A practical and comprehensive guide to screenwriting, written by an industry expert.
If you've ever wondered if you have it in you to write the next Fleabag – look no further.
With over thirty years’ experience as script editor, consultant and producer, and as founder of Channel 4's renowned screenwriting course, Philip Shelley is the authoritative voice on everything you need to know when considering a career in screenwriting. This truly comprehensive guide provides all the practical help and insider knowledge you could ask for.
Divided into two parts, the first and larger section covers ‘the craft’ while the second part is dedicated to ‘the career’. Each section is broken down to cover all the details and technicalities of the subject in detail.
In his guide, Shelley takes you from creating storylines that are genuinely exciting while finding your writer's voice, to building convincing characters that drive your story. A few of the other areas covered here include: presenting your script, building and sustaining your career, crafting dialogue, and collaborating with key people – including producers, agents and script editors.
I really liked the detailed analyses of scenes from a wide range of screen dramas, and case studies of key contemporary writers such as Russell T. Davies, Sally Wainwright, Jimmy McGovern, Abi Morgan, James Graham and Jed Mercurio were inspiring.
What makes this guide stand out for me is the practicality of the information given, such as the section on writing a series pilot episode, which addresses a question I've often pondered: how much should you front-load an opening episode? Should you write a standalone piece to introduce and set up the series, or hit the ground running and dive straight into the story? It's this sort of totally relevant information that can sometimes be lacking in writer's guides.
Shelley's admiration for the craft of scriptwriting is evident throughout, with references to some of his favourite scripts and insights into what makes them special in his eyes. You genuinely get the feeling he takes real enjoyment from the act of sharing his love of screenwriting with you.
Ultimately, this is the ideal guide for those who aspire to write for the screen. Inspirational, but not shying away from the realities of a highly competitive and challenging career, Shelley provides the tools required for aspiring screenwriters to write their best scripts and make a living out of doing it.