This is a great starter shelf for any screenwriter. Since all writing is really rewriting, I'd recommend Jack Epp's book, Screenwriting is Rewriting: The Art and Craft of Professional Revision.
I would add Exercises in Style by Raymond Queneau. It is the retelling of a short tale in 99 different ways. Offered within is an exploration in style. I’d also further recommend a companion book of sorts in which graphic novelist Matt Madden offers his own sequential art version of the exercise in his book, 99 Ways To Tell A Story.
Just a fantastic list, I would add two more books to it:
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin and Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons by Mike Reiss.
Love these books! Definitely adding a bunch to my list. Some I recommend about general storytelling and a little of craft: The Truth About Stories: a Native Narrative by Thomas King, Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders and Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
Thanks for your thoughts on Save The Cat. Thanks for all of this. You're clearly very in the know. I'm about to start my screenwriting MFA. I'll be watching your work closely.
Need to grab a few of these. Sharon Blackie has a good Substack re: The Heroine's Journey story structure. Been very helpful. Also fun anecdote: I took Robert McKee's class in Las Vegas in my early 20's and came in late and hungover on the last morning. He stopped the entire class, interrogated me on what I did the previous night, made me sit in the front row and ripped on me for the next four hours. Weirdly a big turning point to start taking myself more seriously. Tough love from Uncle Rob.
This is a great starter shelf for any screenwriter. Since all writing is really rewriting, I'd recommend Jack Epp's book, Screenwriting is Rewriting: The Art and Craft of Professional Revision.
I’ve never read but think this is a great addition based on the philosophy alone!!
I would add Exercises in Style by Raymond Queneau. It is the retelling of a short tale in 99 different ways. Offered within is an exploration in style. I’d also further recommend a companion book of sorts in which graphic novelist Matt Madden offers his own sequential art version of the exercise in his book, 99 Ways To Tell A Story.
Stellar list!
Just a fantastic list, I would add two more books to it:
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin and Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons by Mike Reiss.
Love these books! Definitely adding a bunch to my list. Some I recommend about general storytelling and a little of craft: The Truth About Stories: a Native Narrative by Thomas King, Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders and Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
Born Standing Up is such a good read! Smart guy that Steve Martin!
Thanks for your thoughts on Save The Cat. Thanks for all of this. You're clearly very in the know. I'm about to start my screenwriting MFA. I'll be watching your work closely.
Cheers,
Ella
no John Truby? 👀
Need to grab a few of these. Sharon Blackie has a good Substack re: The Heroine's Journey story structure. Been very helpful. Also fun anecdote: I took Robert McKee's class in Las Vegas in my early 20's and came in late and hungover on the last morning. He stopped the entire class, interrogated me on what I did the previous night, made me sit in the front row and ripped on me for the next four hours. Weirdly a big turning point to start taking myself more seriously. Tough love from Uncle Rob.