A lifetime member of the Writer's Guild of America who has had three feature films produced from his screenplays, Akers offers beginning writers the tools they need to get their screenplay noticed.
You Screenplay Sucks: 100 Ways to Make It Great
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Okay, I'm starting this review to note that I'm jealous. Why? I could have written this book but, sadly, I didn't. For the sake of screenwriters out there, though, I'm glad SOMEONE did. It's about time.
In all my years of teaching screenwriting and reading and critiquing scripts I've come across all the items that Mr. Akers talks about in this book and then some. I'm extremely happy that it is all right there, in print.
How does the book help? Well, it lays it all right out there for you. Basic. To the point. Mr. Akers takes you from the idea stage to the "Hollywood is going to LOVE ME" stage in 100 easy steps. Okay, maybe "easy" isn't the best word. Anything worth working on, and working towards, isn't usually easy and that is one of the reasons why this book works so well. It's not a quick fix to screenwriting but a process: a well defined deconstruction of the process.
Every quarter I get a writer in my class who assumes that screenwriting is "easy." Sure it's not writing "War and Peace" but it's also not "easy." But in the 8 sessions of my class - it's difficult to define what makes screenwriting so difficult. What I like about Mr. Akers book so much is that he takes the difficult and gives you ideas on how to make it easy. When I critique screenplays I always hope that I will provide the writer with a: "Ooooh, THAT'S what you're talking about!" moment. Mr. Akers' book is full of them.
Another reason why I like this book so much is that Mr. Akers is honest with the reader. Especially in the section about Hollywood. Every quarter I struggle mightily against what I refer to as the "Lotto Mentality" when it comes to screenwriting.... Read more ›
In all my years of teaching screenwriting and reading and critiquing scripts I've come across all the items that Mr. Akers talks about in this book and then some. I'm extremely happy that it is all right there, in print.
How does the book help? Well, it lays it all right out there for you. Basic. To the point. Mr. Akers takes you from the idea stage to the "Hollywood is going to LOVE ME" stage in 100 easy steps. Okay, maybe "easy" isn't the best word. Anything worth working on, and working towards, isn't usually easy and that is one of the reasons why this book works so well. It's not a quick fix to screenwriting but a process: a well defined deconstruction of the process.
Every quarter I get a writer in my class who assumes that screenwriting is "easy." Sure it's not writing "War and Peace" but it's also not "easy." But in the 8 sessions of my class - it's difficult to define what makes screenwriting so difficult. What I like about Mr. Akers book so much is that he takes the difficult and gives you ideas on how to make it easy. When I critique screenplays I always hope that I will provide the writer with a: "Ooooh, THAT'S what you're talking about!" moment. Mr. Akers' book is full of them.
Another reason why I like this book so much is that Mr. Akers is honest with the reader. Especially in the section about Hollywood. Every quarter I struggle mightily against what I refer to as the "Lotto Mentality" when it comes to screenwriting.... Read more ›
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have! I don't know about you, but when I finish a screenplay, I am in absolute despair. I'm in despair, because I know that when I start the rewriting process, I am going to see some of the most god-awful writing to date. I hate my first drafts and I was starting to fear that I hate writing, making me even more depressing to be around. That is until I read Your Screenplay Sucks!
Within the first chapter, I realized that it wasn't my first drafts that I hated. It was that I couldn't pin point exactly what bothered me about my efforts. I understand plot, structure, and grabbing your audience within the first ten pages, but there had always been something gnawing at me about my work. This book was a shiny light in my eyes. I was mesmerized by its glow, but much like a deer caught in the headlights, it revealed one thing... I'm an idiot. Thank God I'm not a talentless idiot, though.
This book has great advice on how to tighten up your writing, how to choose the right character (huge!), the importance of "place", how to improve dialogue, getting to the point, choosing the right words, ending with the right words, words, etc.
I used to recommend the Screenwriter's Bible to people who want to learn about screenwriting. From now on, I suggest Your Screenplay Sucks!
Great job.
Within the first chapter, I realized that it wasn't my first drafts that I hated. It was that I couldn't pin point exactly what bothered me about my efforts. I understand plot, structure, and grabbing your audience within the first ten pages, but there had always been something gnawing at me about my work. This book was a shiny light in my eyes. I was mesmerized by its glow, but much like a deer caught in the headlights, it revealed one thing... I'm an idiot. Thank God I'm not a talentless idiot, though.
This book has great advice on how to tighten up your writing, how to choose the right character (huge!), the importance of "place", how to improve dialogue, getting to the point, choosing the right words, ending with the right words, words, etc.
I used to recommend the Screenwriter's Bible to people who want to learn about screenwriting. From now on, I suggest Your Screenplay Sucks!
Great job.
51 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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Length:
1:54
Mins
A small clip underscoring why you need this plain-spoken, truthful take on the the movie biz, and why it needs better screenplays than most of us have been capable of (before reading this book, of course). Your Screenplay Sucks!: 100 Ways to Make It Great
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Carl King
Format:Paperback
Great artists don't follow strict rules, and neither should you.
But a brutal list of 100 common amateur oversights, mistakes, and movie clichés? Incredibly handy while absorbed in the world of screenwriting! It's so easy to get lost as you write. So many things to forget. So many things to reconsider. So many ways to blow holes in your imaginary adventure.
Your work will never be great if you can't tell when and when not to apply these ideas. If you're on the right track, you'll use this list as a starting point to come up with your own creative checklist. This book is like your own merciless screenwriting critic: shaking his head and frowning, tearing you to shreds, sending you back to your laptop in humility. And that's better than ruining Terry Rossio's afternoon, right?
I discovered this book at random in the book store. I was so intrigued with its concepts that I sat down in the store and read the entire thing, cover to cover. Wow. I couldn't help but take it home as a permanent reference tool. Anything that helps you look at your storytelling and communication skills in a new way is priceless.
But a brutal list of 100 common amateur oversights, mistakes, and movie clichés? Incredibly handy while absorbed in the world of screenwriting! It's so easy to get lost as you write. So many things to forget. So many things to reconsider. So many ways to blow holes in your imaginary adventure.
Your work will never be great if you can't tell when and when not to apply these ideas. If you're on the right track, you'll use this list as a starting point to come up with your own creative checklist. This book is like your own merciless screenwriting critic: shaking his head and frowning, tearing you to shreds, sending you back to your laptop in humility. And that's better than ruining Terry Rossio's afternoon, right?
I discovered this book at random in the book store. I was so intrigued with its concepts that I sat down in the store and read the entire thing, cover to cover. Wow. I couldn't help but take it home as a permanent reference tool. Anything that helps you look at your storytelling and communication skills in a new way is priceless.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Quite simply, this is a great book. If you're a beginning writer, read it and memorize it! If you're a professional, it's a great tool to remind you of all the things you've done in the past but occasionally forget to do in the present. And best of all, it works for film OR television. So, do yourself a favor and buy Akers' book; it'll only make your writing better.
-Chris Ruppenthal, writer, Quantum Leap, The X-Files, Touched By An Angel, etc
-Chris Ruppenthal, writer, Quantum Leap, The X-Files, Touched By An Angel, etc
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Evan Smith
Format:Paperback
Okay, there are a ton of screenwriting books out there (I've written one myself), but Akers's book is one that will bring your script three steps closer to being sold. This is the book, presented like a professional check list, that you should turn to as soon as you've completed your first draft and are beginning rewrites. It's your script so you're going to be too close to the material to see the flaws and opportunities - Akers's book walks you through what you need to do by breaking the process down into manageable steps.
We all have to rewrite but few of us have professional readers to help find the fixes. This book fills that gap. And it's a fun read with lots of examples. If you want to actually sell your scripts, I recommend you get this.
We all have to rewrite but few of us have professional readers to help find the fixes. This book fills that gap. And it's a fun read with lots of examples. If you want to actually sell your scripts, I recommend you get this.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Investsment
Everyone says that Syd Field's book is the bible of screenwriting, but I stumbled across Akers's book in the library and wound up buying it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by jazzgrass
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loaned my original to a friend
who kept it, so I had to reorder it. This book is a keeper and gives a lot of insight.
Published 1 month ago by Loretta A. Flynn
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Guide
I've used this book and a few others just like it to assist me in the painstaking process of producing a piping hot screenplay and it has been very useful. Read more
Published 2 months ago by UnCrowned King
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for serious writers
With your screenplay writing road map, I am no longer lost. Indeed, I feel like Edmond Dantes, when he found the treasure on the isle of Monte Cristo. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Leon J. Radomile
5.0 out of 5 stars
Game Changer
I reluctantly give this book 5 stars. Not because of the quality of the book - but because I don't want others to learn as much as I did. Read more
Published 3 months ago by D-Dub
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spectacularly specific advice
Great book. Had a big effect on my current script. Super practical. It's one of the few screenwriting books I will revisit.
Published 3 months ago by Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars
Your Screenplay Sucks!: 100 Ways to Make it Great
This book really helped me with a screenplay writing class that I took. I would recommend it to anyone who needs assistance in doing so.
Published 4 months ago by Jason Stefani
4.0 out of 5 stars
To The Point
This book has helped me with a few issues and writers block I had. Well worth the money. I feel though that it could have been a bit more in-depth!
Published 5 months ago by BamBamm
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good...not great
A helpful book...maybe 40 ways to improve a screenplay. Some of the ideas are obvious: "don't step in front of a speeding car" type of ideas and many are easy to use if its... Read more
Published 6 months ago by NYdirector
1.0 out of 5 stars
A waste of money, a waste of time!
The people who write those kind of books can't be very successful. When you are a screenwriter you write screenplays, if you aren't you write those books. Read more
Published 6 months ago by J. Engeln
