Books on writing

[sodapop-ninja]

can anyone recommend me some books on script writing

[paper]

What areas do you want to learn?

Bendis has a Powers script book. Reading scripts is the best way to learn, regardless of the format.

I also recommend the two Writers on Comic Scriptwriting (http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Comics-Scriptwriting-Vol-1/dp/184023069X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-1603915-8792944?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188860855&sr=8-1) books. Not a technical manual, but the writers offer great advice gleaned from experience.

My favorite technical book on writing is Screenplay: Writing the Picture (http://www.amazon.com/Screenplay-Writing-Robin-U-Russin/dp/1879505703/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-1603915-8792944?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188861041&sr=1-2). It's never on the shelf for too long.

[iSteve]

It's not script writing, but my favorite book about writing is Stephen King's book, On Writing.

[paper]

I second that emotion.

[esophagus]

Hmm... I might just pick these all up for the hell of it. Never hurts to learn.

[smaktakula]

I'd like to "third" that recommendation for Stephen King's "On Writing." Although it is partly memoir, and intended (I think) more for prose writers, it is a well-written and helpful book.

"Stephen King HATES adverbial modifiers," I said helpfully.

[sodapop-ninja]

thanks you guys for all your recommendations i am definitley plan on getting Powers script book,Stephen King's book, On Writing,Writers on Comics Scriptwriting,Screenplay: Writing the Picture

[luthor]

Writing for Comics with Peter David (http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Comics-Peter-David/dp/1581807309/ref=sr_1_1/105-5738595-1565242?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188925924&sr=8-1) is really good(especially if you enjoy his writing style).
The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics (http://www.amazon.com/DC-Comics-Guide-Writing/dp/0823010279/ref=sr_1_1/105-5738595-1565242?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188926037&sr=1-1) by Dennis O'Neil is interesting and informative, but a bit on the text booky side.
Alan Moore's Writing for Comics (http://www.amazon.com/Alan-Moores-Writing-Comics-1/dp/1592910122/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-5738595-1565242?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188926179&sr=1-1) is(surprise surprise) supposed to be really good, but I've never read it.
Anything Scott McCloud (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/105-5738595-1565242?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Scott%20Mccloud) is invaluable.

[humphrey-lee]

I'm thinking of writing a comedy screenplay, so if anyone has anything about that they've seen lemme know. Couldn't hurt.

[esophagus]

I'm thinking of writing a comedy screenplay, so if anyone has anything about that they've seen lemme know. Couldn't hurt.I haven't read anything I can recommend, but I know Amazon has plenty for under ten bucks, so trying those out oculd never heart.

[humphrey-lee]

I haven't read anything I can recommend, but I know Amazon has plenty for under ten bucks, so trying those out oculd never heart.

True enough. It'll probably suck anyways, but I have some ideas I wanna try out. Could be funny.

[esophagus]

trying those out oculd never heart.Was I drunk?

But yeah. Might as well go for it. I've gotten a few pages into several things and realized it just wasn't going to work, but it is always a good time to write them, because plenty of times they'll pan out.

[paper]

Word of advice. Your first draft can and should suck. Don't be a perfectionist. Write it until it's done. You can't judge it until it's all out on paper. Then make it better. Don't go back to what you wrote yesterday unless you finished yesterday.

Other things with comedy. Keep it simple. No more than 90 pages if it's a movie. Three jokes per page is what you need to be shooting for.

Good luck.

[drwally]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Robert McKee's book, "Story." You can get the Bendis book, but Bendis calls McKee's book "his bible." It may have an unfair reputation (?) as being a "color by numbers, How-To write Hollywood Style" rep, but that is not the case at all.

I think too many books are writers musing about how they write, which is fine, but not good if it does not give you a method you can use yourself to get your own script in good shape. McKee basically is all about this - how to organize the way you write, so you can write the story you want to write, and not just keep turning out first drafts of the first scene that you don't like. The idea is - A diciplined and structured approach to the way you organize and plot your story and scenes can actually unleash a lot more creativity than just aimless putzing about on the keyboard.

McKee is also very balanced - he totally rejects (using solid evidence) the rather artificial distincition between "Hollywood" and "art" films. He cites both the film Casablanca and Ingmar Bergman as two fine examples of great script writers, and other examples of so called "art" films that actually get big time financing and are actually pretty conventional as far as their story goes. And he is honest - he says writing a minimalist, avant guard story is fine, and he even shows you how those types of film makers do it, but warns that by writing that kind of story (which if fine) the outcome is of course this - you limit your potential audience (which is fine if you are prepared to deal with the financial difficulty of getting something in print or produced).

Best of all, you can take McKee's book, and do exactly what Paper suggested -- look for what McKee writes about in films or comics you enjoy the most. McKee shows you how to realize on a conscious level things you feel on an intuitive level, how to identify the underlying structure in your favorite comics and movies, and so how to do it yourself, but telling your own unique story. And, tells you how audiences get bored or interested in a story on an intuitive level for some very identifiable reasons the may not be able to put into words, but will still make them feel bored with a poorly written story.

Just check Amazon -- he has an amazingly high customer rating from huge numbers of people. The hardcover is mostly available, but there is a softcover you can get, a bit pricey (not much) but I think well worth the money (paperback, that is).

[paper]

I've never tried McKee's book. Probably the price. And the charts. And the....charts.

I opened it up to find a map of the ****ing solar system or a DNA strand. "This reeks of Calculus." Back on the shelf.

I ought to pick it up. I've felt..uninspired as of late.

My only thing is that...maybe overthinking it is a bad idea. The goal is to look at these "rules", assimilate them, use what you need, never losing your own voice, and promptly forgetting the rules. Format shouldn't be scary. It eventually becomes second nature. Unless you're one of those guys who mutters, "right foot, left foot, right foot, don't die don't die don't die" under his breath as he walks to the bus station.

[conorkilpatrick]

I feel like I've read this conversation (http://www.ifanboy.com/archive/weblog/writing_comics.html) before. :)

[will_lund]

I really enjoyed David Mamet's 'On directing Film'. As you read, it actually seems like he's talking about comic books.
If you want a cool example of some scripts there are a couple things to check out: Kirkman released a 'Walking Dead' script issue. And if you want something to scare the crap out of any writer, check out any script by Alan Moore (In the back of 'Absolute Watchmen' is a perfect example).

[paper]

If memory serves, BKV put out a behind the scenes issue of Ex Machina earlier this year. Don't think it's full script, but you get sort of a cross-section.