Every aspiring screenwriter dreams of following in the footsteps of Shakespeare, crafting stories that capture the imagination and resonate with audiences far and wide. Yet the road to acknowledged genius is invariably trodden with the ink of unacknowledged scribbles. THESPIAN NET understands that within many a writer lies a dormant Bard, a storyteller awaiting their moment to enchant a generation. For those ready to surrender to the call of the quill and screen, a trove of literature awaits, designed to hone your craft and propel your Hollywood screenwriting career to its next act.
Books for Writers
Dear Writer,
The journey of a thousand pages begins with a single word. To help guide that journey, here are essential literary companions for your scripting odyssey:
Our Picks
1. Spec Screenplay Sales Directory Deluxe Edition
A compendium of over 800 screenplays sold between the years 1991 and 1999, this A-Z directory provides vital information for targeting agencies, producers, and legal professionals who invest in the likes of material you write. An essential resource for any screenwriter poised on the precipice of their big break.
2. How to Write a Selling Screenplay
Christopher Keane demystifies the process of creating a screenplay that sells. Filled with personal insights and a detailed examination of the screenwriting craft, this book is a manuscript must-have. Keane's guidance is your bridge over the chasm between dreaming and deal-making.
3. The Complete Guide to Standard Script Formats: The Screenplay
Crucial for the scriptwriter's library, this guide lays out the blueprints for drafting a screenplay that adheres to industry standards— a critical step for any hopeful writer seeking to have their work produced.
4. How to Sell Your Screenplay: The Real Rules of Film and Television
From basic elements to the nitty-gritty of approaching agents, this read is replete with actionable advice for screenwriters looking to make a name in the film and television industry.
5. Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting
Syd Field's comprehensive guide walks you through the process from inception to final script, teaching the structural and stylistic elements that are indispensable for a successful screenplay.
6. Hollywood Creative Directory
For those ready to step out and connect, this directory lists hundreds of contacts, from production companies to film studios. Networking is your screenplay's passage to the big screen, and this book is your map.
7. How To Make It In Hollywood
Linda Buzzell's book is a dive into tailoring your unique talents and personality to thrive in the competitive landscape of Hollywood.
8. All You Need To Know About The Movie And TV Business
Giving insight into every corner of the industry, this book also discusses legal intricacies and tactical career maneuvers that could prove crucial to your success.
9. Opening The Doors to Hollywood
A practical guide to unlocking Hollywood's gates, this tome navigates the nuances of acquiring and developing projects within the industry's complex framework.
10. Breaking & Entering
April Fitzsimmons' insider guide is a hands-on manual for aspiring filmmakers looking to understand the inner workings of film and TV production.
11. Hollywood Job Hunters
Hugh Taylor offers insider's advice, a practical guide to landing that all-important foot-in-the-door position in the world of film.
12. Movie Business Book
Featuring insights from industry veterans, this book covers the gamut—from movie creation to its sale, shining a backstage spotlight on the nuts and bolts of movie magic.
Travel Through the Pages and Beyond
As screenwriters, we are accustomed to transporting audiences across worlds with the power of story alone. Our words are vehicles, our imagination the driver. And though our craft is often a solitary one, bound to the desks and dim lights of our writing rooms, the inspiration that catalyzes our screenplays is sourced from experiences far and wide. Travel, whether literal journeys or the travel of the mind through reading, is an indispensable tool for any writer. It fuels our narratives, colors our characters, and shapes our scripts. As you embark on your screenwriting journey empowered by these recommended readings, remember that the world outside your writers’ room is ripe with tales waiting to be woven into the fabric of your next screenplay.
New York
Glasgow
Boston
Orlando
- Lake Buena Vista
- Hilton Grand Vacations Club Parc Soleil Orlando
- Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort
- Marriott Orlando Airport Lakeside
- Bohemian Hotel Celebration