I am a writer. My current project has so many visuals that I was considering writing it as a movie script. Knowing absolutely nothing about writing a script I was looking for A-Z information on everything. After much research, this is the book I bought. It is well written in an understandable and logical manner. I don't know how to say this other than to say that the author comes through as being a real human being. There seems to be a "personal" feel to the book. I am still reading it, but so far I love it. My pre-purchase research for books includes reading other people's reviews. This book has many favorable reviews but my decision to buy this book was, in part, made by the comment of the person who gave this book one star. It seemed like he was looking for "how to WRITE a great story". I actually did post a reply comment to his post. Knowing the effort that goes into writing a great book I was taken back by his rather harsh comments. I really think that you can give a personal opinion without slaughtering the author.So, in summary, I don't know that script writing is the direction that I want to take, but I am finding this to be an excellent resource for what I wanted to learn. I would recommend this book.This book is fairly thorough and complex, packed with information. Writing a screenplay is difficult, but worth the challenge to write a GOOD one. One can get from the text, reading between the lines, that it takes the tenacity of a pit bull and stamina of a marathon runner. Do not pay the retail price for this book; at the price that amazon dot com sells it, it is worth reading each chapter and studying them on the second reading. For the amazon price, it is a worthy investment and has more good points and guidance than flaws, which can be overlooked. Do not waste time reinventing the wheel since this book eliminates all the wasted effort one can spend in trying to write a good screenplay. I am using it a lot as I thoroughly write my screenplay. One very good point the author makes in the beginning - if you have a protaqonist who has a goal and deep burning desire to achieve this with all kinds of obstacles, your screenplay is already ahead of 90 percent of those being written and read now. He gives examples of what NOT to do and how to make clear the foundation of your writing and characters in the screenplay.Have you seen all of the wordy screenwriting books out there? Some of them covering getting great ideas for screenplays. Others focus on writing screenplays. Even more cover how to market your screenplay once it is written. Very few, if any, offer detailed coverage on how to professional format a screen play. This book has you covered on all of the above.The formatting information alone is worth more than the price of the book. It doesn't matter if you have a fabulous idea and write a screenplay that could be the next Oscar winner and send it to 100 places. If it is not formatted correctly, it is going to get tossed unread into the garbage. Lack of correct formatting makes the screenwriter look like an amateur and attracts no interest. In fact, you are expected to know and use correct formatting when entering screenplay contests.This excellent book has you covered. You will learn how to write, format, and sell your script and gives you a decided advantage over would-be screenwriters who are not in the know. With this book in hand and with your own hard work, that Oscar or Emmy might just be around the next bend in the road.I just finished my first screenplay (14 pages) and found SWB to be the quickest and best help of any book on my self.I didn't need a book to tell me what to say, but to get it out of my brain and onto paper quickly.I had picked up 5 books over the years but this one did the trick.I read it every night and revised my script as I went through it.My suggestions for a first time writer:1) First, write out your plot, ideas, thoughts and key concepts in a free flow style in a separate text file.2) Second, let the last page of your screenplay be the "cutting room floor". That way you won't have to regret deletions and in the end you will see the evolution of your thinking and script as that last page grows. It can also contain those directorial notes that you shouldn't put in the main script, but may figure out how to include later!Now where are those chocolate snacks?I asked a friend of mine who's part of the Dallas Screenwriters Association if he had a reference on a good book that could answer a number of questions I had on the form and format of that kind of writing (verses what I was doing with graphic novels). He suggested this book and boy was he spot on!The Screenwriters Bible is not resorting to hyperbol in this title. It is an all encompasing overview of the art of the form as well as the business side of screenwriting and I immediately found myself wanted to read it from cover to cover (rather than just cherry-picking chapters that I was initially interested in).The up to date examples of films which have just come out as recently as the last year, make the points very easy to assimilate.I highly recommend this for anyone (whether professional writer or novice)who wants to get a firm foothold on how to write in this format.Robert Luedke, is the author of the graphic novels: Eye Witness: A Fictional tale of Absolute Truth; Acts of the Spirit; Rise of the Apostle; and Unknown God.Fast shipping. Exactly what I ordered. Thanks! :-)This is a truly wonderful book for those new to screenwriting. It's laid out in a logical way and takes you step by step through the process from the original idea right to the finished article including the rewrites. It has helpful tips to make your script stand out from the rest and lots of examples. It also has useful background about the way the industry works. I highly recommend it.I bought many books on screenplays. but this one is the best and for real the only one that you will ever need for screenwriting :)Very good ,usefulsuper!Screenwriter's Bible is an inexspensable help starting out as a screenwriter. Lir if helflugtning information on structure and writing - always put into context thru examples from real life movies most people remember.It's the kind of book you can keep coming back to, as you will have evolved as a writer since reading it the last time. Also contains a number of helpful tools and exercises to get you thru the writing process.