Screenwriting Tricks For Authors

by Alexandra Sokoloff

Are you finally committed to writing that novel but have no idea how to get started? Or are you a published author - but know you need some plotting help to move your books and career up to that next level?

Screenwriting is a compressed and dynamic storytelling form and the techniques of screenwriting are easily adaptable to novel writing. You can jump-start your plot and bring your characters and scenes vibrantly alive on the page - by watching your favorite movies and learning from the storytelling tricks of great filmmakers.

With this workbook, based on award-winning author/ screenwriter Alexandra Sokoloff’s internationally acclaimed Screenwriting Tricks For Authors blog and workshops, you'll learn how to use techniques of film writing such as:

- the High Concept Premise
- the Three-Act, Eight-Sequence Structure
- the Storyboard Grid
- the Index Card Method of Plotting

- as well as tricks of film pacing and suspense, character arc and drive, visual storytelling, and building image systems - to structure and color your novel for maximum emotional impact, unbearable suspense and riveting pacing, no matter what genre you're writing in.

You'll create your own personalized workbook of genre tricks based on your favorite books and movies and tailored to your own brand of storytelling, and a collage book to build visual image systems. And the emphasis on premise is invaluable for crafting that all-important query and pitch.

In this rapidly changing world of publishing, more and more agents and editors are looking for novels that have the pacing, emotional excitement, and big, unique, "high concept" premises of Hollywood movies (and the potential for that movie or TV sale!). And if you're indie publishing, it's even more important to craft and polish your book to stand out from the crowd.

Whether you're just starting to develop a book or script, or rewriting for maximum impact, this workbook will guide you through an easy, effective and fun process to help you make your book or script the best it can be.

Includes detailed film breakdowns and analysis as well as chapters and resources on how to get a literary agent, writing a query letter, professional networking, and screenwriting contests.

For sample chapters please visit http://screenwritingtricks.com


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

PART ONE: STORY STRUCTURE

1. The Master List
2. What's Your Premise?
3. What is "High Concept"?
4. The Three-Act, Eight-Sequence Structure
5. The Index Card Method and Story Elements Checklist
6. Elements of Act I
7. Hero/ine, Protagonist, Main Character
8. Protagonist Case Study: Jake Gittes
9. What Makes a Great Villain?
10. Villains, Part 2: The Forces of Antagonism
11. Elements of Act Two
12. Elements of Act Two, Part 2
13. Elements of Act Three
14. What Makes a Great Climax?
15. Visual Storytelling
16. Creating Suspense
17. Plants and Payoffs
18. The Big Twist
19. Character Introductions
20. Fairy Tale Structure
21. Meta Structure
22. Your First Draft is Always Going to Suck
23. Top Ten Things I Know About Editing
24. Life is a Pitch Meeting

PART TWO: STORY BREAKDOWNS

25. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
26. Romancing the Stone
27. Chinatown
28. The Mist
29. Act Climaxes and Turning Points

PART THREE: THE BUSINESS

30. How Do I Get a Literary Agent?
31. Internet Resources for Writers
32. So You Want to Know About Screenwriting
33. Recommended Reading

Figure 1: Story Grid

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Ebooks, Education

388 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

I'm the Thriller Award-winning and Bram Stoker and Anthony Award-nominated author of the bestselling and very feminist HUNTRESS MOON thrillers: Huntress Moon, Blood Moon, Cold Moon. Bitter Moon, Hunger Moon, Shadow Moon and the supernatural thrillers The Harrowing, The Price, Book of Shadows, The Unseen, The Space Between. The New York Times Book Review has called me "a daughter of Mary Shelley" and my novels "some of the most original and freshly unnerving work in the genre."

I'm a California native and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, where I majored in theater and minored in everything that Berkeley has a reputation for. After college I moved to Los Angeles, where I made an interesting living doing novel adaptations and selling original thriller scripts to various Hollywood studios.

Now I (mostly!) live in Scotland with my Scottish crime-writing husband, Craig Robertson. We've just written a new mystery/thriller series together — and we're still married and haven't killed each other! LOST HIGHWAY will be out in 2026.

My HUNTRESS MOON series follows a haunted FBI agent on the hunt for a female serial killer, which means I can smash hated genre cliches and kill a lot of men who need to be killed.

In my paranormal and supernatural thrillers, I like to cross the possibility of the supernatural with very real life explanations for any strangeness going on, and base the action squarely in fact. THE UNSEEN is based on real paranormal research conducted at the Duke University parapsychology lab, and BOOK OF SHADOWS teams a Boston homicide detective and a practicing Salem witch in a race to solve what may be a Satanic killing. THE SPACE BETWEEN is an edgy supernatural YA about a troubled high school girl who is having dreams of a terrible massacre at her school, and becomes convinced that she can prevent the shooting if she can unravel the dream.

My non-fiction workbooks SCREENWRITING TRICKS FOR AUTHORS and WRITING LOVE, based on my internationally acclaimed workshops and blog, have helped writers of all levels all over the world finish their books and find agents and book deals. https://alexandrasokoloff.substack.com/

When I'm not writing I travel and I dance: jazz, ballet, salsa, Lindy, swing - I do it all, every chance I get.

Join the mailing list (and receive a FREE short story from the SHATTERING GLASS anthology!):
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Read more about the books! http://alexandrasokoloff.com

Reviews

[Claire Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful- would definitely recommend to anyone who was interested in writing

[Seeley James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for authors. It fills in the gaps left by other structural books like THE WRITER'S JOURNEY. She references common movies, making a visual explanation of simple effects. After reading this one, I could put my finger on exactly which mistakes writers and movie directors make that make what should be a good movie/book into a meh. I've heard many of these principles and ideas from other sources, but never as clearly defined and described as this book.

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

On of the best craft books I read. She really is able to break down the elements of a great story.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Alex Sokoloff's Screenwriting Tricks For Authors is amazing for identifying the structural elements of a story (and identifying holes in the plot before I write my way into a corner!), I found the exercises on theme and premise wonderful for strengthening these aspects of my stories.
I highly recommend both the workbook – and take one of Alex’s classes if you have the opportunity – she’s a fabulous teacher in person as well as on the page.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for all kinds of writers. Lots of advice about story structure and story tricks, and breakdowns of many movies and books with examples of how to make story work. Possibly one of the most useful books I've read on story structure.

[Vona Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to it, but now I've got to go back and read it with a notebook. Really fantastic stuff. I may never watch a movie the same way again.

[Jessica DeLand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant! I’ve spent the last few months reading books on writing and story structure (including The Anatomy of Story by John Truby, Structuring Your Novel by K.M. Weiland, Super Structure by James Scott Bell, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody) and though those books each have their merits, this book is by far the best.

The writing is engaging and easy to read, the advice aligns perfectly with my own understanding and observations, and the author is very personable to the point that I almost felt like I was in an in person seminar. Maybe it was just from getting this information so many times from the other books, but reading this book made everything finally just click into place for me. And the reference section at the end is pure gold for everything from traditional publishing to indie publishing to screenwriting. It’s going to be such a huge help when I get back into querying and start plotting my future in writing.

This book completely changed how I perceive and approach my writing, and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who wants to become a better writer/storyteller!

[Geoff Lynas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful. Some new approaches and fresh thinking. Completed my first read through. Now it becomes a workbook to help with my next writing project.

[Michael Haspil · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could only have 1 book about writing, this would be it.

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous reference for both new and experienced writers. This book is packed with information - it's a great reference book as well as one to read cover to cover.

[debra schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Easy to read informative entertaining

If you want to write novels or screenplays this is definitely a book to invest in. There is so much information. It is a long book but well worth the time. I would highly recommend this book

[Mars Dorian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good how-to-write fiction book from a screen writer.

Script writing is by far the most challenging form of story telling,
and using the devices and tips from that medium and applying them to novel writing brings merit.

It's a basic, but juicy all-in-one solution, especially useful for peeps who have no clue about storytelling.

Lots of movie examples, and in-depth explanations about characters, plotting and scene creation.

Some of these examples work better if you have actually seen the movies, but I still learned a tons.

[Dustin Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sokoloff's book is a both informative and entertaining read that will help aspiring writers figure out the structure of their stories. The weakness with the book is that pretty much all the exercises are coming up with lists of 10 movies. The book could also have had a copy editor as there are a lot of punctuation errors (particularly parentheses that open and never close, and other errors that would have been caught in the third draft. Still highly recommended.

[Deann Alford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of Alex's fantastic how-to guides on novel-writing. Alex is a master of story structure. This book can be considered a practice adaptation of Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey [in other words, a practical guide to Vogler's Practical Guide] empowered me to plot a novel trilogy work in progress. Both this and its companion Writing Love are textbooks for her fabulous summer workshop at West Texas A&M. Buy both if you're serious about learning story structure.

[Christine Gamboa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few books on the craft of writing. By far, this is the best I've read. Alexandra really knows how to explain the scenes of a story, how to develop the characters, and how to keep the reader wanting to continue reading. A must-read for any writer.

[Holly Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexandra Sokoloff has written an excellent book on the elements needed to propel your writing up a notch.

I recommend this book to anyone wishing to make sure his/her work is the best it can be.

[Lisa Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

Incredible learning tool for any storyteller's toolbox. Easily read, to the point, and wastes no time giving you the information you need to create the best story you can. A must read for storytellers!

[Rebecca Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're serious about your writing then you really can't go far wrong with this book. A detailed a helpful guide to the structure of stories with helpful examples in the film industry, everything will all click into place.

[Cal Bowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long of a book with so little meat

I mean, the concepts are there, but this is like trying to cram an entire seminar into a novel with examples but no real explaining. This may do well for some, but for me, I pass.

[Vicki Tyley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward and practical advice.

[J.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed full of useful advice!

[Jeffrey Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent suggestions and easy to follow. Works well hand-in-hand with Save the Cat and other screenwriting books. Lots of great examples although she tends to lean toward horror flicks.

[Mike Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book has helped me visualize my novel in progress in structure and scene writing and will no doubt help in future writing ins as well.

[Roe Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information! I'll refer to this often.

[Victor Diaz]

Adding my voice to the chorus of "LOVE THIS BOOK!" This book has made a huge impact in how I structure my stories. It really helps me nail the pacing. I look at movies AND novels differently now.