Customer Reviews

Writing Screenplays That Sell: The Complete, Step-By-Step Guide for Writing and Selling to

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was fortunately one of the first books I started with and it was a dandy. Much better than Syd Field and several of the other starting books. Hague remains upbeat (something you need to break in to screenwriting) and covers all the main points and questions for starting out. Even more important, he talks about why you should and should not be doing it and living a good life.

When you're read for something intermediate, check out Armer's WRITING THE SCREENPLAY and Thom's THE BIG DEAL (about spec scripts that sold in the last decade or so).

And, for advanced techniques go to: Lagos Egri's THE ART OF DRAMATIC WRITING (more for plays but it does apply) and McKee's STORY . . . and, of course, the superlative WORDPLAYER.COM with free articles by two working screenwriters . .. Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio.

Michael Hauge is one of the top screenwriting consultants in Hollywood. If you're interested in becoming a screenwriter or just curious about the process professional Hollywood screenwriters go through, this is the book for you. It's considered an industry standard by many of the top film schools in New York & L.A. In clear and simple language, Hauge lays out the basic fundamentals of screenwriting. This is a great book for both the novice screenwriter as well as the working professional looking to reacquaint themselves with the fundamentals of screenwriting.

I read this book about ten years ago when I was an aspiring screenwriter. I am now able to make a living at screenwriting and I have to say that I have used Michael Hauge's book as a guide for nearly everything I've written. It has become my Bible of Screenwriting.

This is the perfect book for beginner screenwriters as well as those who have been writing for a long time. Beginners will find all of the basic building blocks needed for a solid script and great characters, and those who have been writing for years will probably read some things and go "aha, that's the part I've been missing!" I've created my own charts for when I start a new script and I base them on everything I learned in this book. Without this book it would have been a long, hard road to learning how to be a good writer.

Michael not only explains the different components necessary for a good story, but gives examples which is extremely helpful. And for those of you exclaiming "but then my stories will be too formulaic if I follow 'rules' too much!" -- that just isn't true. Once you learn and use all of the components of a great story that Michael teaches you, you'll realize that most - if not all - great movies pretty much follow the patterns Michael talks about in this book. Your scripts will be solid - structurally, thematically, and emotionally. You'll learn how to make layered, believable characters that your audience will root for.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in screenwriting.

This is by far one of the best books on screenwriting that I own. Hauge is a skilled and experienced teacher and his methods are communicated clearly. I find that the book is a perfect blend between the over-technical school (Syd Field) and the "just write it" school (Lazarus, Viki King). Highly recommended.

If my house were burning, and I could only rescue ONE screenwriting book of the 60 that I own and (yes) have read, it would be Michael Hauge's "Writing Screenplays That Sell."

While it is terrific for the beginner, I had already written three scripts before reading this book, but the advice and guidance in this book focused me so well that I now judge my writing experience as "pre-Hauge," and "post-Hauge." Post-Hauge, I have had five scripts reach Semi-Final stage in the Nicholl Fellowship, and three have been optioned.

I have also bought this book as gifts for five friends, including my son, who said that they wanted to learn how to write a feature script.

You won't go wrong following the advice in this book.

Of all the screenplay books in my library, this one is probably the most beat up. I always have it with me or nearby when I'm working on a script. Not only does he cover the basics of screenplay writing while using familiar examples to illustrate points, he also provides very in-depth analyses of aspects of plot and character development that are often overlooked in other how-to materials. My recommendations: get this book, look at some of the supplementary materials on his web site (Screenplaymastery-dot-com) and try to acquire the Dramatica Pro software. Between Michael's book and Dramatica Pro, I'm able to develop much more compelling characters and interesting storylines. I've also attended several of his workshops -- if you have an opportunity, go to one. The workshop materials wonderfully complement the book and provide valuable tools to further develop and fine-tune your writing.

Very useful. This book not only provides some light artistic advice on how to write a decent screenplay, but also sound advice on the way the business works and how to format, lay out and even bind your screenplay. Very practical and clear-headed when compared with the muddled, crazed English of Lew Hunter, for example, who (ironically given his capability) only seems to discuss the creative end of screenwriting. If you're a beginner who knows nothing at all about the process, this book has all you need.

I am a former film student from the USC School of Cinema-Television, Los Angeles, CA, and I have probably read ALL of the books on screenwriting.

Michael Hauge's book: Writing Screenplays That Sell, is the BEST book I have ever read on screenwritng because of the way the information is PRESENTED, the PROCESS through which Michael Hauge guides you in THINKING through your story, ORGANIZING it and then LAYING it down.

What REALLY SURPRISED me is that it was not INCLUDED in the USC curriculum and since then, I have RARELY seen this book included with books about screenwriting on the internet. I simply just don't get it. It is not only a good book, it is the BEST! It far surpasses Syd's book...sorry Syd, but it's true! EVERY SERIOUS screenwriter should have this book and recommend it to their friends. I am happy to FINALLY see it beginning to get the RESPECT that it is due. Thank you Michael for your wonderful and invaluable GIFT!

Louise Baskin

Having written screenplays, I can tell you the following: This is perhaps the best FIRST book to buy. I suggest the following if you are serious.
1. Buy this book and read it cover to cover twice.
2. Buy a computer program called "Final Draft". Screenplays have their own unique formatting. Final Draft formats the page, allowing you to concentrate on your story. (Instead of worrying about tabs and spacing)
3. Read at least one produced screenplay every week. You can find them on the Internet. (scriptpimp,com, simplyscripts.com, etc)
4. Don't plan on actually selling your first screenplay. When you become proficient, it will be fun to read again and realize how far you have progressed. (my first screenplay was an amazing work of art by a true prodigy - years later it has somehow become merely a cute and simple story)

Michael Hauge is a knowledgeable author. This book is an honest and thorough first step into the crazy world of screenwriting. Don't fall into the trap of buying every screenwriting book you can find. Spend your time writing. After you finish your first play read the following: "The Screenwriters Bible", "Save the Cat" and "Story". By then you will have a good foundation to build upon.
Hollywood is a town where you hear the phrase "We want the same type of story, but different". Reading this book will help you understand why this phrase makes sense. Knowing this book will help you write a story that is different but still fits the mold of a marketable play.

I have written for a living for nearly 40 years and, in my mind, there have been three great books written on the subject of writing (and hundreds of horrid books--including almost all Writer's Digest Books): William Zinsser's On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, Strunk & White's The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition and this book.

Zinsser's book is a wonderful book on nonfiction writing and on discovering who you are as a writer (and having the courage to express that in all of your work) and Strunk & White's book is a style guide that every writer should have at their elbow day and night. Michael Hague's book (and I've never met or spoken to the man) is the finest book ever written on the subject of story writing and storytelling. It is aimed at screen writers, but every single word of it is equally valuable to novelists. I've owned the book almost since it was first published (and have re-bought it several times because I keep giving it away) and the most recent copy that I bought (2006) is so full of highlighting and underlining that it looks like I was cramming for an exam.

The first half of the book is devoted largely to what it takes to be a screenwriter (and to succeed as a screenwriter commercially) and what the elements of a great screenplay are. For me, the most important sections of this first half are the chapters on story concept, finding ideas and, very importantly, character development. I can honestly say I've read this book dozens of times and I am continually amazed at how timeless Hague's advice is and how helpful it is. If you are trying to find your voice as a screenwriter or a novelist (or an oral storyteller), don't deny yourself this book another day.

I've read dozens of books on writing (particularly as I made the migration from nonfiction to fiction) and most end up being donated to book sales. I keep hoping I'll find another book that inspires me or informs me as much as this one, but I never have. I have no reason to sell books for Hague, again, I don't know him at all, but every time I open the book I am reminded of the key elementary requirements of a great story. In the section on "Establishing Character Identification," for example, Hague offers these pieces of advice:

1. Create Sympathy for the Character
2. Put the Character in Jeopardy
3. Make the Character Likable
4. Introduce the Character as Soon as Possible
5. Show the Character in Touch with His Own Power
6. Place the Character in a familiar setting
7. Give the Character Familiar Flaws and Foibles

(There are a few more, but I'll let you discover them.)

These basic story tenants are explained with extreme clarity and when you read these pages they will give you guideposts for creating your own enduring and likable characters. Just having those seven concepts clearly explained was worth the price of the book to me. And every single time I am struggling with a story idea, plot or a character motivation, I find a way to solve the problems by rereading Hague's advice.

The second half of the book deals mainly with screenplay structure--and again, it's explained with great clarity. It's funny that Hague uses "The Karate Kid" frequently as an example of a great screenplay (it is) because it seems somewhat dated now--and I kind of wish he would update the book and reference some newer films--but, as he says, in terms of structure, "The Karate Kid" is almost a perfect screenplay. If you read what he has to say about that film and then adapt the ideas to other more modern films that you like ("What About Bob" and "No Country for Old Men" are probably my choices for a near-perfect screenplay--though Bob is a bit dated now), you'll see that his analysis of what makes a screenplay great holds very true.

I don't mean to pontificate too much here, so sorry for the long review, but this is a great book and if you're serious about writing (especially for a living), you will never regret owning and reading this book. I've sold more than two million nonfiction books (including--and here comes the plug for my newest book: The NEW Joy of Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book)and now that I am trying to expand my writing into fiction, I'm grateful every day that I own this fine book.