10 Best Screenwriting Books
When a producer friend asked me to recommend some screenwriting books for a writer he’s working with who’s transitioning from playwriting to screenwriting, it prompted me to think about which of the many, many screenwriting books I would add to a curated collection. Here are the books that I think are worth your time.
Before we get to the best screenwriting books out there, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my own. I won’t officially include them on the list — but if you're looking for practical, no-nonsense screenwriting guidance, you might want to check these out too.
The Screenplay Outline Workbook: A step-by-step guide to brainstorm ideas, structure your story, and prepare to write your best screenplay
I truly believe The Screenplay Outline Workbook is an all-in-one manual that will help you develop your story idea and plan to write your best screenplay yet.
Story Structure Made Easy: A screenwriter's guide to the six essential movie plot points and where to find them in 25 favorite movies
Whether it's during a consult or in response to my screenwriting articles, writers are always asking for more examples! So I put together this pocket guide to the major plot points and breakdowns of 25 movies spanning from the 1990's to today.
Romcom Structure Made Easy: A screenwriter's guide to the six essential movie plot points and where to find them in 29 favorite romantic comedies
There are some common patterns and story types that we see in Romcoms that set the genre apart from others. So, I thought it needed its own book of story structure examples!
Logline Shortcuts: Unlock your story and pitch your screenplay in one simple sentence
One of the topics I get asked about most often is loglines, so I put together this short, free e-book containing explanations, definitions, a process for writing great loglines, and plenty of examples. When you work out a logline you're actually working out the basics of your story, so this book is secretly a concise primer on how to start writing your screenplay.
SceneWriting: The Missing Manual for Screenwriters
by Chris Perry and Eric Henry Sanders
This truly is what's not covered in any other screenwriting book: how to actually write strong scenes. And not just the principles involved, but a step by step process to brainstorm, write, shape, rewrite, and polish all the scenes that make up your screenplay.
Save the Cat!
by Blake Snyder
I always recommend Save the Cat! to people who are curious about screenwriting or at the beginning of their learning curve. It's become fairly divisive, but it's truly one of the most accessible screenwriting books out there. Writers should continue their education beyond STC, but it's a great place to start.
The Screenwriter's Bible
by David Trottier
Dave has been updating this book for 25 years, and it's a great overview of the whole process, from developing and writing your screenplay, formatting it properly, and even how to market it.
The Coffee Break Screenwriter
by Pilar Alessandra
I love Pilar's 10-minutes-at-a-time approach. It takes something that can feel very daunting, and breaks it down into manageable steps and practical exercises.
Writing Movies
from Gotham Writers' Workshop, edited by Alexander Steele
The chapters of Writing Movies are each written by a different screenwriter, and it's a great way to be exposed to individual writers' perspectives on the various sub-topics of screenwriting.
The Secrets of Story
by Matt Bird
At this point I very rarely read a screenwriting book that feels like it's saying something new, but this one does it. Matt has solid, practical advice and tips to offer on pretty much every aspect of screenwriting.
Supporting Characters & Subplots
by William C. Martell
I like all of Martell’s books, but this one in particular for its focus on topics that aren’t covered extensively elsewhere. Supporting characters are often overlooked by beginning screenwriters.
The Science of Storytelling
by Will Storr
Not strictly about screenwriting, Will Storr's book is still one of my favorites. His deep dive into why and how stories work on our brains really speaks to me.
150 Screenwriting Challenges
by Eric Heisserer
I've found that screenwriters often only "practice" their writing skills when they're working on an actual screenplay project they hope to \inish, polish, and submit. But that means you're juggling a million skill sets at once. Eric Heisserer's book essentially offers a way to run drills before you're faced with the game itself.
Writing Screenplays That Sell
by Michael Hauge
The title makes a lofty promise but this book is a classic for a reason. Michael's book is one that was most useful in helping me really grasp story structure.