Screenwriting Tips, You Hack: 150 Practical Pointers for Becoming a Better Screenwriter

Confused at the outline stage? Stuck in the swamp of Act Two? Don't know who your protagonist is or where she's going?

You might feel like a hack. But don't worry - you're not alone. Even the most experienced writers feel like this at times. Sometimes we just need a few short pointers and reminders to set us on the path again.

Xander Bennett worked as a script reader in the trenches of Hollywood, reading and covering hundreds of mediocre screenplays. After months of reading about heroic Sea World trainers, transgendered circus detectives and crime-fighting chupacabras, he couldn't take it any more. Xander started a blog called 'Screenwriting Tips, You Hack', a place designed to provide short, witty tips on screenwriting for amateur writers all the way up to journeymen scribes.

This book is the evolution of that blog. Dozens of the best tips (along with many brand-new ones) have been expanded into bite-sized chapters full of funny, insightful, highly-usable advice. Let Xander's pain be your gain as you learn about the differences between film and television structure, how to force yourself to write when you really don't want to, and why you probably shouldn't base your first spec script around an alien invasion.

• Get valuable advice from inside the system, written by a former script reader.
• Go step-by-step through the entire process of writing a screenplay, from concept to first draft to polish to marketing your script.
• Expanded tips offer real examples of what works and what doesn't, written in a witty and conversational voice.
• Advice for all levels of screenwriter, from absolute novice to seasoned spec writer.
• A focus on Hollywood film, while also featuring extra advice for television and writers outside the US.