The Complete Guide to Writing a Successful Screenplay

From black and white silent films to full-length, 3-D features, the movie industry is constantly changing, but one thing will always stay the same: The script makes the movie. And if you re an aspiring screenwriter hoping to write the next blockbuster, there has never been a better time to enter this industry. On average, a producer will pay 5 percent of a movie s total budget for a screenplay, even one coming from a first-time screenwriter, according to the Writers Guild of America. With the average wide-released movie costing $65 million, according to the Motion Picture Association of America, you have the potential to bring in $3.25 million just from one script. The Complete Guide to Writing A Successful Screenplay presents you with a detailed look into the Hollywood movie industry, so you know the business you are jumping into. This book outlines timesaving tools to hone your writing, so you can attract Hollywood agents and producers. But even as you are putting pen to paper, you will learn how to test your idea for its commercial potential so you will not be left scrambling to find an audience at the end. You will discover how to create (and stick to) a timeline and deadline, whether writing your screenplay is a full- or part-time job. Writing and pitching a screenplay is nothing like writing a novel, and this book presents screenplay-specific information vital for any aspiring film writer. This book discusses how to write great openings and endings the vital elements of a successful screenplay (and eventually movie) and how to create characters that grow and evolve as the plot thickens. One of the hardest parts of writing a screenplay is developing a solid dialogue, and this book takes you through, step-by-step, how to fine-tune your characters dialogue so it is not only believable but also well-written. You will understand how to develop a strong sense of time and place for your screenplay, develop themes and plots to carry throughout your text, and work in subplots. With this book in hand, you will be able to flush out the full context of your screenplay. Once your script is polished and perfect, you will need to pitch it to the public, and this book shows you how. You will grasp how to write a compelling query letter that is specifically geared to what agents are looking for, so your chances of getting represented are increased. You will then learn what responsibilities the agent will take care of and the next steps in the production process. Veteran screenwriters, television and film producers, agents, and directors have been interviewed for this book, and their experiences are showcased here, giving you their insider secrets on how to best write and sell your script. This book also contains an extensive resource section of production companies that are eager to receive and package your script, including the genre they are looking for, so you know exactly who to contact. If you are eager to jump into Hollywood as the next big thing in screenwriting, The Complete Guide to Writing A Successful Screenplay will help you get there.

Melissa Samaroo is a freelance writer and editor living in Florida. Visit her online at www.writtenbymelissa.com