Writing a Screenplay

Absolutely one of the best books on screenwriting, and I've read a few. "Writing a Screenplay" is very condensed, but all the bases are touched and expounded upon. I'd put this slim volume right up there with McKee's "Story," no mean task considering how much detail, data, and examples John Costello packed into it. (To emphasize how much I appreciate John McKee's book, I'd say I learned more about plotting and story analysis from his book than I did while earning an M.A. in English.) I'd suggest any novice screenwriter invest in Costello's book, along with Robert McKee's "Story," Lance Lee's "A Poetics for Screenwriters," Viki King's "How to Write a Movie in 21 Days," and Paul Argentini's "Elements of Style for Screenwriters."