Gardner's Guide to Screenplay: From Idea to Successful Script

by Jule Selbo

Practical and inspiring for both beginning and experienced screenwriters, this guide shows how to structure a film story by focusing on character development. Featuring the "Eleven Step Story Structure," a template that takes the haphazardness out of the process of writing, the book reasons that a strict outline can be turned into a strong script with room for creative and original ideas. Many examples, exercises, and story breakdowns of major motion pictures are provided to spark creativity, as well as advice on necessary selling information to get the script into the right hands.

350 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

SO EXCITED! 6 DAYS, A Dee Rommel Mystery will be available August 5, 2026. It's the fifth in the series. The series begins with 10 DAYS, then comes 9 DAYS, then 8 DAYS (you see the pattern).

Jule Selbo rises an hour before sun-up, likes the fuel of caffeine, and loves to make up stories. She’s an award-winning screenwriter (Disney, Paramount, Universal, and more, including working with George Lucas on Young Indiana Jones Chronicles for five years, penning Ariel’s Beginning (Little Mermaid and Hunchback of Notre Dame Part Deux and more for Disney, tv shows like Melrose Place, Hercules, Space Above and Beyond and HBO’s Women Behind Bars).

She moved to Maine to write novels and short stories – focusing on her favorite genres: crime mystery and historical fiction. 10 DAYS, A Dee Rommel Mystery (2021) is the first of the award-winning series; it is followed by 9 DAYS. 8 DAYS, 7 DAYS and the new 6 DAYS.

Series’ kudos include: Silver Falchion, CIBA Best Series Finalist, nominations for the CLue Award and Foreward Review Award, Kirkus’ Top 5 Mysteries from Small Publishers and more.

Her historical fiction books include biographies of Italy’s John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) and Laura Bassi (first experimental physicist and first female professor at University of Bologna in the late 1700s). Her Find Me In Florence focuses on the country’s Mud Angels; they helped save priceless artwork and books after the 1966 flood.

Short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Magazine and Thriller Magazine.

Jule would love to hear from her readers!

Reviews

[Chris Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't actually finish reading because I bought an updated edition without realizing it. That being said, Jule Selbo is essential reading for aspiring and practicing screenwriters.