Why Does the Screenwriter Cross the Road?: And Other Screenwriting Secrets

by Joe Gilford (Reader)

Writers will understand why they're stuck and how to get unstuck through proven methods of breaking the logjam of self-judging and second-guessing that keeps good screenplays from being finished. Attain confidence by knowing your story is clear and solid. Seal out negative influences such as industry experts and fleeting trends. This is a way to write a script with integrity that makes a screenplay story-worthy. This is how to write a screenplay that works.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

Audio CD

First published May 1, 2015

Reviews

[Linnea Gelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main takeaway from this book is the idea of writing a story not for yourself or the audience, but for the main character who has to go through the difficulties of the plot in order to change. The writer then becomes a chaperone for the protagonist and the obstacles are specifically designed (by you, as writer) to mess with them until they get the message: change or die.

Also the term "character defecit", rather than "fatal flaw". And the way this whatever-you-call-it has to be tied to the catalyst in order to kick off potential themes, as well as tying it to the solution. X has Y-characteristic, which prevents them from growing or reaching a goal. Therefore X must do something to rid themselves of Y. But by doing so, the Y in them grows stronger and X has to struggle even harder. And so on.