Robert McKee's "Story"?

[JohnWatersProtege]

I hear that's the best book out there on the topic of Screenwriting. Has anyone read it? And if so, worth a look?

 

[Kim Welch]

Books on Film and Video

Books on Film and Video

https://www.studentfilmmakersforums...p?substring=screenwriting&in_category=&page=2

Sales are available on many books on screenwriting with great discounts and special package offers. You might want to check it out. You get a free back issue of the magazine with any order. I have included links below to some i found when i did a search for screenwriting.

https://www.studentfilmmakersforums...p?substring=screenwriting&in_category=&page=2

https://www.studentfilmmakersforums...p?substring=screenwriting&in_category=&page=3

https://www.studentfilmmakersforums...p?substring=screenwriting&in_category=&page=4

 

[thefirm]

The most insightful part of the book lots of writers seem to ignore. That large emphasized portion that explains how not to write clichés.

 

[temerson]

The book that I swear by? Secrets of Film Writing by Tom Lazarus. He explains a different technique for screenwriting, including humorous anecdotes about being a professional writer. He makes his book not only informative, but entertaining as well.

 

[jodymichelle]

let's rid our writings of cliches

let's rid our writings of cliches

thefirm, what do aspiring and working writers do with that piece of insight? perhaps they don't ignore it, but simply choose to be cliche. at the moment i'm not interested in tips on how "not to write" cliches. i'm more interested in tips on how to beg oneself, "just don't do it."

 

[thefirm]

thefirm, what do aspiring and working writers do with that piece of insight? perhaps they don't ignore it, but simply choose to be cliche. at the moment i'm not interested in tips on how "not to write" cliches. i'm more interested in tips on how to beg oneself, "just don't do it."

Are you serious? Don't you at some point have the curiosity to break convention and write original? I am an aspiring writer. I've completed 1 screenplay and am working on my second now. Also, I wasn't trying to provide insight, he asked if anyone has read the book and if it was worth wile. I gave him my opinion on the part witch i found to hold the most valuable information. At the time I was reading an unoriginal for school and was a little annoyed.

But I guess people should write however they want, doesn't bother me, in fact it makes my mediocre shine.

 

[jodymichelle]

actually, i was joking a little. got to have a sense of humor. we're all guilty of writing cliches. whether it's read by the world or not. as i said, i'm more interested in tips on how to beg oneself, "just don't do it."

...well, i "was interested" [past tense] during the moment of the initial post. not right now.

Are you serious? Don't you at some point have the curiosity to break convention and write original? I am an aspiring writer. I've completed 1 screenplay and am working on my second now. Also, I wasn't trying to provide insight, he asked if anyone has read the book and if it was worth wile. I gave him my opinion on the part witch i found to hold the most valuable information. At the time I was reading an unoriginal for school and was a little annoyed.

But I guess people should write however they want, doesn't bother me, in fact it makes my mediocre shine.

 

[midnightdisease]

Story

Story

Story is by far the most intricate and detailed book on the "theory" of screenwriting. You take what you want from it and what you can use and apply. Ive read the boo over ten times and my margins are littered with notes and highlights. For me the most interesting part of this book is how to write treatments. To go back to the days of the 200-300pg treatments where characters not only said what they felt but also thought it. This helps your dialog hit right on the head. Then you can wade through it and whittle it down to what should be in there and whats meaningful.

 

[fivesprockets]

Other books I'd recommend

Other books I'd recommend

"Story" is great. Other books I'd recommend are "Screenplay" by Syd Field, "Screenwriter's Bible" by David Trottier (highly recommend), "Save The Cat" by Blake Snyder, and "How To Sell Your Screenplay" by Lydia and Joan Wilen.

You might also want to check out our Screenwriting Basics Guide.

 

[henke]

I've read many screenwriting books, but most of them made me even more confused. I didn't really "get it" until I read "Save the cat." That book explains everything easy and clear.

 

[Pippa]

McKee's "Story" is way off track. The best analysis by far for this sort of thing is Kal Bashir's "510+ stage Hero's Journey."

 

[jokerevo]

read this book quite a few times now, take what you can from it but nothing is gospel. I'm always wary of these "teachers" who seem to know everything about structure etc but actually do not have a produced screenplay that exemplifies their beliefs

 

[Pippa]

I agree that one should be wary of these "teachers" but at the same time I have learned alot from Kal.

 

[Pippa]

@jokerevo
I have to amend to earlier response. I think healthy scepticism is good, but in this case it lets you down. These people DO have alot to teach.