How Not to Write a Screenplay (and why you should care)

My friend Samuel is a serious student of film and an aspiring film-maker in his own right. So I wasn’t surprised to find the book “How Not to Write a Screenplay” by Dennis Martin Flinn in his library. I was surprised at how practical and beneficial this book could be to many writers, whether they’re interested in film or not.

Flinn’s premise is simple. Many good storytellers make a mess of one of their main sales pitches, the screenplay, relegating their film ideas to the abyss. What’s wrong with these screenplays? Usually it’s the fundamentals of good writing and the common sense slip-ups of our laziness (putting your name and contact info on the script.)

While I can’t speak as a film writer, I can say that as an editor and amateur writer I’ve seen (and probably committed) far too many basic typos and errors. Flinn also makes sure we remember the core principles of “show don’t tell” and “your first draft needs a lot of work” that are quickly forgotten in today’s electronic age with our incredibly short attention spans.

Interested in improving your writing skills but tired of Strunk, White and the rest of the gang? Pick up this interesting angle on writing that will challenge you to take another look at your storytelling. Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up writing that one-in-a-million screenplay after all.

review filed by Parke