The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters, 10th Anniversary Edition · Insider Secrets From Hollywood's Top Writers by Iglesias, Karl -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Page Dedication Copyright Acknowledgments Contents Introduction Part 1 Passion: The Urge to Screenwrite

Chapter 1 Portrait of a Screenwriter

Habit 1. Be Creative and Original Habit 2. Be a Natural Storyteller Habit 3. Be Comfortable with Solitude Habit 4. Be a Natural Observer Habit 5. Be Collaborative

Chapter 2 Desire

Habit 6. Have a Driving Reason to Write

Chapter 3 Belief

Habit 7. Believe You’re Talented Enough

Chapter 4 Passion

Habit 8. Be a Voracious Reader Habit 9. Be Passionate about the Craft Habit 10. Be Passionate about Movies

Chapter 5 Commitment

Habit 11. Understand the Downside of Being a Screenwriter in Hollywood Habit 12. Be Committed to a Career, Not Just One Screenplay Habit 13. Have Precise Goals, Not Just Wishes Habit 14. Don’t Let Self-Doubts Get in the Way Habit 15. Educate Yourself Habit 16. Be Willing to Make Sacrifices Habit 17. Set a High Standard of Excellence

Part 2 Creativity: Summoning the Muse

Chapter 6 The Creative Process

Habit 18. Get Input as Often as Possible Habit 19. Don’t Worry about Finding Ideas Habit 20. Ask the Right Questions Habit 21. Research Habit 22. Become a Child Habit 23. Become Possessed by the Story Habit 24. Be Aware of Your Muse’s Favorite Activities Habit 25. Record Your Ideas as Soon as They Appear Habit 26. Outline Your Story Habit 27. Discover a Few Scenes at a Time

Chapter 7 Creating a Writing Environment

Habit 28. Have a Favorite Writing Space Habit 29. Be Comfortable with Your Writing Tools Habit 30. Have a Favorite Time to Write

Part 3 Discipline: Applying the Seat of Your Pants to the Seat of the Chair

Chapter 8 The Writing Habit

Habit 31. Write Regularly Habit 32. Face the Blank Page Habit 33. Write to Music Habit 34. Write in Silence Habit 35. Exercise Habit 36. Take Naps and Relax Habit 37. Be Nutritionally Aware Habit 38. Write Through Your Fears Habit 39. Silence Your Inner Critic Habit 40. Focus Completely on the Task at Hand Habit 41. Work on Several Projects at a Time Habit 42. Avoid Distractions

Chapter 9 Time Management

Habit 43. Make the Time to Write Habit 44. Have a Schedule Habit 45. Set Writing Goals Habit 46. Work Even When You’re “Not Writing” Habit 47. Balance Writing and Personal Life Habit 48. Procrastinate Habit 49. Make Deadlines Your Motivator

Chapter 10 Writer’s Block

Habit 50. Combat Writer’s Block Habit 51. Don’t Believe in Writer’s Block Habit 52. Write Terrible First Drafts

Chapter 11 Rewriting

Habit 53. Finish Your Draft Before Rewriting Habit 54. Rewrite as You Go Along Habit 55. Make the Script as Good as It Can Be Habit 56. Get Feedback Habit 57. Be Open to Outside Criticism

Part 4 Storycraft: Weaving a Great Tale

Chapter 12 What Makes a Great Script

Habit 58. Discriminate Between Good and Bad Writing Habit 59. Understand It Takes Talent and Hard Work Habit 60. Trust Your Instincts Habit 61. Have Something to Say Habit 62. Know What Makes a Great Story

Chapter 13 Screenwriting Basics

Habit 63. Develop an Innate Sense of Drama and Conflict Habit 64. Raise the Stakes Habit 65. Realize the Importance of Characters Habit 66. Read Your Dialogue Out Loud

Chapter 14 The Most Important Audience

Habit 67. Realize the Reader Is Your First Audience Habit 68. Avoid Sin Number One: Being Dull Habit 69. Evoke an Emotional Response

Part 5 Marketing: It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Your Writing

Chapter 15 The Hollywood System

Habit 70. Understand the Hollywood System Habit 71. Learn the Business

Chapter 16 Networking

Habit 72. Live in Los Angeles Habit 73. Know the Importance of Relationships Habit 74. Understand That Your Writing, Not Your Charm, Gets You Work Habit 75. Don’t Isolate Yourself, Except to Write Habit 76. Gain Value from Every Opportunity Habit 77. Have Mentors

Chapter 17 Getting an Agent

Habit 78. Get the Right Agent the Old-Fashioned Way Habit 79. Never Write a Query Letter Again

Chapter 18 Pitching

Habit 80. Believe in Your Work Habit 81. Rehearse Your Pitch until It’s Flawless Habit 82. Know the Story Inside and Out Without Rehearsing Habit 83. Keep the Pitch Short, Simple, and Exciting Habit 84. Overcome Nervousness and Don’t Show Desperation Habit 85. Adapt to Any Situation

Chapter 19 Acting Like a Professional

Habit 86. Don’t Be Paranoid about Your Ideas Being Stolen Habit 87. Don’t Pitch in Social Situations Habit 88. Don’t Work for Free Habit 89. Don’t Be Difficult to Work With Habit 90. Don’t Burn Bridges When You’re Fired

Part 6 The Four Ps: Patience, Perseverance, Passion, and Practice

Chapter 20 Patience

Habit 91. Play the Waiting Game

Chapter 21 Perseverance

Habit 92. Handle Rejection Habit 93. Finish What You Start Habit 94. Don’t Give Up Easily Habit 95. Change What Doesn’t Work Habit 96. Re-evaluate Your Goals Regularly

Chapter 22 Passion

Habit 97. Pay the Price Habit 98. Be Honest with Yourself Habit 99. Remain Passionate Despite the Disappointments Habit 100. Don’t Take It Too Seriously

Chapter 23 Practice

Habit 101. Write No Matter What

Conclusion: Fade Out Index of habits Index of screenwriters’ panel comments About the Author

← Prev
Back
Next →

← Prev
Back
Next →