The Screenwriter's Workbook: Exercises and Step-by-Step Instruction for Creating a Successful Screenplay (A Dell Trade Paperback)

I've written my share of short stories, and even had some of them published. I couldn't tell you how many times I've started a story and after a strong opening scene and some character development, got completely flummoxed and didn't know what to do or where to take it. After reading this book, I may dig them back out... This book, I found to be a great distillation of storytelling. Some may be put off by the "formula" or what has been called a "paint by numbers" approach that this book takes, which is far from accurate. Joseph Cambell distilled all world mythologies into his "Hero's Cycle" in THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES, and you can apply any myth from any continent to his pattern. Syd Field has just done the same thing to what could be argued is the only active myth system left to Western Culture, film. Take a two-hour myth and distill it down to its raw elements. That's his book. His pattern fits. How do I create my own screenplay/myth? I have a great idea for this scene... Well, this book will force you to focus on the bits you have to think about to turn that great idea into a full screenplay. This book was perfect for where I am as a storyteller. I know how to craft a good tale - sometimes it just all comes out one paragraph at at time until the ending scene... but sometimes, you need a tool to help you think about the whole structure to get to that next part. This book? A good tool for that. You are writing your own characters and plot. All this book does is help you focus on the "why's" and "when's" of the "what happens" in YOUR script. It is not a "paint by numbers." You don't fill in the blanks like a mad-libs! It gives you a pattern to help you refine your ideas. So, yes, if you are a professional screenwriter, SCREENWRITER'S WORKBOOK will probably insult you, because it simplifies what you considered to be a magical gift - the ability to create a screenplay. For those of us who are looking for a little help to refine our craft, it is a great tool. As far as the repetitiveness some reviewers mentioned, many of the repeated passages were film quotes that you may or may not know verbatim. When focusing on the subtlety of the subtext of dialog in one chapter (or class, as the chapters are arranged), and the plot points that move the story forward in another chapter, the dialog should be reproduced each time to illustrate how important the words are. Since good screenwriting seems to be about tight focus of action and refined dialog, any responsible teacher *would* repeat the exact dialog. I also recommend THE STORY, by Robert McKee.

At first I was reluctant to tell how good this book is for a beginning screenwriter. Why would I want to share that with my competition? But then I thought of all the bad movies I've seen. The more books I read on screenwriting, the more I realize the value of this book. I always thought this was a good book; an easy read with great exercises to make you think the entire story thru. After reading a few others, I wonder where I'd be without this book. The others are good for enhancing my existing "Words on Paper" draft, but, I doubt I'd have a complete draft if I had started with those books. They all mention the same principles Syd mentions (Grab the reader in the 1st 10 pages, show instead of tell, etc.). But they only tell me what to do, Syd provides tools so you learn how to do it. Also, one book had a pretty narrow view of how a story should be written. I think that would have stifled the writing process had I read this when beginning my screenplay. While Syd suggests a basic structure to follow, the content is totally up to you. Also, he gives advice, not hard/fast rules.

No matter what anyone says. If you have an interest in becoming a screenwriter and don't know how to begin writing one. Buy this book. It is inspirational, full of easy terminology and explanation. This is by far the best screenwriting book I have bought so far. Originally I wanted to take a course on screenwriting but because this book is based on his workshops it actually serves as a class without the costs of one. There are excercises after each chapter for you to do. And he concentrates on the creative writing aspect first, and allows you to not be too critical about your writing. After all the first draft is about creativity and writing from the heart. The re-writing process is about grammar, spelling, and technicalities. The essence of the story is more important and if you have writers block this is the book for you.

Thee are some serious distinctions to be made about books on screenwriting. Some of them are very good, very theoretical, very serious works. Some of them are throw-away one time reads.A very few of them are "working" books, books that you will never throw away - books that you will use as reference. And even fewer still are books that you will use over and over again - books that will inspire you everytime you pick them up. Syd Field's "The Screenwriter's Workbook" is one of those rare books. It is the "Bible" of the film industry.All of Field's books are excellent for this reason - they not only tell you how to write screenplays - they tell you why screenplays are structured in a unique way.It is understanding structure that is the key to writing movies. All the ideas about character development, the representation of myth, and the history of cinema are necessary to writing good screenplays. But only one thing is really essential and that is a clear understanding of a form that appears simple but is actually very complex.I still have many of the screenwriting books I have read over the years but Field's books are the only ones I actually USE.I know many other screenwriters, professionals all, who would say the same thing.Fashion in screenplay writing and thinking about movies comes and goes - and every new writer thinks they have to either read the latest theory or re-invent the wheel - but when you actually write you only want a book that YOU CAN USE. Syd Field never goes out of style because he writes from a serious understanding of the relationship of structure to screenwriting - and it's this relationship that you constantly return to in order to make the writing work. Buy this book and keep it. You will need it.

This is the book I've been looking for. Story, by McKee, is so filled with intellecutal nonsense that I was so confused after reading it; I didn't know where to start. Intellectual BS! At least, Field points you in the direction and guides you through every step of the process. And, his Problem Solver is great.A great companion to any writer.