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How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make

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How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make

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Finally, what may be the last screenwriting book a writer will ever need to buy! Written by a Hollywood screenwriter, How NOT to Write A Screenplay carefully identifies and examines the common mistakes screenwriters invariably make when writing a screenplay.

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Product Details

Author:	Denny Martin Flinn
Paperback:	240 pages
Publisher:	Lone Eagle
Publication Date:	May 01, 1999
Language:	English
ISBN:	1580650155
Package Length:	8.9 inches
Package Width:	5.98 inches
Package Height:	0.63 inches
Package Weight:	0.88 pounds
Average Customer Rating:	based on 66 reviews

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review: 4.5

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Best for more intermediate level screenwriters Jul 09, 2008
I found the book extremely helpful - but I would NOT recommend for beginning screenwriters.

I've written almost 3 screenplays, and had them critiqued in class. So, I would say that I am an beginner-intermediate level. This book is an excellent resource for those who are already familiar with good screenwriting rules and formats, and need to refine these points.

I saw many of my own mistakes in the book examples (yikes!) - you know what they say, the best way to learn is by making a mistake.

Therefore, if you have yet to write at least one screenplays, I'm not sure this book will be as helpful as books like "Hot Property" or "The Screenwriter's Bible."

The Difference May 10, 2008
I agree with another reviewer. This is better to read while you're in the middle of your first screenplay, or after you've written it.

But it's brilliant.

If you write a screenplay, and are not sure how to revise it, read this, and you will laugh. But you will also discover the difference between writing a film that sounds good to you and writing something that a studio-exec will enjoy reading.

I think it can make good writing better and make it smoother, while helping you avoid the minefield that so many ignorantly charge through.

0 of 2 found the following review helpful:

A good book, but just good. Apr 20, 2008
While this book does tell you some of the basic stuff it takes not to write your script, it also goes back and forth and gives examples of bad scripts and then good scripts doing almost the same thing. It seems as if sometimes the author will tell you not to write too much, but then when it comes to scripts that have been turned into movies, that rule is gone. This part of it was disappointing, so what is it? Dont write too much but then go ahead and write too much.

A good read! Apr 11, 2008
This guy is funny. I burned through this book in short order. A little heavy on the inclusion of other writers work, but it does illustrate his points. That is the only reason I didn't give it five stars.

He claims that the screenplays he faults are actual screenplays. It's not hard to imagine somebody who bought this book recognized their work. Not good.

Less negative than I hoped, but very effective. Mar 24, 2008
The writing examples used in this book were mostly from quality scripts, when I expected the book to focused on tearing apart bad scripts. I believe the jacket's assertion that there's much to be learned this way, and it sounds like a lot of fun. This probably has a lot more bad examples than any typical guide, and regardless of what I anticipated, it was very effective.