Screenwriting Tips, You Hack

by Xander Bennett

Screenwriting Tip #99 Voice-over usually feels like scaffolding. You know - something you left in there when you were constructing the first draft, but really should have torn out after it served its purpose.

Screenwriting Tip #120 Always remember that funny trumps everything. Your script could be written in crayon with your name spelled wrong on the cover, but if it's genuinely funny, none of that matters.

Screenwriting Tip #156 The easiest way to write kick-ass protagonists is to make them incredibly good at what they do.
Confused at the outline stage? Stuck in the swamp of Act Two? Don't know who your protagonist is or where she's going?

You might feel like a hack. But don't worry - you're not alone. Even the most experienced writers feel like this at times. Sometimes we just need a few short pointers and reminders to set us on the path again.

Xander Bennett worked as a script reader in the trenches of Hollywood, reading and covering hundreds of mediocre screenplays. After months of reading about heroic Sea World trainers, transgendered circus detectives and crime-fighting chupacabras, he couldn't take it any more. Xander started a blog called 'Screenwriting Tips, You Hack', a place designed to provide short, witty tips on screenwriting for amateur writers all the way up to journeymen scribes.

This book is the evolution of that blog. Dozens of the best tips (along with many brand-new ones) have been expanded into bite-sized chapters full of funny, insightful, highly-usable advice. Let Xander's pain be your gain as you learn about the differences between film and television structure, how to force yourself to write when you really don't want to, and why you probably shouldn't base your first spec script around an alien invasion.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Film

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2011

Reviews

[Leah Pileggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I finished reading this, but I will reread it and look up stuff until the pages shred.

[Austin Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, lots of practical advice.

[Manon Lescaut · Rating 4 out of 5]

No tiene desperdicio, aunque una actualización no le haría mal

[Bhuvan N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to read before writing your first short film. A surprisingly high number of tips are insightful.

[Gourab Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's a good book 2 learn

[Ashis]

i want read this book

[Omar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xander Bennet writes great advises to everyone interested in writing for the screen, and when taken seriously, one could only better himself.