Amazon.com
How does a spec script differ from a shooting script? What kind of fasteners should one use to bind a script? How did the term MOS come to mean without sound? You'll find the answers to these pressing questions and much more in David Trottier's eminently usable Screenwriter's Bible. The avuncular Trottier--a writer-producer, script consultant, and seminar leader--has written a friendly guide through the Hollywood morass. He touts it as six books in one: it's "a screenwriting primer, a screenwriting workbook, a formatting guide, a spec writing guide, a sales and marketing guide, [and] a resource guide."
Much of Trottier's advice is common sense: "Don't write anything that cannot appear on the screen"; to keep casting options open, don't make your physical descriptions too specific; "don't say Ron Howard is looking at the project if he is not." But there are things to know about Hollywood that are, well, quirkier. Don't write the title of your script on the front cover or side binding; present action sequences using the "stacking action" style; in query letters and scripts alike, avoid "big blocks of black ink." Trottier's guidance--from character development and revision to queries and pitches--is invaluable. Getting in the door can seem impossible, but it's not, necessarily. "If you write a script that features a character who has a clear and specific goal," says Trottier, "where there is strong opposition to that goal leading to a crisis and an emotionally satisfying ending, your script will automatically find itself in the upper five percent."
(By the way, MOS is said to have "originated with German director Eric von Stroheim, who would tell his crew, 'Ve'll shoot dis mid out sound'"). --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
The Screenwriter's Bible is six books in one. Book 1 -- A screenwriting primer that provides a concise presentation of screenwriting basics. Book 2 -- A workbook that walks the writer through the writing process, from nascent ideas through revisions. Book 3 -- A formatting guide that presents correct formats for both screenplays and TV scripts. Book 4 -- A spec writing guide that demonstrates today's spec style through sample scenes and analysis. Book 5 -- A sales and marketing guide that presents proven strategies to help you create a laser-sharp marketing plan. Book 6 -- A resource guide that provides addresses and contacts for industry organizations, schools, publications, support groups, services, contests, etc. Among its wealth of practical information are sample query letters, useful worksheets and checklists, hundreds of examples, sample scenes, and straightforward explanations of screenwriting fundamentals. The "Bible" was a featured selection of The Writer's Digest Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
I carry it with me on a daily basis........2007-10-13
Being a first time screenwriter, this has been absolutely priceless to me. I would highly recommend this to newbie's and people that have been doing it for a while. It's a must have.
warning.......2007-09-23
The book is full of good information butif in browsing it, you see the website www.clearstream.com and hope to find the promised additional help on line, forget it. That web site is owned by a German investment company (for the past year or so). I Googled David Trotter (author of the book) and found him not.
This does not negate the value of the info in the book itself.
Must have for screenwriters.......2007-09-21
IT gives you what you need to have a screenwriting foundation - especially the technical aspect.
Top reference for writing Spec Scripts.......2007-09-04
Well written, easy to follow with alot of good advise. This really opened my eyes to the world of Spec Scripts which focus on the story (stay away from giving camera angles - because for the most part its the story that studios want to buy, they already have a staff who will put in the camera angles - they just want the story!!!).
Spec Scripts are what gets your foot in the door (just the story in a format that is read by the Hollywood script readers - who then intern recommend it to the studio).
If you are serious about writting (novels, plays, movies, managa) this book shows you the basic format of Spec Scripts. Once you have completed a sub script you can turn it into anything e.g. novel, play, movie, manga).
Anyone considering screenwriting NEEDS this book........2007-08-05
Hey everyone, I've owned and read two editions of this book so far and it never fails to help inspire me or answer my questions. I highly recommend this book for the beginner. It starts with a primer on plot basically. It seeks to create a strong foundation because if you know nothing about plot structure and try to write a movie it will turn out either confusing or very boring. David really stresses the 3 act, 7 plot point structure that is the basic framework of creative writing. This can be repetitive, but he really wants to hammer it into your head.
The book also have a whole section on format. I have screenwriting software to do the format for me so I don't look at this as much as I used to, but it still comes in handy. I wrote my first screenplay in Word so this chapter really taught me a lot. Also, software or not, you need to know the basic framework of a spec script.
So, maybe this book doesn't have everything, but I have found this to be the only book I've ever used. Other books I've read on sreenwriting have had a lot of talking by the author. The author just keeps rambling on about things and not teaching me. David stays focused and keep you focused. This book's main purpose is to fill your head with facts. David also injects humor into his writing so you can stay entertained. In the formatting section he writes an amusing story of how he teaches a class in spec script format for example.
When it comes to the more advanced writer, you probably don't need this book, but if you are looking for a refresher course then you need look nowhere else. But what is really good about his approach is that it is focused on you, the spec script writer. He doesn't want to cloud your head with unnecessary camera direction and specials effects- things that the spec writer has no control over. All this happens after the script is sold. It's your job to tell a story using as much detail and action as possible. Don't get caught in the dialog trap- movies are mostly visual.
When you have finished your work and need help marketing it, there is a section of the book devoted to this difficult step. This is the only book on screenwriting I have found useful. Most self-help books I get no use out of. I dig this out whenever I start a new screenwriting project. I do hope to find a more advanced book written in a style like this however, as I have moved past the meat and potatoes stuff.
Book Description
Updated and revised, this new edition of the best-selling favorite enables readers to master the fundamentals of humor writing and better understand the demands of the comedic market. Comedy Writing Secrets now includes:
-Examples from comedy greats as well as cutting-edge contemporary comedians, including Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, and Tina Fey
-A complete spectrum of techniques, from writing one-liners and stand-up routines, to finding a market for one's work
-Step-by-step writing exercises accompanied with sample answers, so readers can practice and hone their skills
With this guide, aspiring comics can learn how to sharpen their comedic talent and turn it into a well-paying pursuit.
Customer Reviews:
You'll love it!... if you're 67.......2007-09-21
The reason there are no good books on comedy is because it is an inherently impossible field to "break down" and "explain." These guys do an okay job of relaying the history of comedy, but they do nothing to actually explain anything.
Besides that fundamental flaw, these guys are simply too old and the book reads like my grandfather's "1001 Polish Jokes." This advice would have been pretty helpful is honing your standup routine for Ed Sullivan but in 2007 it just seems pathetic and lame.
Dated, but useful.......2007-09-13
If you can get this book cheap, then I would recommend it simply for the fundamentals. However, it is a painful book to read; it is very old (1987) and, ahem, in some ways politically incorrect (but then again, everyone is so damn sensitive these days). I first read this book in 1989 - and it was useful. I picked it up again this year (2007) and realized two great lessons: 1) That some forms of comedy are classic and will always work. 2) That times change and humor does as well ... what might have worked for you two years ago may need to be reworked and changed around.
Well done!!!.......2007-07-26
This is a good book for anyone who wants to learn methods and concepts on comedy writing, or even how to construct material/jokes for their own personal life. This book is aimed toward people going into stand-up or comedy writing, but it is also very useful for people who just want to broaden their sense of humor. This book is broken down into different concepts and joke types, and each joke type is explained on how it is constructed. This book also has exercises on how to observe things differently, particularly how to "find the funny" in everyday things, and to take these observations and turn them into tools for laughter. I recommend this book to anyone entering the field of comedy, and also to people who would just like to expand their sense of humor. There are also some very good jokes inside! Very enjoyable read!
What other comedy books don't tell you.......2007-07-13
And it's not because they are withholding the information either!
Breaking down comedy into a scientific method is not an easy process. PLUS, there's a lot more to it than just understanding the core structure of comedy. With that being said, I think you'll find a lot of gems in this book that will make you funnier in your every day life.
Not just for writing comedy, this book will help you be funnier in general in your interactions with your friends and co-workers.
A lot of it deal with content. As this book was written for Comedy WRITING, it was written in mind that you cannot use your personality, way of acting as a shtick. So it relies heavily on the CONTENT... it's very potent, because communication is said to be over 90% body language.
If this is true, and you learn (and you can) to be funny with the remaining 10%, IMAGINE... how funny you could be if you started working on your general ating shticks and personas.
I've used this book to see how I could use it in my every day to be more interesting in general I think it will serve you well if that's what you're looking for.
VERY HELPFUL FOR ACTORS.......2007-03-09
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK OVERALL. AS AN ACTOR I HAVE FOUND THE TECHNIQUES HELPFUL FOR MY ACTING AND SCREENWRITING AS WELL. YOU REALLY NEED TO BE PATIENT WITH THIS BOOK AS IT IS LONG-WINDED AT TIMES. IT'S QUITE THROUGH THOUGH AND DOING THE LITTLE HOMEWORK EXERCISES IS IMPORTANT. THE FUDAMENTAL CONCEPTS ARE HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES, IF THERE WILL BE ON.
JAY MADHAV, HOLLYWOOD
Book Description
Explains the processes of developing, pitching, and submitting stories. The book includes such unique information as a 10-point checklist for a completed script, the eight most common reasons why a script can be rejected, what really happens to a script once it's submitted, how to navigate within the industry, and much more.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful for screenwriters at the start of their career.......2007-05-19
An industry veteran of 25 years, Kathie Fong Yoneda is both a story analyst at Paramount and a script consultant. Her background as a development executive gives her an excellent perspective for helping screenwriters can break down the gates to Hollywood. And this book aims to do just that.
The book is divided into four major parts: working on the script, meetings and pitches, submissions and relationships. It is a very clearly structured guide to the do's and don'ts for writers looking for their breakthrough (hint: the first step is to WRITE A GREAT SCRIPT!).
Yonada includes advice on how to behave towards executives, how to find an agent, the special vocabulary used in Hollywood, how to start a writers group, even how to prepare for a conference. All of this is written in a clear manner, making the book a very useful reference.
The downside to this is that most of this information is out there already. If you read screenwriting magazines and keep up with recent books on the business side of screenwriting, there will be very little here you don't know already. Moreover, the book is very "pro-system" -- there is no criticism of the way things are done, and the advice is very much "mainstream" common knowledge.
I don't think this book has very much to offer veteran writers who are already well acquainted with the vagaries of getting their scripts through the Hollywood maze. For writers who are starting out, however, the book will serve very well to inform them about the basics of getting your script sold to Hollywood.
The Best Book You will Ever Read About selling your sscreenplay.......2006-09-13
After writing my first screenplay, I was stuck on how to sell it. I have ran my own business for over tens years and have a natural flare for marketing - thinking that selling a script would be commonsense WRONG! After reading The Script Selling Game I was blown away by the fantastic real life tips and jargon given. It's motivated me more than ever to see my projects on the silver screen. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT breaking into Hollywood - You MUST BUY THIS BOOK! It's easy-to-read and only an insider would know how to write it's contents.
Something For Everyone!.......2006-09-05
I loved this little book! Not only was it a quick read, but it was also filled with a variety of solidly helpful information for new and experienced screenwriters. I found the "10 Point Checklist for Completed Scripts", the "Big Eight" and the section on pitching particularly useful and now put the information to use on every project. The book is certainly worth more than you pay for it!!
Duane Kulikowsky.......2005-10-10
The book never forgot who was reading it. If you are at a point in your career where you need guidance in what to do and what's important, this book offers you that. Kathie Yoneda, I feel, just got the balance right between fact, figures and emotion. Kathie actually cares.
If it's Tuesday, it must be Warner Brothers...........2005-08-13
The Script-Selling Game is your "Biedecker's", your "Fodor's", or your "Lonely Planet" guide to the exotic, exciting, sometimes confusing, sometimes dangerous yet ultimately rewarding territory of Hollywood Script Sales.
Kathie Fong Yoneda has not only explored this territory, she has actually carved out, tamed, and settled a lot of it in her years as a studio executive. Her expertise in the special jargon, the specific tools, and the appropriate approaches will help you craft an effective presentation of your unique creative project, be it a feature film, a TV series, or any other media production.
Read Kathie's book. Smile, frown, gasp.... Yes, Hollywood can be just as she says. It's a closed world unless you have an interpreter and a guidebook. Thank goodness hers is accessible, informative, specific, and comforting. Well then, follow her guidelines, learn to speak the language, do the currency exchange from creativity-to-commerciality, and watch the barriers go down and the doors open up for you.
Book Description
Based entirely on research from peer-reviewed journals and randomized controlled trials,
The Sixty-Second Motivator is an easily read story that reveals practical motivational techniques. In less than 100 pages, readers will have the necessary tools to enable them to motivate themselves or others. A handy worksheet is also included which guides the reader through the motivational process.
Customer Reviews:
Sixty Second Motivator.......2007-09-19
This is a great little book. It is written in a light style that makes it easy to read and digest the principles that Jim spells out. If you have ever tried to make a change and been unsuccessful in accomplishing your goal this little book will help you to understand why you failed and how you can increase your chance of success. I found it to be helpful both with my own personal goals and in better understanding what may help to motivate my clients to achieve their stated goals.
It Really Works!.......2007-08-08
Forget the motivational seminars, DVDs, and CDs. This little book has more insights into motivation than anything else I have seen! No hype here.
The author has taken complex concepts and made them easy to understand in an entertaining way. I use the practical tips not only to motivate my patients, but also to motivate myself!
The Sixty-Second Motivator- Book Review.......2007-06-12
Both my husband and I enjoyed this book a lot. We found it to be a neat, well organized little book written in an easy-to-understand, straight-forward style that is genuinely enjoyable while at the same time providing valuable insights about why we do or do not do things. While we found it quite analytical about key factors concerning motivation, the book didn't make us feel intimidated or "preached at". The tone of the book came across to us as friendly, low-key, very helpful, analytical and a valuable "keeper" to refer to in life's future situations.
Excellent read!!.......2007-03-08
This is an excellent read and one book you will finish reading. They say that most poeople don't finish books they buy, but this one is soo relevant to our lives that you will want to read it cover to cover several times! Keeping it in my day planner for a random quick read infusion throughout the day helps keep me on track!!
The missing link!.......2006-09-19
Having read Jim Johnson's No Beach No Zone weight loss book, I knew WHAT to do, plain and simple, and WHY it was important. So why wasn't I doing what the book laid out as a proven plan for weight loss? It's all about motivation. There's even a chapter on motivation in his weight loss book - but this book takes it one step further, into the science of motivation. Personally I think both books dovetail into one another well, especially if your lack of motivation happens to be in the field of losing weight. The science of how to lose weight permanently, and the science of motivating yourself to do anything. Once again, this is all based on research and not what one guy thinks.
One of the best surprises about this book is the way it is written. Without giving away too much, I can tell you that this book is more of a story than a collection of facts, and reads almost like a mystery. One thing's for sure, it's extremely engaging. I read the whole think in one sitting; the research and strategy don't take volumes to explain or lay out. I'm not one to read huge volumes, and Jim Johnson always makes a concise read devoid of medical mumbo-jumbo. The actual motivation chart takes up one page and really makes you think about what makes your own self "tick". The only excuse for not getting motivated is if you aren't willing to give up one hour of your time, and a little more time spent thinking straight.
Book Description
The up-to-date, acclaimed guide to writing and selling screenplays to today's film and TV markets. This is the new screenwriter's bible.
Customer Reviews:
Still Unbeatable.......2007-04-27
I'll go straight to the point: the part on character creation and development is worth all the books published about the subject in the last twenty years. The simple-straightforward-logical method displayed here is simply unbeatable.
This is really an old book, but don't make the mistake to think of it as outdated. Sure, it's kind of weird read things as "recent films like Rambo" but all the eighties movies that he mentions and uses as practical examples are totally time tested.
Also, I would pay its full price for the single analysis of The Karate Kid included. Laugh if you want. I'm sure you will learn a lot.
A final thought: There are two kinds of "how-to" books. The ones that should be called "how-should" (yeah, that ones that tell you how a good script should look judging by the subsequent movie, i can do that too) and real "how-to's", that guide you step by step with a logical process so you can learn.
Obviously, Hauge's book stands proud among the last ones. Thank you, Mike, wherever you are.
I love this book.......2007-04-17
I just finished taking a continuing education course on script writing at my local college and this book has been very helpful with supplimenting what I learned. It is packed with all kinds of info and is very easy to read. There are several good books out there and this is one of them.
AWESOME Book for anyone who wants to learn or improve your Screen writing.......2007-03-31
I purchased this book and Mike's Hero's Journey DVD and he has a great way to explain the magic of screen writing, his advices and examples are clear and helps you apply right away to your screen writing. I enjoyed very much reading his book and seeing his DVD. I highly recommend any book or materials from Mike to anyone that might be aspiring to become a screen writer or wants to improve your screen writing techniques.
The best first book on screenwriting without a doubt.......2006-12-24
First of all, I feel I have to say that English is not my mother language, but never mind; I have read this book easily. To be honest, I've just read only a first half of the book; the second part - An Analysis of The Karate Kid - I was not interested in.
However, the first half (which is about 160 to 170 pages) gave me the full insight of the ingredients of a good screenplay and how to obtain them. Although the book is not perfect, I think that after reading it you can easily write your first screenplay with the confidence.
These days I am reading Ray Frensham's Teach Yourself Screenwriting which (in my opinion) has more extensive approach to screenwriting, although it is more concise written. However, the knowledge gained from the Writing Screenplays that sell helps me great to absorb the material from that book very easy.
So, if you want to start learning how to write screenplay from the beginning, first read Writing Screenplays That Sell, and you will not regret. On the contrary, you will be very satisfied with that decision. After that, you can read any book you like or immediately start writing you first screenplay, whatever you wish.
How great is this book? I've bought five copies!.......2006-11-02
If my house were burning, and I could only rescue ONE screenwriting book of the 60 that I own and (yes) have read, it would be Michael Hauge's "Writing Screenplays That Sell."
While it is terrific for the beginner, I had already written three scripts before reading this book, but the advice and guidance in this book focused me so well that I now judge my writing experience as "pre-Hauge," and "post-Hauge." Post-Hauge, I have had five scripts reach Semi-Final stage in the Nicholl Fellowship, and three have been optioned.
I have also bought this book as gifts for five friends, including my son, who said that they wanted to learn how to write a feature script.
You won't go wrong following the advice in this book.
Book Description
How to write a page-turner is no mystery with this thorough and authoritative guide. Successful mystery writer Hallie Ephron's Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel:
-Features comprehensive instruction, exercises, and worksheets for mystery writers of all levels
-Addresses all subgenres of mystery from hardboiled crimes and cozies to romantic thrillers and medical mysteries
-Covers how to grab readers from the first chapter, how to construct effective plots, and how to revise and submit mysteries to publishers
Ephron takes the mystery out of the writing process, making it less daunting for beginners and more efficient for experienced writers.
Customer Reviews:
Getting started on your writing.......2007-07-09
Excellent way to get going on that mystery novel. The exercises direct your thinking about your plot and characters. Answering her questions makes the characters especially come alive and the story takes off from there!!!
Good for newbies.......2007-05-22
Writing instruction books penned by writers are a dime per every two dozen. Most of their advice amounts to a re-packaging of every writer cliché available for free: Show, don't tell; write a character bio; use he said/she said; conflict, conflict, conflict. Rarely does anything write-home-worthy come down the pike that we haven't read elsewhere. So it is with a mix of openness and skepticism that I picked up WRITING AND SELLING YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL by Hallie Ephron.
The result? A good primer for beginners, but mostly just another rehash of generic advice to the more seasoned writer. Ephron covers everything in this book: Characterization, dialogue, selecting a title, setting, plotting, suspense, revision, marketing, polishing, selling--I mean she covers it ALL. She also includes copious charts and graphs that illustrate her points for the reader's personal use. This is what makes it such a good, comprehensive tool for someone just getting into writing who could benefit from an all-in-one resource. But as much as that's a strength of the book, it's also a weakness. The book is too busy with charts, and Ephron breezes through every imaginable subject so quickly that she rarely scratches past the surface. In this way, WRITING AND SELLING is malnourished inasmuch as it's comprehensive.
For intermediate to advanced writers, there are a few good chapters in here. I particularly enjoyed the ones on plotting and suspense, and Ephron's itemization of different plot twists and turns, when coupled with the chapter on suspense, is almost worth the price of the book alone. So, if you're just starting out, feel free to buy WRITING AND SELLING YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL to get your beak wet. Then go deeper with DON'T MURDER YOUR MYSTERY or SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS.
Midwest Book Review: December 2006 Issue.......2006-12-02
Hallie Ephron's new How-To book is one of the best books on writing mysteries that I've ever read. Ephron, one half of the best-selling mystery duo G.H. Ephron, knows exactly how to construct interesting, twisty, and effective plots and characters, and she doesn't hesitate to divulge her secrets.
The book is divided into four sections: Planning, Writing, Revising, and Selling Your Mystery Novel. She provides apt examples, excellent charts, and interactive exercises that will help both the neophyte and the long-time practitioner. She includes an appendix of resources as well.
As SJ Rozan writes in her introduction: "The map in this book will make the process of writing your novel controllable, understandable, and as close to fun as it gets. You'll still have to do the work; this book won't write your book. But it will show you what work to do, so you can plan, structure, and write. And revise, rework, and rewrite. It will show you how to start, what to do when you're mired in the middle, and how to come to a triumphant finish. And, if you're still standing, it will help you market it to an agent an editor so that your book can end up, finally, in the hands of those most elusive, legendary, and desirable inhabitants of this loony Land: readers."
If you've ever wanted to write mysteries or if you seek merely to improve your mystery-writing craft and technique, this book will help you get there. Run right out and get this one. I can't recommend it highly enough. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review
So you think you can write a genre novel?.......2006-09-25
If you, reading this review, believe you have a mystery novel in you just waiting to be written but you're not quite sure how to start, go get this book. It will tell you what you need, how to start, how to get to the end, and how to finish. Then it will tell you what to do to revise your novel, who to get to read it before you market it, and how to start the process of getting an agent or an editor. If you believe you have a book in you, and you follow the directions, you WILL wind up with a finished product. The quality will reside in your skills as a writer, but the technical aspects will be taken care of.
WRITING AND SELLING not only tells you what to do, it tells you what NOT to do (which is probably just as important), and gives examples. Ephron has exercises in every chapter, specific suggestions for each phase of the writing process, and references for further research. She even gives technical advice on how to use tools already available to you, on your computer, in the revising and editing process.
WRITING AND SELLING is basically a workbook for a first-time writer. The tools and instructions would work, with minor modifications, for just about any genre fiction, and would probably do some good if used by some so-called "literary" authors.
Clear and Detailed Information for Learning and Applying to Your Writing Habits.......2006-07-20
At the heart of every mystery novel lies a puzzle for the story's hero, and the reader, to solve. In the beginning the mystery seems to be about one thing, but in the end it turns out to be about something else.
To make it work, the writer develops a string of events and presents them in a series of twists and turns. The main story is tangled with sub plots and complicated by characters that may or may not have something to hide.
Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel takes you from planning a mystery novel to targeting potential markets and agents.
Beginning with the premise and continuing through to title selection, Part I provides a step-by-step guide to the process of planning a mystery novel. At the end of each Chapter the writer is instructed to add to the blueprint at the end of the section. The blueprint is the basic framework for a novel. By the end of the planning section the writer has a completed blueprint and is ready to write.
From the mystery novel's opening scene to its coda, Part II provides a guide to the writing process. It discusses crafting scenes, introducing characters, creating mystery and maintaining suspense. This is where the real work begins -- writing the first draft.
Part III suggests a range of techniques for polishing a novel. No one writes a publishable first draft. This section guides the reader through revision, pacing and characterization.
The final section gives tips on finding an agent and a publisher. Part IV shows how to prepare a query packet and send a manuscript out into the world. If the mystery is a good one it will find a home.
Book Description
This convention-defying follow-up to The Renegade Writer ensures that freelance journalists get the assignments they want more quickly and for better pay with the right query letter. Successful freelancers and the editors that buy their work share their advice on pitching the perfect story with real examples that earned great assignments from major magazines. Fresh, spunky, and fun to read, this handbook favors a proven renegade approach that gets freelancers more work for more money in less time and with less stress.
Customer Reviews:
The BEST book on query letters!.......2007-10-03
This is the second book in The Renegade Writer's Freelance Writing series. As suggested by the title, this book takes a different approach than most writing books. Rather than spewing forth rigid instructions and how-to's, this book answers questions and offers samples. The author's are unconventional in their approach and successful. They encourage writers to THINK rather than just follow rules. If rules need to be broken in order to offer your best work, break them without hesitation.
The first section (80 pages in length) answers common questions about writing query letters. How and when do I send it? Length? Content? Clips? Follow-up? Fees? A number of terms are defined; special cases detailed. They tackle basically everything you want to know about query writing. Their answers are informative, thorough and funny.
The second section (the remainder of the book, about 120 pages) contains sample after sample of query letters that worked along with explanations of why they were successful. The authors of this book give their perspectives, but so do the authors of the sample queries and the editors who bought the stories being pitched. Samples come from nearly every type of magazine or periodical: Parenting, Oxygen, USA Weekend, Midwest Airlines, E Magazine, Fitness, Entrepenuer ... and many, many more. The article types are varied as well, from personal profiles to health articles and travel. It's a mine of valuable information.
Final Thoughts: EXCELLENT! The best book I have found on this topic. A must-have resource for freelance writers.
The BEST book for writers.......2007-09-23
As a freelance writer, I've made successful pitches to magazines, but after reading The Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rock, I've changed my strategy for submitting story ideas. WOW! The book is divided into two sections. The first part deals with questions the authors have received from writing students and the answers are filled with practice advice and words of experience from Linda and Diana. Then the book gets to the good part - actual query letters that push the envelope and make editors sit up and take notice. Following each letter is narrative from the letter's author and the editor who assigned the story.
I keep my copy next to my computer and refer to it often for practical advice. This is definitely the best book I've read concerning writing and how to get ahead in publishing. Bravo!
LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN WRITING COACH.......2007-09-10
'Query Letters that Rock' isn't the only book on the subject of writing query letters, but it is the best.
The problem with many of the other books is that they tell you what those all important letters should include and how to structure them, and leave it at that.
This guide takes you beyond all that - the first half of the book is a question and answer format that offers valuable tips while the second half presents not only actual query letters that won editors over, but comments from those very same editors! Talk about insider information!
I know I'll refer to this book often, it's the perfect writing coach.
Also, be sure to check out 'The Renegade Writer', another must-have book by these same two authors.
Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rock: The Freelance Writer's Guide to Selling More Work Faster.......2007-04-12
The suggestions and samples were very helpful and useful.
A must for freelancers.......2007-01-16
If you're new to freelancing, this book will give you great advice and help you cut through the b.s. that other books offer. If you're a veteran writer, this book will inspire you and spark your creativity. Well worth every penny. And it's a great read, too!
Book Description
Writers have to understand and develop the elements that make a great script before writing the script itself. Halperin demonstrates how treatments can be effective, taking writers through the entire process in a variety of genres including originals, adaptations, movies-of-the-week, miniseries, sitcoms and soap operas.
Customer Reviews:
Let its title not fool you!.......2006-11-27
When I am writing a script, I use about 80% of the time making a good treatment, since it is what will allow you to have everything well-tied when the proper screenwriting comes at the final stage. This book will not teach you to write a good treatment. In 90 pages, it deals about general issues of screenwriting, such as adaptations, story development and structure, but never in a deep way. It just generalises in its treatment recommendations, never giving clear rules, goals or advice. Furthermore, half of it talks about TV issues, which are far from filmmaking ones. The remaining 80 pages are just a filler: interviews, a sample treatment and references on movies cited. There is still not a good book about treatments out there.
How to Sell Your Script -- Then Write It!.......2006-05-26
Writing a solid treatment is something rarely -- if ever -- taught in writing courses. This is a great disadvantage for screenwriters, because having the ability to write a compelling treatment could make the difference between getting your foot in the door -- or getting the door closed in your face.
At the very least, mastering this writing form can help writers flesh out their material and pitch it to prospective buyers BEFORE they write the script, allowing them to get feedback and make changes to a 10-15 page document versus a 100-120 page one.
There are few books on this very important topic, and Michael Halperin has written one that belongs in every writers library. If you don't understand what a treatment is for, how it is used, or how to create one, you will after reading this book.
And if you plan on writing for TV, this book is a must. With it's many examples of how to write treatments for TV -- episodic and long-form, it will cut your learning curve in half!
Very, very thin.......2003-09-16
Not much here to help novices and certainly not for anyone with the vaguest idea of how scripts "work." Very skimpy with examples. There's so much "nuts-and-bolts" knowledge that's necessary to create a good script or treatment, and this book provides little of it.
Short on Substance.......2002-08-11
This one suffers the flaw common to how-to books on writing: it's short on models. Plenty of TALK about how to write a treatment, but most writers know that the best instruction comes from an assortment of professionally polished examples. If you want to be a journalist, read the NY Times. If you want to write killer treatments, read some killer treatments.
Book Description
The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing is a compilation of the best articles and interviews from Writer's Digest magazine, books, and annuals. Aspiring authors will find articles on the craft, art, and process of fiction writing from such authors as: Sue Grafton, Terry Brooks, Richard Russo, Janet Fitch, Octavia Butler, Tom Clancy, John Updike and more.
Customer Reviews:
WHOA- A whealth of info!.......2006-12-29
I'm not sure where to start when describing this book. This book is awesome- I think that I'll be a Pulitzer prize winner before I know it. (A man can dream........) This book offers everything from the idea of writing to the publication of what you write. I'll have it faithfully beside me during every step of my writing process; all the way to that Pulitzer. Unbelievable buy-
A Compilation Full of Good Advice.......2006-11-04
I generally don't care for compilations, especially about the writing business. I was forced to read this one for a class I took and I found it to be surprisingly helpful in some ways. Don't expect all the answers here.
Alot of very smart information, for anyone who wants to write!.......2006-03-20
Despite a less than attention grabbing cover, the chapters by various published authors are information packed.
This book makes you want to write. It gives you a large scope view and then zooms into to the details in mortal english.
The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing: Everything You Need to Know About Creating & Selling Your Work.......2005-09-19
Very practical and very readable. Not at all pedantic. Chapters are generally short, but packed with information. Book is being used as a text in a Writer's Digest class. Section breakdown by number of chapters: The craft (9), The art (8), The process (8), The genres (9), The marketplace (7), plus 14 interviews with current writers. The book is great, but surprisingly, it contains more than a few typos and grammatical errors!
Inspiration For Would Be Writers.......2004-01-28
Since I have yet to write "the great American novel," I probably cannot critique a book such as THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF NOVEL WRITING, since I have yet to have a book published. I do want to write a novel one day, and I have been doing quite a bit of writing and rewriting. I have also been doing quite a bit of reading of novels and books on writing theory and have taken part in writing workshops. All of these things have been helpful, particularly the writing workshops. Yet as I write, I do have questions about what I am doing, and like to read practical advice from writers who have been published. THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF NOVEL WRITING is such a resource. It contains articles about writing theory and craft, information about genres, and the various markets. The articles have been published in WRITER'S DIGEST magazine and most are penned by well known writers. I am finding the book to be a great reference tool. I have found the book particularly helpful when I have a question about some aspect of writing or need advice and inspiration to keep writing.
In the past year I have found that nothing is as helpful as being in a workshop atmosphere, but at those times when I need the advice of an expert, quite often the answer is at my fingertips in this book.
Customer Reviews:
Great for Beginning Authors.......2007-09-19
If you're a serious writer, it's a good idea to learn the business of getting published.
This book takes you from the basics to the insiders-know-hows. Plus, you're being instructed by a great author (have you checked out his highly recommended book, Scene and Structure) Jack M. Bickham.
Good resource for writers.......2001-09-20
Want to study the art of rich character development, look no further. Fundamentals, techniques and fine tuning; it's all in there.
Alert would be writers.......2001-07-29
For all of you budding writers out there, who just can't seem to pull it all together, you've just found your new bible. In this instructional guide Bickham successfully interweaves elements of plot formation, character development and scene structuring, effectively creating perhaps the most comprehensive `Writing Fiction' manual available on today's market. Read it, enjoy it and I wish you the best of luck in your writing.
Excellent book; great exercises; easy to read.......2001-04-07
I recently bought 9 books on novel writing when I decided I was going to shift from screenwriting to novels (I want creative autonomy and it's unlikely to get it as a screenwriter in Hollywood under other people).
Besides Lawrence Blocks's TELLING LIES FOR FUN AND PROFIT, this is one of the best books of the bunch on writing techniques.
In it, some things you will learn:
(1) THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND WORKING HABITS: one of the best I have read of 30 sources!;
(2) STIMULUS AND RESPONSE: very good;
(3) GETTING IT SOLD;
(4) INTERESTING CHARACTERS: some great highlights; and
(5) SCENE AND SEQUEL: advanced steps but necessary
Additionally, there are exercises after each chapter which are quite good for beginning novelists. He used to be a writing instructor at Oklahoma University so he knows how to teach.
Drastically Improved My Writing Skills..........1999-07-13
I love this book, and it's a keeper on my shelf, this. And if you're debating between buying this book and that of Bickham's former writing teacher, Dwight V. Swain, "Techniques of the Selling Writer" go for this one--it's the less tedious of the two. Though I must say, both were wake-up calls for me.
And although I'm not published yet, because of all I've learned from these two authors' works (and Bickham especially since he goes into greater detail in his many how-to-write books) I've finaled in four out of five Romance Writers of America Chapter contests within the last year with the same manuscript and won one of those contests.
This book has worked wonders for me--as I'm sure it will you.
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Direction & Production
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting
The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters: Insider's Secrets from Hollywood's Top Writers
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting
Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
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