Chapter 1. Here's Your Cue! --
The Bare Bones: What Is a Screenplay? --
But Without You, the Writer, There Wouldn't Be a Movie! --
"It Takes a Village ..." --
From Toddler to Titan: A Screenplay's Growth --
"I'm Writing a What?": A Screenplay on Spec --
Chapter 2. Crafting Reality --
Idea-lly, You've Been Brainstorming --
Picture Your Audience (even if they're in their underwear!) --
Dare to Bare: Personal Touches --
The Inner Purpose of a Screenplay --
Research Your Domain --
What's Your Type? Genre --
Flesh It Out: The Concept --
Chapter 3. Writing Your Treatment and Synopsis --
Intro to Treatments --
Writing a Synopsis --
The Main Text and Example --
Writing the Treatment --
Chapter 4. Staging Your Screenplay --
Break It on Down: Three Main Acts --
The Subplot --
Time Can Play Tricks on You --
Looks Are Everything --
Help! Software --
Chapter 5. Go Ahead, Make a Scene! --
Map It Out --
The Importance of Narrative. --
The First Scene --
Units: Broken Down --
Chapter 6. Reel People: Characters --
The Main Attraction: Your Protagonist --
There's Got to Be a "Bad Guy" --
The Chemistry Created --
Speaking of the Stars --
Supporting Characters Shouldn't --
Hold You Up, but Help You Out! --
Cliches: Working with and Against I Assumptions --
Chapter 7. Making It Interesting: Conflict and Dialogue --
Conflict, Does a Movie Good! --
Go Ahead, Meddle: Personal Relationships --
Let's Talk About Dialogue --
"And ... Action!": Get to Your Point --
Sound Like You Mean It: Vernacular --
"Here's Looking at You, Kid": The Line Everyone Remembers --
Chapter 8. Now, Making It Good: Communicating Your Purpose --
A Different Type of Game: Show, Don't Tell --
Communicate: Metaphors, Flashbacks, and Voice-Overs --
"What's Going to Happen?": Keep 'Em Guessing --
Elements of Suspense and Tension --
Did You Hear Something? It's Not Just Noise --
Chapter 9. A Life of Its Own: Reeling It In --
Discipline, Not Just for Kids --
Your Personal Style --
The Three Rs: Review, Revise, and (Even) Rewrite! --
Get Feedback --
Chapter 10. The Screenplay: An Adaptable Creature --
Why Write an Adaptation? --
Slippery When Wet: Copyright Issues --
Novels, Short Stories, and Plays --
"The Book Was Better" Syndrome --
Chapter 11. Welcome to the Jungle: Hollywood --
The Studio --
The Players --
The Budget --
Your Place in This World --
Your Screenplay's Place: The MPAA System --
Chapter 12. Try Going "Alternative" --
The Independent Studio --
Go Ahead and Get Shorty --
The Documentary --
Who? The Market --
The Motive-ation --
You, a Teacher? --
Your Baby --
Chapter 13. Writing for Television --
Television: A Different Breed --
A Look Back --
Television Writers --
Why Do It? --
The Wonder of It All --
Take a Stab at It: The Structure --
Pitch Before You Ditch --
Chapter 14. Catching and Trapping 'Em: Agents --
Plan Your Attack --
Word-of-Mouth: Techniques to Market --
Cold Calling --
And Here's the Pitch --
The Agents --
How to Find a Good Agent --
If You Can't Beat 'Em: Becoming an Agent --
Chapter 15. What the Future Holds --
What to Expect When You're Expecting a Film --
The Ups and Downs and How to Deal --
You've Made It! What You Can Expect to Make in Return? --
Deals and Doctors (Script Doctor, That Is) --
Directing Your Own --

The Only Writing Series You'll Ever Need: Screenwriting is your go-to resource for mastering the complete screenwriting process. Taking you step-by-step from idea to deal.