--- product_id: 4153821 title: "The Screenwriter's Workbook: Exercises and Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating a Successful Screenplay, Newly Revised and Updated" price: "€ 36.95" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.be/products/4153821-the-screenwriters-workbook-exercises-and-step-by-step-instructions-creating store_origin: BE region: Belgium --- # The Screenwriter's Workbook: Exercises and Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating a Successful Screenplay, Newly Revised and Updated **Price:** € 36.95 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Screenwriter's Workbook: Exercises and Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating a Successful Screenplay, Newly Revised and Updated - **How much does it cost?** € 36.95 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.be](https://www.desertcart.be/products/4153821-the-screenwriters-workbook-exercises-and-step-by-step-instructions-creating) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Syd Field's timeless manual on visual storytelling is your own, hands-on master-class with the man The Hollywood Reporter called "the most sought-after screenwriting teacher in the world." Field was the very first person to dissect thousands of films and scripts to find the essential narrative structure and shared functional elements underlying screewriting success. Chock full of easy-to-follow exercises and step-by-step instructions honed by Field in packed seminars across the globe, The Screenwriter's Worksbook guides you through the common processes utilized by beginners and working professionals alike when crafting emotionally satisfying scripts for film, television, streaming... and beyond. Engage this workbook's systematic approach and you'll practice: Defining the central idea on which to build your script, Crafting your unique narrative structure - based on Field's elegant, now industry-standard, Paradigm - which in one form or another can be found within all viable screen stories, Imbuing your characters with humanity, vitality and depth, Writing dialogue that not only moves your story along, but provides skillful insight into every character's psychology, Reviewing all of the choices you've made to discern what works and what doesn't in order to re-write until your script's story virtually leaps off the page (from the crucial first ten to the final FADE OUT) for professional readers empowered to buy your work. Field's expert analysis of notable screenplays reflects the book's core concepts, making the inevitable challenges to great writing clearer, and far more likely for you to overcome. This book is the perfect companion to Syd Field's bestselling classic, Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. Review: Write your blockbuster Hollywood movie script by following this simple guide book! - If you’re serious about writing a properly formatted feature film script that adheres to the classic three-act structure, Syd Field’s "The Screenwriter’s Workbook" is an absolute must-have. I recently used this book to refresh my skills and it was instrumental in helping me craft a well-structured feature screenplay. What sets this book apart is how it breaks down the screenwriting process into manageable, actionable steps. Field walks you through developing and tracking all the essential narrative points with clarity and precision. From character arcs to the inciting incident, every story point is laid out in a way that’s easy to follow and implement. I particularly appreciated how he correlates each major story element to its proper page number—this was a game changer for ensuring my act breaks landed exactly where they should. The workbook format is incredibly practical. It’s not just theory—you’re actively applying what you learn as you go. For example, I found it immensely helpful for mapping out my inciting incident, structuring my act breaks, and organizing my ideas into a cohesive whole. By the time I finished the exercises, I had a fully developed screenplay outline that adhered to the traditional structure without feeling formulaic. What I also loved about this book is that it doesn’t just teach structure—it helps you understand why structure matters and how it enhances your storytelling. Field’s insights on character development and plot pacing were invaluable for making my script not just functional, but engaging. If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to get your ideas out of your head and onto the page in a professional, industry-standard format, this book is perfect. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned writer looking for a refresher, "The Screenwriter’s Workbook" is an incredible tool to have in your arsenal. Highly recommend to anyone ready to take their screenwriting to the next level! Review: Great tool for the novice screenwriter - 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. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #31,975 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #23 in Screenwriting (Books) #39 in Writing Skill Reference (Books) #52 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 794 Reviews | ## Images ![The Screenwriter's Workbook: Exercises and Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating a Successful Screenplay, Newly Revised and Updated - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71wXvwcBTCL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Write your blockbuster Hollywood movie script by following this simple guide book! *by D***N on January 15, 2025* If you’re serious about writing a properly formatted feature film script that adheres to the classic three-act structure, Syd Field’s "The Screenwriter’s Workbook" is an absolute must-have. I recently used this book to refresh my skills and it was instrumental in helping me craft a well-structured feature screenplay. What sets this book apart is how it breaks down the screenwriting process into manageable, actionable steps. Field walks you through developing and tracking all the essential narrative points with clarity and precision. From character arcs to the inciting incident, every story point is laid out in a way that’s easy to follow and implement. I particularly appreciated how he correlates each major story element to its proper page number—this was a game changer for ensuring my act breaks landed exactly where they should. The workbook format is incredibly practical. It’s not just theory—you’re actively applying what you learn as you go. For example, I found it immensely helpful for mapping out my inciting incident, structuring my act breaks, and organizing my ideas into a cohesive whole. By the time I finished the exercises, I had a fully developed screenplay outline that adhered to the traditional structure without feeling formulaic. What I also loved about this book is that it doesn’t just teach structure—it helps you understand why structure matters and how it enhances your storytelling. Field’s insights on character development and plot pacing were invaluable for making my script not just functional, but engaging. If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to get your ideas out of your head and onto the page in a professional, industry-standard format, this book is perfect. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned writer looking for a refresher, "The Screenwriter’s Workbook" is an incredible tool to have in your arsenal. Highly recommend to anyone ready to take their screenwriting to the next level! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great tool for the novice screenwriter *by C***N on April 2, 2008* 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. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clearly written instructions on how to write a screenplay by a great and successful master of writing screenplays. *by M***H on February 3, 2018* I wanted a clear and specific book to learn the steps of writing screenplays, ordered this book and I am so happy with it. Syd Field lays out very clear directions on how to write a screenplay. He gives you exercises to practice and homework such as watching movies to try to break them down into the format he lays out for you. He repeatedly states that you have to really stick to it in order to work through to a finished product, being frank that many people’s good ideas for screenplays aren’t realized primarily because they aren’t determined enough. I like that he lays things out so clearly and emphasizes that it really requires tenacity, preparing you mentally as part of the “how-to” write a screenplay. It is a book you need to read cover to cover, don’t cheat yourself by skipping around thinking you can take bits and pieces. All the instructions you need to write a screenplay are right here, written by someone who has worked in Hollywood and written many great movies. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Screenwriter's Workbook: Exercises and Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating a Successful Screenplay, Newly Revised and Updated - Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting - Save The Cat! 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