Thought this board could use a little bit of a jump start, and what better way than to recommend books that may benefit all of us?

Here are a few.  Please feel free to add to the list.

Me and You and Memento and Fargo: How Independent Screenplays Work.

How to Write a Screenplay in 3 Days: The Marathon Method

Alternative Scriptwriting, Fourth Edition: Successfully Breaking the Rules

One of the finest scripts written in the last 10 or so years, in my opinion:

Read me

The Motif-Index of Folk-Literature by Stith Thompson.  It's the single greatest compilation of story ideas ever printed. Find yourself stuck? Do some browsing.

It is six volumes of story motifs that reoccur over and over again and at first glance seems really technical.

Army P551; of animals B268ff.; appears like forest K1872.1; of cannibal monsters G11.16; destroys giant F531.6.12.6.1; drowned by unnoticed tide N339.7; extraordinary F873; faces enemy rather than anger of king J216.1; of the gods A165.7; of half-animals, half-men B20.1; intoxicated and overcome K871.1, etc.

The numbers after like G11 lead to another section in the book where it expands.  G11 is the heading for "Kinds of Cannibals" – Cannibal dwarfs, Cannibal giant, Cannibal witch, Water Cannibal, Cannibal king, Cannibal meteor, etc.  There are citations of particular stories under each heading if you want to read further.  And if you’re wondering about the Cannibal Meteor like I was it will lead you to a Mohave story first put on paper in 1906.

There isn't a complete version of the set of books online that I could find but Google books has the master index to the other volumes at: http://books.google.com/books?id=jGHQunHK7U0C

Quoted from Shelton Alternative Scriptwriting, Fourth Edition: Successfully Breaking the Rules

This sounds interesting. The linear "rule"-based method had been on my mind lot recently and I thought it really applies more to action-adventure than drama. It's nice to see a book addressing this. really nice.

Hitchcock / Truffaut, the definitive study of Alfred Hitchcock by François Truffaut : Revised Edition



That's the book that made me want to write my first script. It's the best lesson of moviemaking ever. You won't look at Hitchcock's flims the same you did before (and probably any film...)

Michel 8)

How Not to Make a Short Film - Secrets from a Sundance Programmer Roberta Marie Munroe
Hyperion Publishers NY. 2009

I'm reading this at the mo' and thought I would share.  

There's a lot in here from writing the script to casting talent/acquiring a prod. crew, budget/film schools; etc right through to getting it out there/distribution/film festivals etc. And of particular interest to me at least, a chapter entitled Top Short Filmaker Cliches.
Oh, and there's a great Resource Guide at the end which lists (amongst others) SS in the Screenwriting Databases section. Plenty of good stuff. Libby

I read The Complete Idiots Guide To Screenwriting and Screenwriting For Dummies. I found them to be very helpful, because lets face it, I'm both a dummy and an idiot:) I also read How To Write A Movie In 21 Days by Vicki King. But I think a novice screenwritier can't go wrong if he picks up a few script books to see what a script looks like properly formatted. I have Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 1. But just visiting this site a new writer can get his share of scripts, both produced and unproduced.

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this on the Board, but a book I would heartily recommend would be "What Happens Next? A History of American Screenwriting" by Oscar winning screenwriter Marc Norman.

It is a fascinating look at how the role of the screenwriter has developed over the years, and while I felt the end was a bit rushed (it's a big book as it is though), and didn't agree with some of his conclusions, it is still essential for anyone who wants to know about the profession that they wish to pursue.

Syd field's SCREENPLAY. The only book I've read on 'how to write screenplays', and after reading it, I feel I don't need to read any other.

Quoted from michel Hitchcock / Truffaut, the definitive study of Alfred Hitchcock by François Truffaut : Revised Edition That's the book that made me want to write my first script. It's the best lesson of moviemaking ever. You won't look at Hitchcock's flims the same you did before (and probably any film...) Michel 8)

I've got that book. An utterly fascinating relationship those two had, that many don't even know about it.

Good call Michel.

I am sure you know this one:

"The Complete Book of Screenwriting" by J. Michael Straczynski.

The only screenwriting manual that I have ever had any time for - Straczynski is the creator of the seminal SF series "Babylon 5" and writer of the BAFTA nominated screenplay "Changeling: A True Story", which was directed by Clint Eastwood.

Unlike a lot of people who produce these kind of books, he has a track record that gives it authority.

I'm reading Dorthea Brandt "Becoming a Writer" and it's really great. It's not a "how-to" book, but a book on what it takes to actually get your throughts from your head onto the paper. It's very cheap and very good.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Story, by McKee. It's assigned reading for my screenwriting class. Ugh.