Not all of them. Screenplay and Story are really geared for screenwriters but Creating Character Arcs and The Writer's Journey might be helpful for a novelist. Hope that helps.
Best advice I got from reading McKee, was the idea that character's will take minimal conservative action in order to achieve their desire. This really helped me write scenes where the actions of my characters were more believable.
@@perrap79 let's say a character has a sick, dying child that needs medicine. You wouldn't have that character instantly decide to go kill someone for the medicine. Instead, they will gradually move toward actions of greater magnitude and consequence. So the sequence might look something like this: Try to buy medicine/medicine to expensive --> try to beg for medicine/pharmacist doesn't care---> steal medicine/pharmacist catches you and is about to call the police ----> kill pharmacist as last resort and get medicine.
@@perrap79 Breaking Bad. Walt is a chemist turned drug dealer. He uses his knowledge as a chemist to facilitate the high-end cooking of his famous blue meth. However, he only gets his start when revisiting a student, who has turned meth head, Jesse. Together, they learn each other's facets in a way that changes their bitter lives forever. I've only recently seen Breaking Bad, but it seems as though they use the path of least resistance to progress the story while still having high consequences due to those actions.
I'm currently reading Syd Field´s Screenplay. I would recommend it to every single person who is interesting in screenwriting and film. It is written in such an interesting and comprehensible way.
Really? I think is garbage, too many metaphors that become whole paragraphs. It's so illogical and too dramatic about what a screenplay is. At least in the first 20 pages or so.
Rarely mentionned, the FANTASTIC book by Jack Epps jr, " Screenwriting is rewriting". Extremely useful after your first draft, or how to interprete notes and solve problems. It's one of the rare books about the craft rather than explaining theories. A hidden jewel for sure
im so happy about what you said at the end about reading other scripts i have just finished the syd field book (also my first book about screenwriting) in my first attempt to write a script for a short film that i wanna make, and my first thought was to have a movie marathon were i take a series of movies known to have a great script or simply movies that have the same style of story that i wanna write and analyse and study them while getting inspiration of course i came here looking for other books to read on the subject, but my first instinct is always to go study and observe what i just learned
Girl you are intelligent, and I myself am a trying hard script writer, I basically write from my instinct and what I have observed from seeing films and reading books.. Do you think we can just exchange some tips, maybe you could help me and in return I can help you too
i recommend Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters. it was the first thing they taught us about in film school and it has been super helpful in establishing the base of writing
@@hectorjenkins934 me too, I study directing, and I'm so passionate about screenwriting, we had some basic lessons about screenwriting but nothing important, I read syd feild's diagram and save the cat and stoped for now to give it a little try in pratique and writing short films and now we are in a basic directing class... Could you share with me some of your experience in film school ?
Story was excellent. But as soon as Blake Snynder (Save The Cat author) bashed Memento, I had to put the book down and never picked it up since. There's are plenty of books that already emphasize his method without sounding totally pedantic.
That's so true! he's the best! (I actually just searched the comments of this youtube video seeing if someone mentioned him. And tadaaa. His other writings are pretty good too!)
For the beginning is syd field screenplay. Once you go through that and want to push your scripts further in this commercial world , save the cat absolutely must. That’s it two books
You guys missed one of the absolutely most useful books on screenwriting! Eric Edsons - Story solution 23 actions all great heros must take. Its a MUST read.
I have screenplay by Syd Field: I wouldn’t recommend it. It has a handful of genuinely good advice but you have to look real hard to find it between all the useless and rambling tangents and endless repetitive explanations.
Aditya Dixit i just got the anatomy of story by John Truby, and I haven’t read too much of it yet, but so far it seems much more competent and worth your money. It delves deeper into dynamics you can explore within your story.
Robert mckee's book is like that. About 75 pages of story principles interspersed between 350 pages of his opinions and film criticisms on movies... most of which most people have never seen.
bro, shall i buy john trubys book ? Because some people say it is not that worth.. i can't be applied ?? please tell me the honest detailed review if you can !!
It's full of snark only a legendary screen writer would deliver. In the newer editions, he breaks down old scripts and talks about what he likes, doesn't and how he would change them.
I read SYD FIELD screenplay the foundations of screenwriting book, i think this is a good book for start. I also purchased SYD field FOUR SCREENPLAYS basically this book is about analysis. lets see....
There is no one book. Just read many. Youll get something from all of them. But i would be cautious about books written by gurus who havent actually written anything. Teaching isnt writing. But bottom line, no book can write your story for you, but getting a handle on structure nuts and bolts and concepts of character and arcs, you will save yourself a lot of frustration.
Any specific suggestions for writing for television rather than film? I'm sure alot of the same advice and techniques apply, but I wondered if there might be something more uniquely tailored to the long term storytelling.
I just read Story by Robert Mckee, it's great, the explanations are really good and it helped me a lot to start screenwriting. I don't know if I should stick to this one or read other books because I feel like the process would be too long before I finally start writing 🤔
My biggest problem is having a long term goal and a plan to write a multiple decade lifetime long series and I have so many great plans, ideas, arcs and what leads to those and the evolution of the story's bigger picture but for the life of me can't come up with good enough ideas,arcs ,scenes and hooks for the first set of 3 acts, mainly introducing the main protagonist and establish his role while introducing supporting and dynamic side characters while establishing the arc along with the main protagonists arc all while intertwining them to compliment each others roles and decisions they make effecting everyone elses decisions that drove each one arc..... I'm out of breath lol but hopes someone has any tips ,help or give some advice or some insight on this .... thank you
Thank you so much bro for help us. You are great 😊👌👍. Please highlight and give some information of - 1. The screen writer's Bible by David trottier 2. The hero with thousand faces by Joseph Campbell 3. Aristotle Poetics by Aristotle 4. Into the Woods - John Yorke 5. On writing : A Memoir of the craft by Stephen King 6. Syd filed Work book on screenwriting.
Click on the link in the description and pick the "For Life" script. It isn't bad, it just has no bearing on reality or research and that always bothers me.
I cant stand the Weiland book. I own it and never touched it after the first read because it’s confusing and scattered. On the other hand, Anatomy is the best for structure and helps the story fall into place beautifully.
Well... If you haven't bought one yet, I would absolutely recommend Syd Field´s Screenplay. It really has given me a new perspective on structure and character. If you are interested in screenwriting this is the book for you.
I read Robert Mckee's Story. I would recommend reading another book that uses easier, more common words such as Syd Field or Michael Hauge. Robert Mckee specifically uses difficult uncommon words to try to prove to the reader how smart he is. This results in him talking about parts of a Story that are supposed to be easy to understand such as, act structure, subtext, etc. except the way he explains them ends up being extremely confusing. Other books go over the same subjects without unnecessary words plus bad poetry (like a matrix without a silhouette)??? Huh? Actual Robert Mckee metaphor used in Story.
@@Ignasimp well aren't you just Mr. Smart then. I look forward to watching your cinematic masterpiece based off the info you recieved from this stupid book. Because if you follow the bullshit this egomaniac feeds you, it will ensure that your dreams of being a filmmaker will never come true. Mark my words
🍿 Want more Screenwriting Videos? Check out my playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLY9KJ1cFVs7hcQCA0WMUJLQTCzmg8zcTB 🍿
Think Story I've been reading John truby's anatomy of story. Would you say that all the books you mentioned would be helpful for a novelist ?
Not all of them. Screenplay and Story are really geared for screenwriters but Creating Character Arcs and The Writer's Journey might be helpful for a novelist. Hope that helps.
Think Story can u talk about world building??? when you get a chance thx
Have you read Eric Edson's The Story Solution?
Aristotle's Poetics is something every writer should at least be familiar with.
Best advice I got from reading McKee, was the idea that character's will take minimal conservative action in order to achieve their desire. This really helped me write scenes where the actions of my characters were more believable.
Can you give an example?
@@perrap79 let's say a character has a sick, dying child that needs medicine. You wouldn't have that character instantly decide to go kill someone for the medicine. Instead, they will gradually move toward actions of greater magnitude and consequence. So the sequence might look something like this:
Try to buy medicine/medicine to expensive --> try to beg for medicine/pharmacist doesn't care---> steal medicine/pharmacist catches you and is about to call the police ----> kill pharmacist as last resort and get medicine.
@@perrap79 Breaking Bad. Walt is a chemist turned drug dealer. He uses his knowledge as a chemist to facilitate the high-end cooking of his famous blue meth. However, he only gets his start when revisiting a student, who has turned meth head, Jesse. Together, they learn each other's facets in a way that changes their bitter lives forever. I've only recently seen Breaking Bad, but it seems as though they use the path of least resistance to progress the story while still having high consequences due to those actions.
what do minimal conservation mean
I'm currently reading Syd Field´s Screenplay. I would recommend it to every single person who is interesting in screenwriting and film. It is written in such an interesting and comprehensible way.
Really? I think is garbage, too many metaphors that become whole paragraphs. It's so illogical and too dramatic about what a screenplay is. At least in the first 20 pages or so.
I wouldn't, I'd recommend Truby's Anatomy of Story that explains why 3 act structure is terrible.
Currently reading this and I most say it has a bucket load of information.
@@jay1jayf o
Agree. It's a must read.
I also enjoy John Yorke's, Into the woods: A five act journey into story.
Rarely mentionned, the FANTASTIC book by Jack Epps jr, " Screenwriting is rewriting". Extremely useful after your first draft, or how to interprete notes and solve problems. It's one of the rare books about the craft rather than explaining theories. A hidden jewel for sure
im so happy about what you said at the end about reading other scripts
i have just finished the syd field book (also my first book about screenwriting) in my first attempt to write a script for a short film that i wanna make, and my first thought was to have a movie marathon were i take a series of movies known to have a great script or simply movies that have the same style of story that i wanna write and analyse and study them while getting inspiration
of course i came here looking for other books to read on the subject, but my first instinct is always to go study and observe what i just learned
Girl you are intelligent, and I myself am a trying hard script writer, I basically write from my instinct and what I have observed from seeing films and reading books.. Do you think we can just exchange some tips, maybe you could help me and in return I can help you too
i recommend Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters. it was the first thing they taught us about in film school and it has been super helpful in establishing the base of writing
Can you please recommend me a book or something to read about Aristotle's poetics , thank you
@@nobody.345 if your looking for something a little less philosophically dense Amnon Buchbinders the Way of the Screenwriter is a really good one
@@hectorjenkins934 thank you may I ask what you do, are you a screenwriter ?
@@nobody.345 just a film student
@@hectorjenkins934 me too, I study directing, and I'm so passionate about screenwriting, we had some basic lessons about screenwriting but nothing important, I read syd feild's diagram and save the cat and stoped for now to give it a little try in pratique and writing short films and now we are in a basic directing class...
Could you share with me some of your experience in film school ?
Have you written any films I might have heard of?
I'm getting all of them and reading one at a time
Story was excellent. But as soon as Blake Snynder (Save The Cat author) bashed Memento, I had to put the book down and never picked it up since. There's are plenty of books that already emphasize his method without sounding totally pedantic.
Memento?
MEMENTO?!
*MEMENTO?!?!?*
Save the Cat is so utterly terrible. Agree Story is the stand out for me so far
@@williamdeans7278 why is save the cat so terrible? Would I benefit at all from reading it?
I highly recommend "Inside Story: The Power of the Transformation Arc" by Dara Marks.
Into the woods : a five act journey and On writing by Stephan king
I haven't read that one. I'll put it on my list :)
Into The Woods is written by British TV producer John York... the way you wrote the comment makes it sound like both books are by Stephan King haha!
Hahaha :P my mistake...
Stephen King, you guys.
"Screenwriting 101" by Film Crit Hulk is my favorite, but he has removed it from digital purchase since he's working on a new, bigger book.
Haven't heard of that one. I'll have to check it out!
That's so true! he's the best! (I actually just searched the comments of this youtube video seeing if someone mentioned him. And tadaaa. His other writings are pretty good too!)
@@ThinkStory i can PM it to you if you're interested
For the beginning is syd field screenplay. Once you go through that and want to push your scripts further in this commercial world , save the cat absolutely must. That’s it two books
I have done reading screenplay by syd field, currently reading “save the cat” .. both books are interesting to learning
You guys missed one of the absolutely most useful books on screenwriting! Eric Edsons - Story solution 23 actions all great heros must take.
Its a MUST read.
Absolutely! It is a true breakthrough book! It will get you to a coherent first draft much faster than any other book out there and I have read many.
Robert McKee has a book titled “Dialogue: The Art of Verbal Action for the Page, Stage, and Screen” published in 2016. Has anyone read it?
don't buy it , it sucks
@@rajeshk3393care to elaborate on why it sucks?
Thanks for this video buddy.
I have screenplay by Syd Field: I wouldn’t recommend it. It has a handful of genuinely good advice but you have to look real hard to find it between all the useless and rambling tangents and endless repetitive explanations.
It’s not spellchecked either which isn’t a huge deal but it really takes away from its credibility
Which would your recommend in place of it then? As a proper guider for starters into screenwriting?
Aditya Dixit i just got the anatomy of story by John Truby, and I haven’t read too much of it yet, but so far it seems much more competent and worth your money. It delves deeper into dynamics you can explore within your story.
@@frnkrry8938 Alright, will check it out, thanks!
Robert mckee's book is like that. About 75 pages of story principles interspersed between 350 pages of his opinions and film criticisms on movies... most of which most people have never seen.
understand jhon trubys book , it really is very deep , if u understand it . u can wirte any story regardless of the genre.
bro, shall i buy john trubys book ? Because some people say it is not that worth.. i can't be applied ?? please tell me the honest detailed review if you can !!
@@Yohaan_8 i would say go for it dude.
The only one that stuck with me was Willam Goldman's book. Also, Script Notes podcast.
I really need to read Goldman, it might be next on my list.
It's full of snark only a legendary screen writer would deliver. In the newer editions, he breaks down old scripts and talks about what he likes, doesn't and how he would change them.
Best screenwriter is the paper back book of Mel Brooks ' Silent Movie which I have read on a 1976 train trip or 1977
I read SYD FIELD screenplay the foundations of screenwriting book, i think this is a good book for start. I also purchased SYD field FOUR SCREENPLAYS basically this book is about analysis. lets see....
There is no one book. Just read many. Youll get something from all of them. But i would be cautious about books written by gurus who havent actually written anything. Teaching isnt writing. But bottom line, no book can write your story for you, but getting a handle on structure nuts and bolts and concepts of character and arcs, you will save yourself a lot of frustration.
Any specific suggestions for writing for television rather than film? I'm sure alot of the same advice and techniques apply, but I wondered if there might be something more uniquely tailored to the long term storytelling.
damn im beginner and i just ordered story mckee and save the cat but not the first one :(
I am reading Art and science of screenwriting by Philip Parker, a like it very much
I'll have to check that one out!
I just read Story by Robert Mckee, it's great, the explanations are really good and it helped me a lot to start screenwriting.
I don't know if I should stick to this one or read other books because I feel like the process would be too long before I finally start writing 🤔
I'm also at 220 pages taking notes and it's exhausting at times but still half left
My biggest problem is having a long term goal and a plan to write a multiple decade lifetime long series and I have so many great plans, ideas, arcs and what leads to those and the evolution of the story's bigger picture but for the life of me can't come up with good enough ideas,arcs ,scenes and hooks for the first set of 3 acts, mainly introducing the main protagonist and establish his role while introducing supporting and dynamic side characters while establishing the arc along with the main protagonists arc all while intertwining them to compliment each others roles and decisions they make effecting everyone elses decisions that drove each one arc..... I'm out of breath lol but hopes someone has any tips ,help or give some advice or some insight on this .... thank you
In your experience, how would the writer's journey compare to the hero with a thousand faces?
The Writer's Journey is The Hero With a Thousand Faces distilled down to its essence, and presented from a writer's point-of-view.
This video Is exactly what I've been searching for, thank you so much 😭
Thanks
Art of Dramatic Writing
Save the cat
Screenplay
Story
Anatomy of Story
The Writer's Journey
Other screenplays
Buy 'em all. Read them. Then throw them the hell away.
Why :|
4:35 whats a blacklist??
thanks!
Personally, I'm fond of The Screenwriter's Bible.
Thank you so much bro for help us. You are great 😊👌👍. Please highlight and give some information of -
1. The screen writer's Bible by David trottier
2. The hero with thousand faces by Joseph Campbell
3. Aristotle Poetics by Aristotle
4. Into the Woods - John Yorke
5. On writing : A Memoir of the craft by Stephen King
6. Syd filed Work book on screenwriting.
Any recommendations on Dialogue writing books
Have you read Eric Edson's The Story Solution?
I haven't. I'll have to look into it!
Where can you find written scripts by other people?
Thank you
Hey, I like the content! Have you got any links to ‘bad’ scripts, I can’t find any!
Click on the link in the description and pick the "For Life" script. It isn't bad, it just has no bearing on reality or research and that always bothers me.
I cant stand the Weiland book. I own it and never touched it after the first read because it’s confusing and scattered. On the other hand, Anatomy is the best for structure and helps the story fall into place beautifully.
I am going to buy for the first time. Which one should I buy?
Well... If you haven't bought one yet, I would absolutely recommend Syd Field´s Screenplay. It really has given me a new perspective on structure and character. If you are interested in screenwriting this is the book for you.
@@jeronimobalcarcel1606 so it is a definitely best book for beginners?
Making a good script great by Linda seger
I haven't read that one. I'll have to check it out.
Do you have a brother/sister that runs a channel on novel writing?
I read Robert Mckee's Story. I would recommend reading another book that uses easier, more common words such as Syd Field or Michael Hauge. Robert Mckee specifically uses difficult uncommon words to try to prove to the reader how smart he is. This results in him talking about parts of a Story that are supposed to be easy to understand such as, act structure, subtext, etc. except the way he explains them ends up being extremely confusing. Other books go over the same subjects without unnecessary words plus bad poetry (like a matrix without a silhouette)??? Huh? Actual Robert Mckee metaphor used in Story.
I'm reading Story and I find it quite easy to understand and I'm not a native English speaker.
@@Ignasimp well aren't you just Mr. Smart then. I look forward to watching your cinematic masterpiece based off the info you recieved from this stupid book. Because if you follow the bullshit this egomaniac feeds you, it will ensure that your dreams of being a filmmaker will never come true. Mark my words
I don't recommend the Weiland Character Arc book beacuse it is scattered and all over the place. Too much work and confusing.
save the cat is really narrowminded ...double mumbo jumbo makes no sens, you can have aliens AND god in a plot
Techniques ... spell check
Damn it. This is what happens when there is no spell check in After Effects 😂
In all seriousness, your videos and your knowledge of the craft are top notch.
The real answer: DON'T BUY SCREENWRITING BOOKS!
Nop, that´s not the answer.
illegally download it on the web, like a normal person. Also, I think the sequnce approach is super technical. So it's the only one I'd recommend.