A Writer's Roadmap [Paperback]

Wendell Wellman (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: 1st Book Library (November 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403387524
• ISBN-13: 978-1403387523
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,017,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Roadmap, October 8, 2009

By 

Derrick Warfel "writer-director" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Writer's Roadmap (Paperback)

It's generally best to avoid the slash and burn reviews from critics who want to promote their own "brilliance" rather than give a review and avoid the glowing "can do no wrong" reviews - and I see this book has attracted both. While not the final word on all screenwriting, Mr. Wellman's book is a solid collection of practical advice nuggets from a person who has actually wrote and SOLD major screenplays, whereas so many writing teachers and critics have not. He writes as a screenwriter to screenwriters in a folksy, informal style much as he would if he were sitting and talking to you over coffee rather than in some style of straightjacketed literary correctness. He summarizes the best from a variety of writing sources and adds many of his own unique observations from countless hours of watching and analyzing screenplays and movies. Writing a book on screenwriting is not simply being able to include some exhaustive list of information about the craft or being able to come up with some new clever technique, but knowing what basic principles to focus on so you don't get caught up in a Gordian knot of screenwriting do's and don'ts. While hardly an exhaustive survey of the craft, Roadmap has the incisive ability to focus on the crucial elements to make a screenplay a success: understanding your hero and what he/she wants, understanding your enemy, discovering the hero's inner conflict (wound), clarifying the story's thematic argument, filling out the story cast, outlining the major story beats, and feathering in other craft techniques. In addition to having read the book I have heard the man teach personally. And I as a produced feature screenwriter myself, can say that he is one of the most astute screenplay structure analysts in Hollywood. The book is a valuable addition to one's screenwriting library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wendell Gets It - So Should You, January 7, 2010

By 

Don Tsuchiyama "dadofdavid" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Writer's Roadmap (Paperback)

There is no better book out there that discusses modern movie structure. While this is NOT a book for a beginner, anyone who has struggled with the ups and downs of creating 2nd and 3rd acts for a screenplay will find this book will be a great help in achieving clarity. Believe the positive reviews and not the nay-sayers. Some people just enjoy being contrary.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really Insightful Storytelling & Screenwriting Clarity, May 13, 2010

By 

John Hruby "John Hruby, Writing & Creativity ... (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Writer's Roadmap (Paperback)

Really great book. There is much depth and clarity about the art and structure of storytelling and how it relates to screenwriting. This book builds on Syd Field's and Viki King's screenplay writing and coaching. This guy actually discusses what happens in movies with great story awareness that I understood structure and how it serves any story and any script. Great movie examples too.