Best Screenwriting Books

Writing Short Scripts

A guide designed to help the beginning writer enter the world of short films, from travelogues to animated shorts. The book has been extensively revised and updated to include three new original short screenplays and detailed descriptions and photographs of two award-winning short films. Focusing on visualization, dialogue, settings, characters, structure and themes, the author provides a guide to writing scripts for films of less than 30 minutes, from gathering and organizing materials to writing, rewriting and formatting. Each new chapter includes revised ideas and examples. The glossary, bibliography, descriptions of short films, and the list of distributors of short films and videotapes have also been updated. Included are citations for short films and web site addresses useful to the short script writer.

For product reviews and more information: Writing Short Scripts

Screenwriting For Dummies

Open the book and find:

• The latest on the biz, from entertainment blogs to top agents to box office jargon


• New story examples from recently released films


• Tips on character development, a story's time clock, dramatic structure, and dialogue


• New details on developing the nontraditional screenplay -- from musicals to animation to high dramatic style


• Expanded information on adaptation and collaboration, with examples from successful screenwriting duos