Free Resources Page
On this page I will discuss different books and tools of interest as well as providing whatever advice or resources that I can to help you move your writing career forward. If you have suggestions for what you'd like to see in this space, or have read books or used tools that will be helpful, please send me an email about it at alzatkow@aol.com
Tip of the Week
HOW TO USE NUMBERS PROPERLY IN YOUR SCRIPT
It is a strange rule, but apparently actors cannot read numbers! I don't know why. Somebody teach them how to do it please. While we wait for that to happen, there are industry standard rules that you need to apply.
When writing numbers in action or description, always use the numeral. 1, 2, 3, and the like. When you use numbers in dialogue, always spell it out...twelve, twenty-four, and the like.
Incorrect Example #1
Sam counts to three.
SAM
One, two, three.
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Incorrect Example #2
Sam counts to 3.
SAM
1, 2, 3.
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CORRECT EXAMPLE:
Sam counts to 3.
SAM
One, two, three.
Leave a comment! Let's talk about my Tip of the Week, and about your favorite tools. Questions welcome!
Favorite Industry Books
There are a lot of great books to choose from, but what are my personal favorites, the ones that I really feel have helped my writing develop? This list will start small and I will gradually expand it. I am sure that soon enough, it will need its own page. But I'm going to throw out just a few to start with. After all, how many books can you read at once?
I am going to focus on recently written books over the old style ones that have outdated information. If you feel a book deserves to be on this list, let me know and I will check it out! I'm always reading whatever I can get my hands on.
SAVE THE CAT SERIES
We lost Blake Snyder too soon, but his wisdom lives on in his amazing Save the Cat series. The first one in particular is a must-read for anyone serious about the screenwriting craft.
Your Screenplay Sucks!
William M. Akers has written a book that came at just the right time. Full of modern day information that updates everything you thought you knew about the writing medium, his 100 tips on making your scripts better improved my style for both screen and TV writing. His ideas work. Get it.
The Screenwriter's Problem Solver
Everybody knows about Screenplay by Syd Field, but this 300+ page compendium is full of wisdom also. It really helps you think about what you're doing as a manuscript writer, and identifying where the problems in your script lie. Mr. Field always said that writing is re-writing. With this tome, re-writing becomes much easier. I love this book a lot.
HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITING DIRECTORY
A lot of people ask me, what's the right way to get in touch with producers? Well, attending their events, or making direct contact at film festivals. But, there is a resource that allows you to learn who's looking, and what he or she is looking for. It is an expensive book, but full of lots of information. Updated every year, you could always get last year's edition which has plenty of contact information. Or you can spend the bucks and get the new one every year. A quality resource that I have used myself.
Screenwriting Tools
This page started getting a little too busy. So I have moved the free screenwriting tools section to its own page. Follow the link here!