenplays that Sell by Michael Hauge.

Michael explores the essential elements of a successful screenplay in a practical and helpful way. Reprinted 23 times!

~ Making a Good Script Great by Linda Seger.

This book cover rewriting in depth. Read this book AFTER you have completed a draft of your script.

~ How to Break into the Screenwriting Business by Lenore Wright

Hey, I have to give my own book a plug now and then. This book concerns MARKETING. It will not tell you how to write your script, it will give you an insider's overview of the steps necessary to get your scripts read by the right people and recommended to the movies.

CAUTION: READING IS NOT WRITING

Some pitfalls to look out for as you explore the world of books on screenwriting:

~~ Don't confuse reading about screenwriting with actually writing a screenplay.

~~ Many screenwriters today slavishly follow the structural guidelines in one of the scriptwriting books or lecture courses created by popular script gurus. This is not a potshot at any of the script gurus - the best of them are brilliant teachers with useful, provocative ideas. Many of them offer a very helpful system for focusing a writer's thinking on solving common storytelling problems; but nobody knows everything so gather your knowledge from many reputable sources.

~~ Emerging writers can benefit from writing several scripts on their own BEFORE they take on one of these strenuous scriptwriting systems.

Some recommended guidelines:

=> Let the first draft be YOURS alone.

=> Experiment on your own, see where YOUR story leads YOU.

=> On the rewrite or polish, check in with your favorite guru and see if their guidelines stimulate you somehow to improve your script.

The motion picture offers a rich history of achievement for writers. We can learn from their triumphs and from their mistakes for they faced the same creative challenges we face with our scripts.

Good reading, and good luck!

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