Screenwriting books
Screenwriting books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
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New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
Screenplay
Syd FieldSet out the three-act paradigm and the plot point structure that many later screenwriting books build on or argue against.
Adventures in the Screen Trade
William GoldmanA first-hand account of Hollywood development and writing by a working screenwriter, known for the line that nobody knows anything about what will succeed.
Story
Robert McKeeA long treatment of story principles, character, and structure, drawn from McKee's seminars, and a major reference for writers and teachers.
Save the Cat!
Blake SnyderPopularized a fifteen-beat structure and a genre-based approach to pitching and planning commercial scripts.
The Anatomy of Story
John TrubyBuilds story structure around the protagonist's desire, opponent, and self-revelation, and is often recommended as a more character-driven alternative to beat sheets.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
More screenwriting books
- Into the Woods
Into the WoodsJohn Yorke - The Screenwriter's Workbook
The Screenwriter's WorkbookSyd Field - The Screenwriter's Bible
The Screenwriter's BibleDavid Trottier - Which Lie Did I Tell?
Which Lie Did I Tell?William Goldman - Making a Good Script Great
Making a Good Script GreatLinda Seger - The Art of Adaptation
The Art of AdaptationLinda Seger - The Complete Book of Scriptwriting
The Complete Book of ScriptwritingJ. Michael Straczynski - Secrets of Screenplay Structure
Secrets of Screenplay StructureLinda J. Cowgill - Documentary Storytelling
Documentary StorytellingSheila Curran Bernard - The Elements of Screenwriting
The Elements of ScreenwritingIrwin R. Blacker - How to write a movie in 21 days
How to write a movie in 21 daysViki King1988 - A short guide to writing about film
A short guide to writing about filmTimothy Corrigan1987