Writing · chapter 11
Sources
These are the books behind this shelf. Each one is worth reading in full, and each disagrees with the others somewhere.
The habit
Read one book at a time, and write a short script before you start the next.
Try it
Read the sample script
The books behind this shelf
- Lajos Egri, The Art of Dramatic Writing Premise and character in three dimensions. Written for playwrights, useful for any dramatist.
- Robert McKee, Story The scene as a unit of change, and character revealed by choice under pressure.
- Syd Field, Screenplay The three act paradigm. A clear first book on structure.
- Blake Snyder, Save the Cat! Loglines and a beat sheet. Good for checking a draft.
- John Truby, The Anatomy of Story Building a story from the character outward, with need and desire at the centre.
- Christopher Vogler, The Writer's Journey The Hero's Journey set out for screenwriters.
- Linda Seger, Making a Good Script Great A guide to rewriting: how to find what is wrong and repair it.
- William Goldman, Adventures in the Screen Trade A working screenwriter on structure and the business of getting films made.
- Alexander Mackendrick, On Film-Making A teacher and director on telling stories in pictures and handling exposition.
- David Mamet, On Directing Film Short and blunt. How plain images in sequence tell a story.
- Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird On first drafts and keeping going. About writing in general, not only scripts.
- David Trottier, The Screenwriter's Bible The reference for screenplay format.