The Complete Book of Screenwriting (Paperback)

by J M Straczynski (Author) "If you want to get technical about it, television dates back to 1915, when Guglielmo Marconiwho in 1894 transmitted the first radio signals predicted the..." (more)
Key Phrases: Writers Guild, Los Angeles, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Working writer/producer Straczynski has revised his 1981 text -- a standard in many institutions -- and brought it into the '90s, with updates on fluctuating markets, speculation about opportunities in CD-ROMs and anecdotage about Writers' Guild strikes that have occurred in the interval. A handy tome for the novice, since Straczynski covers much basic ground in key areas of writing for film, television, radio, animation and stage. Strongest in the movie/TV areas and also valuable for animation scribes, playwrights might note that their chapter is the thinnest; perhaps it was all apportioned according to what the various disciplines pay?

Product Description
J. Michael Straczynski, writer/producer of Murder, She Wrote and creator of Babylon 5 teaches scriptwriters how to write and sell work for television, movies, animation, radio and the theatre. Straczynski covers each medium in depth. He reveals facts, tells stories and offers observations from the vantage point of a career in the business.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; Rev Sub edition (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898795125
• ISBN-13: 978-0898795127
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #903,036 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Purpose, August 19, 2002

By	Jamie Jeffords (South Carolina) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Complete Book of Scriptwriting (Paperback)

Scriptwriting is a great all purpose review of both the creative and business sides of writing for TV, movies, animation, radio drama, and the stage. Straczynski is the perfect authority to write on these subjects, having garnered success in all those fields.

The book is a how to manual, with plenty of examples to follow. It also traces out the business side of selling what you write. Straczynski writes in a personable style, but pulls no punches. He helps a potentional writer separate his dreams from reality without crushing one's ambition. This book has been used in colleges as a textbook and upon reading it, yu'll see why. It's a handy reference tool that I have thumbed back through scores of times over the last 3 years. I give it the highest praise. It should be the starting point for anyone serious about writing in the performing arts.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Writer's Bible..., July 9, 1999

By	Postmodern Day Hero (Noblesville, IN) - See all my reviews

I will spare You the same comments as the other reviews, as we are all in agreement that this book is incredible. There is a business that any writer must deal with, and JMS tells You how to go about it. Without this knowledge, You will *never* get hired. Also, JMS challenges the reader to not simply go around telling others, "I'm a writer." Rather, he wants You to have discipline and write whenever You have a moment's time to do so. There are a lot of talkers, and then there are those who succeed by hard work, discipline, an understanding of how the business works, and perseverance. I would highly endorse this book over other books that are simply made to take Your money, not unlike many of those scam writers' workshops who tell You the winning "formula" to a great work. JMS has paid his dues, written hundreds of scripts, and has worked as an Executive Producer for many successful shows. So please don't waste Your money on a fly by night writer who has never succeeded herself, but listen to the honesty and sincerity of a man who wrote this book under the premise that he wished he had had this book when he started. Best of luck to You all.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ever dreamed of writing for Hollywood? Get this book!, November 22, 1996

By A Customer

J. Michael Straczynski's The Complete Book of Scriptwriting is a real breath of fresh air when it comes to learning how it *really* works out there in Tinseltown. Straczynski covers it all: Movies, Television, Animation, Stage and Radio scriptwriting...and, just as important, *marketing* your script! The book is written in an easy, conversational style that's very readable. (I finished the book in a weekend!) It's obvious from the outset that this is a book that's going to tell you the way things really are, instead of some kind of snow job. If you really have the "burn," says Straczynski, your options are almost endless...and here's how to explore them realistically. I found the book extremely informative.