Unscripted: Resources for Screenwriters
When I decided to become a full-time writer, my mind was boggled at all the resources available online. With thousands upon thousands of sites, books and podcasts, who could I…
When I decided to become a full-time writer, my mind was boggled at all the resources available online. With thousands upon thousands of sites, books and podcasts, who could I trust?
After all, my career was on the line. One wrong move, and it could cost me months (or years!) of writing time.
We asked the screenwriters at Scriptchat to share the sources they love. Both the USA group and the EURO group chimed in:
For me, The Writers Store was where I bought my first copy of Movie Magic Screenwriter Software (yes, I have Final Draft as well, but I prefer the notes feature in MM when collaborating with partners). I also discovered what became my favorite book on craft, Dara Mark's Inside Story. Another "must have" in my mind is Michael Hauge's and Chris Volger's Hero's Two Journeys DVD. I also visit Writer's Digest site often. While novelists have slightly different needs than screenwriters, there is so much about storytelling that is universal - synopsis, character arcs, pacing, etc.
What are some of YOUR favorite resources?
Jeanne Veillette Bowerman is a Senior Executive at Pipeline Media Group and Book Pipeline, Editor-in-Chief of Pipeline Artists, Director of Symposium—a year-round conference in the arts, co-host "Reckless Creatives" podcast, partner at Fringe Press, former Editor-in-Chief of Script magazine and a former Senior Editor at Writer's Digest. Recognized as one of the "Top 10 Most Influential Screenwriting Bloggers," her "Balls of Steel" column was selected as recommended reading by Universal Writers Program. A compilation of her articles is now available at The Writers Store—Balls of Steel: The Screenwriter's Mindset. She is also Co-Founder and moderator of X's weekly screenwriters’ chat, #Scriptchat, and wrote the narrative adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Slavery by Another Name, with its author, Douglas A. Blackmon, former senior national correspondent of The Wall Street Journal. More information can be found on her website. X: @jeannevb | IG/Threads: @jeannevb_ | BlueSky: @jeannevb.bsky.social
