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Screenwriter Resources Toolkit
Screenwriter Resources Toolkit
The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only. Any advice that we give is our own
opinion based on our experience. The material in this toolkit may include information, products or services by third
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Users of this guide are advised to do their own due diligence when it comes to making purchase decisions. By
reading this guide, you agree that the company, Script Reader Pro, is not responsible for the success or failure of
your screenwriting career relating to any information presented in this Resources Toolkit.
Welcome to the Script Reader Pro Resources Toolkit: a curated list of resources—both
on and offline—that we have personally tested and recommend to screenwriters in
order to aide their career.
We put this toolkit together to save you time spent scouring the internet, researching
the best books, courses, software, etc. for screenwriters. Hours that could probably be
better spent writing. Also, some people love to say “writing is free” but the small
things can add up. Where applicable, we’ve tracked down the more cost-effective
options for you so you’re not overspending on anything.
• We use each and every one of the products listed in this toolkit ourselves, day in and
day out here at Script Reader Pro
• We’ve only included products used and endorsed by other professional screenwriters
• We’ve only included products that are at a fair price and have numerous high quality
reviews
Before we reveal the cream of the crop resources we know and trust, a quick but
important disclosure:
Some of the products in this toolkit may contain affiliate links. This means that if you
make a purchase via the link, we will earn a small commission—one that comes at no
extra cost to you. Please understand that we have experience with all of these
products, and recommend them because they are helpful, not because of the
commissions we make if you decide to buy something. Please don’t spend your hard
earned cash on any of these products unless you feel they will help you achieve your
writing goals.
Below you’ll find our list of the best screenwriting books every aspiring screenwriter
should read. We’ve focused on books that:
The subtitle to the book is “100 Ways To Make It Great” and it does just that—with the
points on honing and editing sentences being particularly helpful, especially if you’re
one of the many writers who suffer from overwritingingus.
As she says in the subheading, it’s all about writing ten minutes at a time and the book
is full of practical tools and exercises that you can run on your story that come in bite-
sized ten-minute chunks. Highly recommended.
The 21st Century Screenplay features a range of insider survival tips on time-effective
writing, creativity under pressure and rising to the challenge of international
competition. Essential reading for newcomer and veteran alike.
Her “nutshell technique” shows you how to take an interesting situation and turn it into
a story. The book is very hands-on (which we love) and uses a ton of examples from
well-known, up-to-date movies. Such as how your protagonist’s “want” expressed at
the beginning of Act 1 should be granted at the end of Act 1, but not in the way they
expected…
While there’s no sure-fire formula to success, follow the pragmatic advice laid out in this
book and you’ll be far ahead of the majority of other aspiring writers when it comes to
starting a screenwriting career,
While most screenwriting books rehash much of the same information on how to write
a screenplay in slightly different ways, this one contains things you won’t find anywhere
else.
As opposed to being a purely craft-based book, this one takes the reader on a
philosophical and psychological journey deep into the heart of storytelling and is not to
be missed. Its focus is on story structure and storytelling as an art-form and will send
you back to your script with a newfound sense of enthusiasm.
THE CLASSICS
If you’re wondering where Screenplay by Syd Field or Story by Robert McKee are,
below you’ll find the classics found in most “best screenwriting books” lists that are
also worth checking out if you haven’t already.
• Master Screenplay Dialogue (The Ultimate Practical Guide on How To Write Dialogue
Like the Pros)
• Master Screenplay Format (A Clear Guide on How To Format a Script for the Spec
Market)
• Master Screenplay Sequences (Revolutionize Your Understanding of Screenplay
Structure)
SOFTWARE
“I always say when you write a book, you’re a one-man band. Whereas, when you finish a screenplay, it’s
just a sketch.”
– Diablo Cody
Some aspiring screenwriters like to cut corners by regular word processing programs,
such as MS Word. But if you’re serious about screenwriting, you need some pro
software. Below you’ll find our choices for the best paid and free screenwriting
programs on the market.
CELTX
Built by the same volunteer community who gave us the Mozilla Firefox browser, Celtx
(an acronym for Crew, Equipment, Location, Talent and XML) differs from most other
screenplay programs in that it leans fairly heavily toward production. It began life as as
desktop only software, but soon switched to the cloud and has since gained in
popularity among screenwriters year on year.
FINAL DRAFT
Since its creation way back in 1991, Final Draft has become the big daddy of
screenwriting software—“industry standard” according to many. We’ve even had
writers email us to ask if it’s okay to use a screenwriting software other than Final Draft,
which just goes to show how popular the program is. Watch out for special discounts
on their website throughout the year.
HIGHLAND
Originally developed by screenwriter John August and his team as a “screenplay
utility,” used solely for converting scripts between formats, Highland can now be used
as a traditional screenwriting app. Typing in Highland means focusing just on the words
on the page as everything else gets grayed out. A simple, fast and handy little program
gathering new fans every day.
SLUGLINE
Much like Highland, Slugline is a Mac only program that removes all buttons, rulers,
simulated cork boards etc. and lets you get on with the most important thing of all:
writing. It’s currently the Mac Store’s best-reviewed screenwriting app and championed
by a growing number of professional writers.
TRELBY
If you’re determined not to pay for your software but want something far superior to
MS Word, Trelby is a collaboratively developed program that’s completely free. As they
state on their website, it’s “simple, fast and elegantly laid out to make screenwriting
simple.”
[Get 10% off Writer Duet using this code at checkout: SCRIPTREADERPRO]
Lastly, let’s take a look at some of the practical, day-to-day products we recommend for
the on-the-go screenwriter.
AQUA NOTES
Ever been in the middle of a shower and had a fantastic idea only to realize you’ve got
no way of getting it down? That’s where this ingenious waterproof notepad comes in…
Never worry about forgetting another Act 2 cliffhanger ending ever again.
CORK BOARD
The best way to arrange your index cards is on a cork board. We recommend going for
the largest your room will allow, and this one’s a perfectly sized 36 x 24 inches.
Professional screenwriters have been using index cards and cork boards since the birth
of Hollywood, so grab some pins and get outlining.
DROPBOX
Second only perhaps to nuclear apocalypse is a writer’s realization that their computer
has just eaten their script. Backing up your work in “the cloud,” therefore, is a
necessity, and our choice cloud storage provider is Dropbox.
Unlike Google Drive, it’s super easy to install and use. It’s also pretty much bug free,
syncs in real-time and won’t drain your computers resources. And if you’re cowriting
with a partner, sharing and collaborating on scripts is really easy.
HERSCHEL BACKPACK
These classic backpacks are made by a company in Vancouver and are unbeatable
when it comes to style and comfort. The “Retreat” model comes with a lifetime
guarantee, plenty of space and and fleece-lined 15 inch laptop sleeve.
INDEX CARDS
Forget all the fancy outlining software out there, old-school index cards are still the
best way of visualizing your screenplay in its entirety. Go for blank 3 x 5 inch cards like
these and, if needed, highlight with colored stickers.
If you can’t afford a new one from the Apple Store, we recommend purchasing via their
refurbished machines page—rather than on Amazon or eBay—as this way it’ll be
guaranteed by Apple.
MOLESKINE NOTEBOOK
As a screenwriter you need to be able to jot down ideas whenever they strike. While
you could add them to Evernote, many writers find the act of physically writing (and
maybe drawing) with a pen to be more freeing creatively. These classic notebooks are
perfect for doing just that.
OUTLET EXTENDER
If you’re out writing somewhere with power outlets, but they’re all taken, there’s no
longer any need to panic. This handy extender converts one grounded outlet into
three.
STANDING DESK
Screenwriters tend to spend long periods of time writing sitting down, but research
indicates it’s really, really bad for us. Sitting down for long periods, that is, not writing.
In fact, it’s so bad prolonged sitting has been linked to increased risk of developing
various cancers, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Purchasing a standing desk,
though, is one of a few remedies.
THREE-HOLE PAPER
While scripts are usually emailed to execs and producers these days, some still prefer
to read hard copies so they can make notes directly onto the script or read in the bath.
As a writer it’s also a good idea for you to print off a hard copy of your script anyway as
reading it on real paper is different experience from reading it on a screen. You’ll be
surprised how many awkward sentences, typos, similar sounding character names, etc.
will jump off the page just from reading a hard copy. Go for paper pre-punched with
three holes as it’s industry-standard. Don’t ask.
Many screenwriters got their big breaks from winning screenwriting contests, but there
are so many out there it can be hard to know which are duds and which might kick-start
your career. From what we’ve seen over the years, when it comes to contests there are
actually very few that are worth mentioning in a query letter, or that can open any
doors. Rather than spending a small fortune sending your screenplay off to a dozen
competitions, do some thorough research and be super selective.
Below you’ll find the top five screenwriting contests we believe can actually advance
your career and are worth putting to the front of the line in your research. You can also
download our free Screenwriters’ Calendar which lists all the contests below, as well as
the best festivals, fellowships and labs over the year.
PAGE AWARDS
Over the years the Page Awards have become widely recognized as one of the most
important screenwriting contests and sources for new writing talent within the
Hollywood community and worldwide. Each year dozens of top producers, agents, and
development execs judge the contest and read the winning screenplays and many
have gone on to land script assignments, secure representation and sign option
agreements.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Here are a few more worthy screenwriting contests we also recommend checking out
during your research:
• Cinestory
• Final Draft Big Break
• Nantucket Film Festival
• Slamdance
• TrackingB
WEBSITES
“It’s an enormous wall that's built between you and your dreams. And if every day, you just chip away... It
may take ten years, but eventually you just might see some light.”
– Edward Burns
If your script’s received a glowing review from a friend in the industry, or “recommend”
grade from a script coverage service, you may be wondering what to do next. How do
you get your work in front of the people that matter: agents, managers, execs and
producers?
As well as going the more traditional route of networking, going to festivals, entering
contests, etc. the websites below can help with the actual business end of being a
writer: selling a screenplay. We’ve also included sites with people looking to hire
screenwriters, script readers, assistants, interns and other industry positions.
INKTIP
Over 200 films have been made by producers from scripts and writers found on InkTip.
In fact, they average 30 films produced each year, in addition to helping countless
writers find representation or options on their script. They also work with a mix of
independent producers and larger companies including ABC, HBO Films, ICM and
20th Century Fox.
STAGE 32
As well as containing hundreds of screenwriter job postings, this site is probably the
go-to place for writers looking to network online. Be sure to also check out their
“screenwriters’ lounge” while you’re there and start making connections.
TRACKING B
Head on over to this comprehensive site and you’ll find a ton of screenwriting jobs as
well as industry jobs. Companies such as Warner Bros. Netflix and Studio Canal look for
assistants and interns on here, which can be a great way to get a foot in the door.
Below you’ll find our hand-picked recommendations for the very best screenwriting
courses in the US based on course structure, reputation, faculty, connections, location
and alumni. (For the best courses worldwide, check out the list at the end of this
section.)
We focus on graduate MFAs (Master of Fine Arts) rather than BFA undergraduate
programs (Bachelor of Fine Arts) because, ultimately, most of the successful and
famous screenwriters to have come out of film school have been graduate students.
Overall, out of an MFA screenwriting and BFA screenwriting, the former is the more
coveted of the two.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Here are even more podcasts you can listen to while at the gym or walking the dog:
Thanks again for subscribing—we’ve got so much more great content coming your way
so stay tuned. If you think we’ve missed out any products in this toolkit, please drop us
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right?
We hope you found it useful and thanks for your continued support of Script Reader
Pro.
Happy writing!
SRP
www.scriptreaderpro.com
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