A Screenwriting ebook for Developing a Strong Screenplay

I totally agree with this guy. Screenwrinting Goldmine is an excellent ebook and is often tuff love. I am usually inspired to write by the weirdest things and will run off and start writing without consideration for structure. Ouch.

And yes, it feels like a slap in my creative face to have to worry about stifling things like structure and purpose. My characters are cool, aren't they? Who cares? What are they doing for your story? Are they moving it ahead, blah, blah, blah. It hurts, but it's good.

I bought it a couple of years back when the site was just launched and I've been using it ever since. Tough love sometimes because it's not always what you want to hear - he's big on planning before you start to write for example - and it feels like you have to put in some serious thought - but then again, maybe it's me but I wouldn't expect to be able to write a good script without a bit of work.

And at least he guides you every step of the way and tells you exactly what you should be thinking about. No chance of getting lost in months of dead ends.

Bottom line is it works. I've written three screenplays with this book and they're all far better than the messes I used to get done.

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Screenwriting ebook by Philip Gladwin

I have read just about every book there is on screenwriting and Philip Gladwin's ebook is easily the best of the mix for writing a tight, production worthy script. Other screenwriter books like Trottier's, Seger's, Snyder's, and Lavandier's all have their merit, but none of them give you the pure screenwriting techniques that you find in ScreenwritingGoldmine.
Generally for a book to sell it should provide some entertainment value to make the reader's experience more enjoyable. Philip Gladwin's ebook has almost none; it is more like a tech manual with no wasted pages or redundant text. It has been touted as a turnkey solution for pumping out good production ready scripts; while this is almost true, bear in mind that you still have to write the script yourself. He guides you every single step of the way and gives you the tools to develop excellent research and screenwriting techniques and ultimately render professional scripts.
If I had to do it all over again, I would have started with Gladwin's screenwriting ebook and then moved on to Yves Lavandier, Linda Seger, Blake Snyder, and Trottier's The Screenwriters Bible. No other book gives you as much for pure screenwriting as ScreenwritingGoldmine does; you must craft a script worthy of making before you can get it made.
Now, in terms of selling your work, there is no better book than Trottier's The Screenwriters Bible; this title includes contact and query forms, a business plan and work sheets all geared towards selling your script. If you want to make a movie, you better have this book too.

Lastly, screenwriting software is a must have if you ever expect to get taken seriously. A Celtx is the freeware program of choice and is perfect for developing your own independent work but any major studio will laugh at you. Scripts submitted to big Hollywood type production companies must be from either Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter. This is the software they use, and failure to submit a screenplay with either of these programs will result in your hard work being promptly sent to the recycle bin. I recommend Final Draft (for too many reasons to list here) as the screenplay software of choice. It is the most widely used script formatting software on the planet and is used by some very big names like Oliver Stone.

Learning how to be a screenwriter involves several key points. Screenwriting for film or television is a tough gig and you simply have to love it to survive.

• First off you must enjoy and love writing because you are going to be doing a ton of it.


• You should love pasta and rice because you will probably be eating a lot of it.


• You must be able to work independently and with other people.


• You absolutely must have a tough skin. If criticism or rejection frightens you, then you will not survive. Period.


• You will need to know how to properly format a script for film, television or whatever medium you plan to write for.


• Being able to write a screenplay worth producing is obviously essential to success.


• Knowing where and how to sell your script is also paramount to success as a screenwriter.


Those are pretty much all the basic requirements of being a screenwriter and the rest is a matter of lifestyle preference.

When submitting a screenplay there are some fundamental things to keep in mind so you don't come off as an amateur. These are important consideration for any screenplay submission so write them down or copy this and paste it somewhere convenient for later reference.

• Use professional screenwriting software like Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter.


• Do not put scene numbers on your screenplay until it is sold. Scene numbers are distracting and considered strictly amateur. Remember this or your script will not be read.


• Avoid including character biographies or synopsis as this leads to preconceptions and a tendency to only skim through your script without a proper read.


• A movie script or feature length screenplay should be between 95 and 120 pages in length when you submit it (No more and no less). If you fail to do this your work will end up in the trash bin.


• Finally, there is a preference for scripts bound in metal brads (these take up less office space).

Follow these simple tips and you should be just fine. Happy hunting and break a leg.

You end up with a script that is "screen" friendly and can stand apart. These are two things every studio looks for. Philip Gladwin navigates you safely through all the common pitfalls like why writing scenes and dialogue too early can be a critical mistake. This ebook will literally take years off your learning curve.

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Screenwriting Goldmine, a Screenwriting ebook by Philip Gladwin

Ever have a great idea for a story, sit down and write like a demon only to be stumped on the second page. Well, that's because you need to have some basic things in place before you start the actual writing.
The "four tent poles" of your story outlined by Philip Gladwin in his screenwriting ebook was invaluable for knowing what you should have in place before you start any actual writing. Start right to end right.
The guy just loves story telling and it totally rubs off on you. His insight on character strengthening and essential plot details is amazing. Take it with you everywhere.

These are other exceptional Screenwriting books and are well regarded as some of the best.
If you intend to get serious about Screenwriting, I suggest you read all of them:
1. ScreenwritingGoldmine by Philip Gladwin
2. The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier
3. Writing Drama by Yves Lavandier
4. Making a Good Script Great by Linda Seger
5. Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder
6. Screenplay: Writing the Picture by Robin U. Russin, William M. Downs

Consider these your full Screenwriting course for the year.

Screenwriting e-books and books are just the beginning. Screenwriting software can save you a huge amount of time when it comes to properly formatting your script for sale or production.
Quality and speed are two essential traits any good writer possess and they are both necessary to survive in the industry. Quality is up to you, but speed can be achieved through the use of software.

So for those of you who do not have the money for Final Draft but are in serious need of some screenwriting software, I give you the following recommendations to ease your pocket book and save you valuable time.

Using Microsoft Word
MS Word offers a Rich Text Format (RTF) that allows files to save several elements with different margins, cases, etc. The margins list in the MS
Word toolbar are accessed by running the mouse over the list. While the tabbing and toggling between different element (action, Character,
dialogue, etc.) isn't as easy or as automatic as using Final Draft or Scriptware, it's doable. Also, the RTF files don't snap back and forth
automatically from character to dialogue, etc. Use of an RTF is much more methodical and hands on.

To create an RTF file, simply save any MS Word document in the format. The file menu's SAVE AS command will give you that option. Now, in
PARAGRAPH under the FORMAT menu, set your elements one at time (such as your indent for dialogue, your margins for character names, right
justification for transitions, etc.).

The style menu under format also allows you to create your elements. Whichever way you choose to make your screenwriting rules in an RTF file,
the various elements should appear in the style menu in the program's on-screen toolbar/ruler area.

Some on-line services (such as AOL) and some web sites offer downloadable templates that create at automatic RTF for you. Grab one of these if
you can as they save a great deal of time and frustration.

Hint: The programs listed above can actually make MS Word RTF files. The program takes any script and exports it to MS Word, more or less
maintaining the proper margins and elements. While the document won't work as conveniently as a specific screenwriting processor file and won't
make you consider dumping Final Draft for MS Word, it can enable you to swap documents with other writers. A potential writing partner might not
have ScriptThing, but the odds they will have MS Word, since, for better or worse, it's the world's most popular word processor.

Naturally, Scriptware and its cousins also import MS Word RTF files back into Final Draft scripts. So, Microsoft Word RTF files as a
screenwriting tool are primitive compared to Final Draft, ScriptThing and Scriptware, but it'll do in a pinch.

A Better Alternative
There is a fairly good piece of shareware (try before you buy $18) called Screenpro. It is not perfect but it is cheap.
ScreenPro

The Best Alternative for Screenwriting Software
It's a charm. Â Celtx is an open source screenwriting program that is as close to Final Draft as you can get and it is completely free. Use it and love it. Yes, there is plenty of support for it if you look around the net.
A Celtx

You should also check out this page:
Self Reliant Film

If you're looking for a screenwriting ebook then look no further. I take it with me everywhere because as any writer knows, inspiration often comes at the most bizarre times.
This one gives you complete and professional instruction. It's very step-by-step and has helped me piece together coherent, cohesive plots and characters. It's got strong support, excellent resources and often motivates me to write when I just don't feel like it. I think it's because it makes everything seem simple and anyone who's aspired to write a screenplay will know that is anything but simple. Seeing it lain out in front of me just gets me going.

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ScreenwritingGoldmine: a screenwriting ebook by Philip Gladwin

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