I'm using "Screenwriting is Storytelling" by Kate Wright to develop an outline for my screnzy project.

I have written screenplays before, but I generally come up with a very rough "this happens at first act break, this happens at second act break..." idea and then just start writing. The whole concept of outlining is something I've resisted, but I'm enjoying this process.

In fact, if the ideas from this book work for this project, I'm contemplating ripping apart another script that I've written and using these ideas for a revision.

Any books working for you on your screnzy prep?

The Screenwriter's Workbook by Syd Field has been something that I've used before. It takes a workbook approach, explaining the importance of a train of thought and then having you participate with an exercise - figuring out a 4 page storyline, 3 chapters on character development, doing index cards for the first act, writing the first act, etc.
It's an older book (1984), but I think it's still relevant to my thought process and writing style.
Peanutgnome

Blake Snyder's 'Save the Cat' is excellent. If you decide to work up your screenplay to sell, it would be well worth reading 'Save the Cat'. He packs a ton of experience and movie analysis into a very readable and amusing book. He blows his own trumpet a little here and there, but I reckon he's entitled to.

I've never read the Kate Wright book, but my personal favorites are:

How to Write a Screenplay in 21 Days by Viki King
This book could fit well with your loose outlining style. Instead of working out every single beat before you start your script, she has you define your major plot points, then freestyle from one point to another.

How Not to Write a Screenplay by Denny Martin Flinn
This is a great book on how to tweak and polish your formatting so that it reads like a professional Hollywood spec. I recommend this book for the rewrite (there's nothing worse than getting blocked on a scene because you can see it PERFECTLY in your mind, but you can't figure out which slug lines to use to format it.)

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
This is a fun, positive and useful book on how to brainstorm, write and sell a blockbuster script in today's market.

Some writers I know outline absolutely everything before they start writing. Some just write it all out and then outline their first draft. I'm glad you're enjoying the process though -- that's the key.

Have fun!

~SistaMoonKitty
Los Angeles ML
"Work hard and be scary" -Robert Rodriguez

Yes, Syd Field is the "authority". His book "Screenplay" is also pretty dry. And any other book about screenwriting will more than likely reference Syd and his method.

Viki King's 21 Days method is great for something like Screnzy, because she's all about letting your mind flow out onto the page but keeping you following all the industry formats.

"500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood Script Reader" by Jennifer Lerch is handy, because she breaks everything down into smaller, easy to follow points... most of which are all based in Syd Field's methods.

So, in the end, everyone should probably read "Screenplay"... and then follow it up with a bunch of books by other writers who read "Screenplay" and take from it what you want.

-

karynbensinger.com

My favorite books are:

"Making a Good Script Great" by Linda Seger
"Screenplay" by Syd Field
"Save the Cat!" by Blake Snyder
"The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters" edited by Karl Iglesias
"How to Write for Animation" by Jeffrey Scott

My least favorite was "Story" by Robert McGee. I find him to be long-winded and overrated. But judge for yourself as some folks like this book.

I also recommend reading tons of scripts. In fact, reading real scripts may help you more than reading books about script writing.

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Scriptfrenzy '07: Darkness Rising (winner!)
Scriptfrenzy '08: Quest for the Soul Stone

Fabulous ML for Denver, Colorado

It's weird, but I love Teach Yourself Screenwriting by Raymond G. Frensham (ISBN - 0844231118). It's easy to read and has diagrams and I've used it with every script I've written so far.

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"But as for me I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote."
- from "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville.

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I didn't get much from Syd Field's classic-- he may be a good screenwriter, but I thought his writing style in Screenplay was sloppy and confusing. I think that book is probably a good example of a book that introduced some amazing concepts that have since been copied by much better writers in better books. In my not-always-that-humble opinion, of course!

I just finished Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies (although I haven't read the first STC! book yet) and it kind of blew my mind. He basically goes through like 50 movies (big blockbusters and smaller indies) and shows how they follow the exact same structure, beat-for-beat. There were a few times when I felt like he was stretching a little to make his point, but overall the book is ridiculously awesome. In my humble opinion.

===

"Words. Words. They're all we have to go on."
- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead

"Adventures in the Screen Trade" and its sequel, "Which Lie Did I Tell?" by William Goldman, are excellent. He wrote Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Princess Bride, and various other classics. These books are not really about the nuts and bolts of writing, more of the general things that tend to make a good screenplay, and the crazy way that Hollywood works or doesn't work. Lots of hilarious anecdotes and analysis of what happened with various projects Goldman was involved with. Pretty entertaining to read, even if these books won't directly improve your craft.

Hi,
I pinched your quote from R&GD. It's very appropriate for a writer.

During March I worked my way through a pile of books in essence covering similar ground but in different styles.

The Complete Idiots Guide to Screenwriting - It gives a broad overview of the history of the film industry, the market, the current screenwriting gurus and their approaches, some info on writing, and how to sell your final script. Good overview but not a writing manual.

How NOT to Write a Screenplay - A good set of what not to do and what to do. Probably best after you've written your first draft. Worth the money.

Billion-Dollar Kiss - All about writing for American TV. A real eye opener. It's on sale at a ridiculously low price on Amazon.com. At that price worth a read.

How To Write A Movie In 21 Days - A gem of a book that convinced me that it was possible to do a first draft in about 30 days. Viki King is inspirational.

Save The Cat - by Blake Snyder. A more sophisticated expression of some of the ideas in the Viki King book. It extends and contributes some additional ideas and refinements. Worth a read and a ponder.

The Moral Premise - Thought provoking and insightful. Has ideas that seem applicable to all types of writing and indirectly claims to eliminate writer's block. Worth a read.

A book just arrived today from Amazon UK The Anatomy of Story - by John Truby. Still to read but the videos on youtube.com make interesting watching. Search for John Truby, Anatomy of Story.

Like so many things sometimes it boils down to a matter of taste of what works for each of us.

Guildenstern Words. Words. They're all we have to go on.
- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead

http://www.writinginscotland.com/

I'll add my two cents. I've read Syd Field's books, as well as Story by Robert McKee. I thought they were both just decent, but not spectacular.

I'll mention two other books I really enjoyed that have not been mentioned so far.

SCREENWRITING by Richard Walter was published in 1988 and is probably out of print. Walter taught screenwriting at UCLA film school. Short, concise, and I got a lot out of it. Good tips of writing, conquering writers' block, and some sales and marketing tips. I re-read it a couple times. Worth searching out.

A more wide-ranging, expansive approach is on offer in THE COMPLETE BOOK OF SCRIPTWRITING by J. Michael Straczynski (writer producer on Babylon 5 and Murder She Wrote), which covers screenplays, radio plays, stage plays, teleplays and even animation. Whew. More of a broad overview. Over 400 pages. I did extract a few nuggets of goodness from this hefty tome.

"Let's have some new cliches." - Sam Goldwyn
www.bmoviebooks.com