The Screenwriter's Workbook (Revised Edition)

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Customer Reviews:

Systematic Approach to Writing Screenplays [Posted on 2007-12-21]
This is a step-by-step approach to writing a screenplay. Basically there are 7 different stages or steps in the development of the final screenplay.
First the story or concept. General ideas.
Second, Syd Field wants a little more information, such as the Ending, the Beginning, and the Plot Points. It is not as important to name each section of the play as it is to development the play in small, manageable increments; with each increment building on the previous stage.
In the third step, Syd Field adds more description to the key sections of the play. Again, just an increment, but always moving toward the Resolution of your play.
The fourth step is to flesh out your ideas in a low-level outline. This outline may be index cards but a word processor with an outline feature (like Word) is best. This outline will act as a skeleton to help put new ideas and concepts into the context of the play.
The fifth step expands the outline to the point that there should be an entry for each scene. What happens in each scene, where it happens. This may be called a pseudo script since there is action and reaction.
Not until step six do we add dialogue. Not the final version but just what is said. Boring dialogue.
Step seven takes this initial dialogue and makes it "snappy". How something is said can and should have an impact on the action of the play.
No matter what you may name the different divisions in a screenplay - Act 2, Plot Point 1, Midpoint, or how many different devices you use - foreshadowing, payoff, time lock, anticipation; the 7 steps are the same.
Without an outline you will find yourself wandering through the twilight zone of writer's block. Syd Field develops each step and gives examples of what is created at each step. In most writing, an outline is helpful but when writing a screenplay, the outline is a necessity. You will find that writing with an outline takes a tremendous amount of pressure off your mind because any and all ideas may be inserted into the outline at any time and the process of editing will take care of itself. This leaves your mind free to do what it does best, be creative.

Write a Screenplay Step by Step [Posted on 2008-02-22]
I've tried writing a coherent and complete first draft of plays and screenplays without success. This book, coupled with Field's "Foundations of Screenwriting", guided me through using a systematic approach, and I completed a screenplay. I was actually amazed at myself.

The writing is clear, and Syd Field anticipates many problems a screenwriter will face along the way. I do credit this book with getting me to the finish line of writing a screenplay (this and MovieMagic Screenwriter). So, four stars from me.

On the negative side, it probably is best for beginning screenwriters. Plus, all the examples are movies from the '80s and earlier, so it seems fairly dated. However, his basic theories you can still see in most studio movies of today. It will also only lead you in writing the standard Hollywood epic structure type of screenplay.

Great tool for the novice screenwriter [Posted on 2008-04-02]
I've written my share of short stories, and even had some of them published. I couldn't tell you how many times I've started a story and after a strong opening scene and some character development, got completely flummoxed and didn't know what to do or where to take it. After reading this book, I may dig them back out...

This book, I found to be a great distillation of storytelling. Some may be put off by the "formula" or what has been called a "paint by numbers" approach that this book takes, which is far from accurate. Joseph Cambell distilled all world mythologies into his "Hero's Cycle" in THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES, and you can apply any myth from any continent to his pattern. Syd Field has just done the same thing to what could be argued is the only active myth system left to Western Culture, film. Take a two-hour myth and distill it down to its raw elements. That's his book. His pattern fits.

How do I create my own screenplay/myth? I have a great idea for this scene... Well, this book will force you to focus on the bits you have to think about to turn that great idea into a full screenplay.

This book was perfect for where I am as a storyteller. I know how to craft a good tale - sometimes it just all comes out one paragraph at at time until the ending scene... but sometimes, you need a tool to help you think about the whole structure to get to that next part. This book? A good tool for that.

You are writing your own characters and plot. All this book does is help you focus on the "why's" and "when's" of the "what happens" in YOUR script. It is not a "paint by numbers." You don't fill in the blanks like a mad-libs! It gives you a pattern to help you refine your ideas.

So, yes, if you are a professional screenwriter, SCREENWRITER'S WORKBOOK will probably insult you, because it simplifies what you considered to be a magical gift - the ability to create a screenplay. For those of us who are looking for a little help to refine our craft, it is a great tool.

As far as the repetitiveness some reviewers mentioned, many of the repeated passages were film quotes that you may or may not know verbatim. When focusing on the subtlety of the subtext of dialog in one chapter (or class, as the chapters are arranged), and the plot points that move the story forward in another chapter, the dialog should be reproduced each time to illustrate how important the words are. Since good screenwriting seems to be about tight focus of action and refined dialog, any responsible teacher *would* repeat the exact dialog.

I also recommend THE STORY, by Robert McKee.

A Great Mother Daughter adventure [Posted on 2008-05-27]
My daughter has decided she wants to be a writer. Her first attempt at a novel had way to many minor details. She's a very visual person. I had taken a screenwriting course in college and thought of how she was automatically doing all the things I struggled to do "right". This book is a great tool to help me help her develop her gift.

Field's Failure [Posted on 2008-09-30]
Once upon a time......

.... Syd Field would have been laughed at. But not today. In a time when 'time' takes too long and man is only interested in the skeleton of things, the appearance of things, Field's approach is quite popular. Field is not helping man fix his story handicap (Hollywood) but only making it easier for more ignorant and uncreative 'work' (not art) to filter through and flood our pathetic 'art' industry. What Field is selling here is a step-by-step process for those who don't have the foggiest clue on how to write a story - you know, those people who don't even know where to begin. However, what is ironic is that it is obvious that Mr. Syd is one of those people. If you read this book carefully you'll begin to notice that Field isn't actually saying anything at all. I can actually sum up his advice for you: just free-associate everything into existence. If you want to know what is the essence of anything, please don't ask that, because Sydster is only going to tell you to free-associate your problems away. "Trust in the system". I guess true art doesn't take talent but simply the proper scientific steps. Creativity doesn't have anything to do with something inherent in the individual, it is simply the external process of efficiency that one taps into.

Furthermore, I found the book to be quite boring in that I had to make it through so much 'fluff' between key points in his theory (which isn't completely his since everyone is writing on these same foundation points) . Fluff you say? Yes, fluff. If he isn't writing out the story lines for every Hollywood film, reminiscing on ideas of his own that never made it, contradicting himself, or just talking about his own life experience - as if it is at all interesting - then he might be making a point. And what is his point class? Free-association! Yes, very good. If you want to read someone who has somewhat of a more profound understanding on the topics Field is trying to talk about, then I recommend Egri's 'The Art of Dramatic Writing'. Very helpful. Furthermore, Egri is capable of laying out what you as a writer needs to do in order; whereas Field didn't seem to follow any logical order in his 'step-by-step' workbook.

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