The Screenwriter’s Bible

David Trottier

I have the 5th and 6th editions of this book. (There is now a 7th edition!) One for my undergrad course work and the other for grad school.

Screenplay

Syd Field

This is another favorite. You can get it by clicking here. If you’d rather have all three of Syd Field’s books, guess what? You can have them all in one bundle. Click here. That’s “Screenplay,” “The Screenwriter’s Workbook,” and “Screenwriter’s Problem Solver.” I do indeed own all three.

Save the Cat!

Blake Snyder

“Save the Cat!” is a good book. Any newer books with Blake Snyder as the author after 2009 (when he, unfortunately, passed away) are not written by Mr. Snyder. The exception may be “Blake’s Blogs.” I do recommend this and it was part of my grad school course work.

This book is amazing! Filled with anecdotes and advice from the guy who created “Showgirls” and “Basic Instinct,” “The Devil’s Guide…” gives you a taste of the Hollywood of the 90s when scripts sold for big money and writers had a career. It’s out of print but you might be able to find it at Thriftbooks, or by a third party vendor on Amazon.

The Devil’s Guide to Hollywood: The Screenwriter as God!

Joe Eszterhas

This book IS still available on Amazon. It’s an interesting take on how to get your screenplay from idea in your noggin to words on the page.

The Aspiring Screenwriter’s Dirty Lowdown Guide to Fame and Fortune: Tough Lessons You Need to Know to Take Your Script from Premise to Premiere

Andy Rose

Handy little guide if you’re looking to get into TV writing. It’s from 2009 and a bit has changed, but it’s still relevant for the basics.

Writing Television Sitcoms: Revised and Expanded Edition of the Go-to-Guide

Evan S. Smith

Who doesn’t like the late Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat!” series? Don’t know who he is? “Stop! Or my Mom Will Shoot” and “Blank Check” were written by Mr. Snyder. This is a great addition to any screenwriter’s library.

Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter’s Guide to Every Story Ever Told - Blake Snyder

This book in the “Save the Cat!” series is a collection of the late screenwriter’s blogs.