Customer Reviews

Your Screenplay Sucks!: 100 Ways to Make It Great

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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. Those in the class who think that all they need to do is churn out that script about their mother's hysterectomy and Hollywood will come calling and money will fall like manna from heaven. Honesty is a good thing, especially when you are starting out - and too often there are too many books that just say what they think the reader wants to hear.

As for my issues with the book... Well, there are a few things that Mr. Akers did not touch on that I think are very important and I'll send those to him for the hoped for sequel to the book. Plus I would have loved more examples of what he was talking about and referring to. And, lastly, it would have been nice to have some sort of "coding" system as to what is EXTREMELY important and what is only VERY important. Certainly all 100 of these references are important but I think there were probably some that rise to a different level. Trust me, if you have typos and bad structure - just toss your script into a shredder now because it's not going to go anywhere. Where as, yeah having two characters named Jim and Tim isn't ideal and it MAY get your script tossed - it won't be tossed as quickly if you've misspelled ten words on the first page of your script.

Bottom line: Will Akers takes a straight-forward no-nonsense approach to the process of writing and fixing your screenplay. He cuts through the crap and gets right to the heart of what is wrong and simply tells you how to fix it. Fantastic book.

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.

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

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.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. If I had to say anything negative about it, it would be that it stopped me writing for a day because I was too engrossed in reading it. I spent six hours reading it the night I got it.

What's really good about this book is that - despite the title - you really won't be depressed reading it. It's like he's sitting there next to you, working through your script on your behalf. It's entertaining, informative and he'll give you plenty of examples to demontrate his point. You'll get a good idea of which movies to read/watch as shining examples. And I can guarantee you'll realize you're doing a LOT right, while learning how to polish the rest.

This book is a goldmine. I'm about 2/3 of the way through it and I've got a Word doc with over 200 bullet-pointed tips on how to improve my writing. I'm so inspired I feel like I could ditch my entire script right now, rewrite it and make it three times better. (Actually, that's one of the things Mr Akers advises you not to do - write it first, then rewrite. And rewrite. And rewrite. But you won't mind all the rewriting because it's so much fun now!)

Even if you know how to write a screenplay, maybe even sold a few, I'd still recommend this book.

Finally, if you've never written before and have yet to write a word, I would read some other books first and then read this when you're ready to improve. I wouldn't call it an absolute beginner book. Although it gives you a lot of advice, it helps to know what he's talking about first!

Your first draft may never sell. But after reading this, I'll be shocked if your later drafts don't.

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.

I'm a first-time screenwriter, and this book has really helped me figure out how to improve my work so it's ready for professional readers. The author gives a practical check-list that I found easy to follow and I recognized a lot of his points in my own writing.

Excellent resource for doing a polish or rewrite of your screenplay. The book is written in an amusing style by a knowledgeable pro. So many books out there but this one gives you practical useful advice for getting your script ready to market. Don't send it out until you've checked this book out and follows the advice. Happy writing!

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

Throughout my twenty year career in the entertainment business I read treatments,scripts, and eventually sold original projects to networks and distributors. Now finally, a book comes a long that actually makes sense and provides a clear and obvious roadmap for developing stories, writing and editing and evaluating scripts. Humorous and accessible,a quick read and an easy must have reference. Your Screenplay Sucks is a usable guide for experienced and neophyte writers and executives to create, edit and critique with confidence. No small feat in a frightening business where nobody knows anything.