Listmania!
Screenwriting Books I Own
Save the Cat!: The Only Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever NeedSave the Cat!: The Only Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder
Buy new: £6.99 / Used from: £6.48
A concise and inspiring read; this is my favourite screenwriting book at the moment. I'm following Blake's recommendations while writing my latest feature script.
How to Write a Movie in 21 Days: The Inner Movie MethodHow to Write a Movie in 21 Days: The Inner Movie Method by Viki King
Buy new: £4.99 / Used from: £2.47
Some of the ideas from Save the Cat! originated from Viki's book. Personally I found it too "touchy-feely", but others might like her style and approach.
How to Be Your Own Script DoctorHow to Be Your Own Script Doctor by Jennifer Kenning
Buy new: £5.90 / Used from: £1.91
Short book with lots of practical advise to "debug" your screenwriting.
The Third Act: A Structural Approach to Writing Great EndingsThe Third Act: A Structural Approach to Writing Great Endings by Drew Yanno
Buy new: £6.59 / Used from: £3.46
Focuses on the final act of your screenplay. Lots of examples from recent movies.
Crafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside the BoxCrafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside the Box by Alex Epstein
Buy new: £7.14 / Used from: £5.63
Alex has a great blog that is well worth subscribing too. This is one of the better books on writing for modern television. He also wrote "Crafty Screenwriting" but I do not own it (yet).
Lew Hunter's Screenwriting 434: The Industry's Top Teacher Reveals the Secrets of theLew Hunter's Screenwriting 434: The Industry's Top Teacher Reveals the Secrets of the by Lew Hunter
Buy new: £4.13 / Used from: £5.98
I have only just got this, but the first few pages of the introduction got me salivating.
An Talking Funny for MoneyAn Talking Funny for Money by Pamela Lewis
Buy new: £6.88 / Used from: £6.50
I bought this to help me do the voices for my animated children's shorts.
Writing the Action Adventure Film: The Moment of TruthWriting the Action Adventure Film: The Moment of Truth by Neill Hicks
Buy new: £3.81 / Used from: £10.95
This one has a few practical ideas but overall it is too much like an academic essay for my taste.
The Complete Book of ScriptwritingThe Complete Book of Scriptwriting by J.Michael Straczynski
Buy new: £11.38 / Used from: £3.67
As a fan of Babylon 5 I had to buy this one. A bit old-fashioned and dry.
How to Adapt Anything into a ScreenplayHow to Adapt Anything into a Screenplay by Richard Krevolin
Buy new: £3.77 / Used from: £1.95
Most films are adaptions. What is the process?
The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell StoriesThe Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories by Christopher Booker
Buy new: £10.99 / Used from: £10.56
A weighty tome in more ways than one.
Screenplay by Disney: Tips and Techniques to Bring Magic to Your Moviemaking (Disney)Screenplay by Disney: Tips and Techniques to Bring Magic to Your Moviemaking (Disney) by Jason Surrell
Buy new: £16.23 / Used from: £3.78
Another of my favorites: small, concise, funny, inspiring.
500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood: Writing the Screenplay the Reader Will Recommend500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood: Writing the Screenplay the Reader Will Recommend by Jennifer M. Lerch
Buy new: £2.70 / Used from: £0.33
Basically a long check list of everything you should review before submitting your script.
Characters and Viewpoint (The Elements of Fiction Writing)Characters and Viewpoint (The Elements of Fiction Writing) by Orson Scott Card
Buy new: £3.63 / Used from: £3.56
Targetted at novelists, but still useful for screenwriters.
The Writer's Guide to Character TraitsThe Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein
Buy new: £5.83 / Used from: £5.47
A handy reference and summary of human psychology.