Kicking things off....

[mscherer]

Okay, we've all read'em. Devoured them. Probably threw one or two up against the wall, but we have all read books that have made us better writers. That's what this category is all about.

Share your favorite books – don’t have to be screenwriting related – maybe you have read a book on fiction writing that gave you an insight into writing better scripts. Maybe to write that RomCom you stumbled upon a book about writing Romance novels that gave you an assist. Anything.

Also, share with us the worst writing book you have ever read, too. Steer us clear of that puppy. Our time can be better spent writing

The Library doors are open – let the mayhem begin!

[mbarrett]

I found two screenwriting books that have actually helped me the most. They are Blake Snyder's - Save the Cat and Syd Field's - The Foundations of Screenwriting. I go back to Blake Snyder's more. I wrote a couple screenplays based off the beat sheet method.

My latest - screenplays have been based off a hodgepodge of structures.

As far as general books not related. I haven't read any lately. The last book that I read was - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. It was excellent. I thought that it should be made into a movie and what do you know - it's coming out soon, maybe already has.

[Sean Z P Harris]

I have to say that the only book I'm always thinking of buying these days is Save the Cat. I do hear such good things about it.

I've read the usual suspects: McKee, Field, Seger.

However, it is a relatively unknown writer (well, at least in the circles I frequent) that I like the most when it comes to how-to books, and his name is Dwight V. Swain.

Writing his best know book Techniques of the Selling Writer back in the 60s, it contains a lot of what you read in the so called guru's bibles of the modern day. It's aimed at novelists, but it translates well to writing in general. He also wrote a book simply called Film scriptwriting: a practical manual. Although by today's standards he would appear to not delve deep enough into the craft, I think it covers the foundations well. I really love that book!

I've not read the second edition, but I believe the preface mentions that fact that readers of the first book were put out by some of his more misogynistic statements. Personally, I found them quite amusing and an indicator of the times the book(s) were written.

[antjackson]

William Akers: Your Screenplay Sucks
This is a great book. Anecdotal in it's style but practical with its advice.

Tales From The Script is also an easy and informative read.

[JPRfilm]

One of my favourites is William Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade. It's an entertaining look at his early writing career and whilst it is mostly anecdotal, there is plenty to extract from his writing. The book also includes the full screenplay for Butch Cassidy and Goldman discusses adapting one of his own short stories.

[mscherer]

77kart asked me on the STRUCTURE board: what are the three must-have, wouldn't-want-to-be-stranded-on-a-desert-island-without books?
Didn’t have to think too long or too hard about that one. Here is my answer in no particular order:

1. Your Screenplay Sucks by William Akers
2. Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc by Dara Marks
3. The Coffee Break Screenwriter: Writing Your Script Ten Minutes at a Time by Pilar Alessandra

Thoughts? Opinions?

[Sean Z P Harris]

Jan 11, 2012 8:37:33 GMT -5 mscherer said:

77kart asked me on the STRUCTURE board: what are the three must-have, wouldn't-want-to-be-stranded-on-a-desert-island-without books?
Didn’t have to think too long or too hard about that one. Here is my answer in no particular order:

1. Your Screenplay Sucks by William Akers
2. Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc by Dara Marks
3. The Coffee Break Screenwriter: Writing Your Script Ten Minutes at a Time by Pilar Alessandra

Thoughts? Opinions?

I've not read any of those books. I'm tempted to look them up on Amazon come pay day. The Coffee Break Screenwriter sounds right up my street seeings how I do most of my writing on the bus.

[zzf]

Jan 11, 2012 2:49:27 GMT -5 antjackson said:

William Akers: Your Screenplay Sucks
This is a great book. Anecdotal in it's style but practical with its advice.

This book is GREAT, especially in the rewriting phase because it has a CHECKLIST of things for the writer to take into account (which all seems rather easy when you're reading work that is not your own, but the blinders we all put on when it comes to our scripts).

I have read a lot of these books. I am kind of a junkie for them. Someone once told me to get THE WAR OF ART, and I would consider that to be just as valuable a tool as any from a motivational perspective, but from an actual writing standpoint, YOUR SCREENPLAY SUCKS is a very good resource.

[oz]

Most of my favorites aren't screenwriting-focused but have taught me a great deal.
-Story Structure Architect by Victoria Schmidt
-The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lermer
-On Writing by Stephen King'
-Writing for Emotional Impact (don't recall the author and don't see the book on my shelf from here)
and, of course, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

[mscherer]

Oz,

The author of Writing for Emotional Impact is Julio Iglesias, err... Karl Iglesias (I always get those two confused .

I have Story Structure Architect by Victoria Schmidt -- a very useful reference tool. And of course, like any true writer, I have read Stephen King's On Writing.

I intend to look into The Forest for the Trees.