Rewrite: A Step-by-Step Guide to Strengthen Structure, Characters, and Drama in your Screenplay

by Paul Chitlik, Michael Wiese Productions (Manufactured by)

Professional screenwriters know that the rewriting process is what separates the money-makers from the neophytes.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

173 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Abner Rosenweig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-write or re-hash? There is no original content in Chitlik's book. He merely distills the core concepts of screenwriting into mostly his own words, and then puts a "TO DO" beside each one, reminding writers that all the bases need to be covered in the re-write.

No original content doesn't mean the book's form isn't novel or useful. Chitlik has a gift for articulating the basics of screenwriting and for motivating writers to get off our butts and do the grunt work necessary to make our screenplays shine.

I've read all these ideas before and most of the examples and the ridiculously shallow section on applying the re-write process to other formats are clearly filler to top off a very short book, but--

The book works. What you're paying for is an Ariadne--someone to lead you through the agonizing, labyrinthine process of revision, a guide who can chart your re-writing journey in simple, easy-to-follow steps. Chitlik is a master at this, and you can use his book again and again to turn lead into gold.

[Gerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving all five stars for how-to usefulness because it's not necessarily the most engaging book I've read on the craft of screenwriting. But the advice is solid, practical, and -- best of all -- step by step. Read it through once to get the concepts, then again performing each TO DO task in your script. I also like Save the Cat! as a guide for rewrites, especially for studying blockbusters as models.

Gerald.
Boychik Lit

[Tarique Qayumi]

Lovely and simple book on screenwriting by one of my favorite mentors, Paul Chitlik.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad this book was assigned for my Master's programs reading. I came across it in Powell's books and saved it to my Good Reads "to-read" list. This books is filled with necessary exercises, definitely glad this is in my collection. Now onto applying Chitlik's exercises to my screenplay.

[P.G. Sundling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only 121 pages if you don't include the multiple copies of his script that went through rewrites. Some rewrites have changes annotated, but most changes aren't. That would have made the changes more obvious.

Good advice, but universal and found in many other places. If you already have the book, enjoy it. It's a quick read.

If you haven't bought it, then I'd recommend:

Screenwriters: "Save the Cat" series

Novelists: "Save the Cat Writes a Novel," "On Writing"

ALL writers: "Story" by McKee, "Hero's Journey"

[Jessika Lilja · Rating 4 out of 5]

En tunn och lättförståelig bok som ger en överblick över hur du kan vidareutveckla och finslipa filmmanuset. Fokuserar på struktur, huvudkaraktär och skurk, och deras respektive team, samt ger tips för att få mer dynamik i scener och dialog. Innehåller intressanta exempel från filmer tex Thelma & Louise, Ratatouille, och Star Wars.

[Hemanth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read that this book is used in writing courses as a class book. This book is definitely great for students. Not so much for experienced writers. It covers basics of rewriting but doesn’t touch upon reviewing complex aspects like themes etc.

It is written in easy to read and easy to understand language so even novice writers can benefit from the wisdom of the author.

[Elecia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 30%
Not for me, too formulaic. About writing, not editing.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

它干得就像一篇知乎问答……

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very concise, straight to the point screenwriting resource. It has exercises that will give you a better understanding of your own script and what needs work, and it even goes as far as humorously providing ideas to celebrate your accomplishments when finishing a section. A great tool to tighten up your 1st or 20th draft. Try watching 'Thelma & Louise' and 'The Wizard of Oz' prior, as these films are referred to often.

[Rachel Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. The chapters were short and practical. There was no fluff and great examples from well known screenplays/ movies to help get across the various points. I think this is a wonderful and essential book for screenwriters and fiction writers. You can skip around or read the chapters start to finish. I read this as part of an editing class in my MFA program at Full Sail University.

[Cortez_jk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the entertainment field. This is a great book to have in your library. The part I like the most is that it is a mini workbook as well. There are sections in each chapter that help you process your script and characters. They are great examples of script editing within the appendix. Also, there are examples of the seven major plot points and a beat sheet to help you see the flow of major movies.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to write a review just before I've finished...
This is the real deal. As any screenwriter knows: it's not writing, it's re-writing. Always.
Chitlik has done a masterful, and truly helpful, job of it. Writers will get it...and should get it.

[Harry Husted · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I had expected.

He contradicted himself, especially in his sample scripts. He talked about brevity, yet that is not what was seen in his sample script. I was truly disappointed by what I read. Even my mentor told me his teachings were off base.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief overview on rewriting, mostly focusing on going back for key things like 7 part structure, character development, dialogue, etc.

[Nora]

A rewrite checklist. Things you know, but feel thankful when someone reminds them.

[Akita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd recommend it to people who want to create stories (authors, directors, ...).