Screenwriting for Neurotics: A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Feature-Length Screenplay from Start to Finish - Softcover

Sublett, Scott Winfield

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1609382765 ISBN 13: 9781609382766

Publisher: University Of Iowa Press, 2014

Synopsis

Screenwriting for Neurotics is a quirky and accessible handbook for beginning screenwriters. Whether you are a student in a screenwriting class or just someone who wants to try their hand at writing for film or television, this handy guidebook makes the entire process simple and unintimidating. Scott Winfield Sublett, a veteran screenwriter and screenwriting teacher, walks you step by step from start to finish and helps you navigate potential and unforeseen difficulties along the way, offering handy tips and suggestions to keep you from becoming blocked or stalled.

Rather than throwing you into the writing process headfirst, Sublett guides you through the various decisions you need to make—about plot, character, structure, conflict—in the order you need to make them. He explains in straightforward terms the terminology and jargon, the theory and industry standards, and dispels common myths about screenwriting that can discourage or hold back a beginning writer.

Balancing theory and practice and offering valuable and insightful examples from recognizable and well-known classic and contemporary films, ranging from Casablanca to A Christmas Story to Clerks, Sublett provides the new writer with the necessary tools to successfully write a feature-length screenplay and offers a roadmap of where to go next. With an emphasis on helping a writer not just to begin, but also to finish a script, Screenwriting for Neurotics is the screenwriting book to help you actually write one.

About this title

About the Author

Scott Winfield Sublett is a screenwriter, director, playwright, lyricist, producer, journalist, and educator. He wrote and directed Generic Thriller, featuring Oscar-winner Shirley Jones. As a librettist and lyricist he wrote the musicals Die, Die, Diana; Bye-Bye Bin Laden (named “Best Feature” at the South Beach International Animation Festival); and Senorita X. Among his numerous screenwriting awards is a First Prize at the 2013 Fade In Magazine screenwriting competition. He was executive producer of All About Dad, named one of Top Ten Asian American Films of the year. A professor of screenwriting, playwriting, and film history at San Jose State University, he holds an MFA in screenwriting from University of California, Los Angeles. He lives in San Jose, California.

Review

“What comes through is not just the author’s deep understanding of screenwriting but also his deep love of classic cinema. A delightful read and an essential guide to writing for the screen.”―Peter Bogdanovich, director, The Last Picture Show, What's Up Doc?, Paper Moon, and Mask


“Scott Sublett guides you through the screenwriting process with wisdom and humor. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, you’ll feel as if you have a private screenwriting professor at your side.”―Pamela Gray, screenwriter, A Walk on the Moon, Music of the Heart, and Conviction


“The techniques he teaches are so effective, and the writing is so readable. This is one of the few screenwriting books you can actually read with pleasure.”―Charles Busch, screenwriter and playwright, Psycho Beach Party and Die, Mommie, Die!

Edition details

• Publisher: University Of Iowa Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1609382765
• ISBN 13: 9781609382766
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 268