Screenwriting Resources

A great way to learn about how screenwriting works is to find and read the screenplays of movies you love. Comparing the finished onscreen product with what’s on the page can be revelatory and will help you understand the nuts and bolts of this particular type of storytelling. We have provided some resources for downloading and reading screenplays; many more are available online.

Here are a few books to get you started:

  • The Hero's Journey

    by Joseph Campbell

  • The Story Grid

    by Shawn Coyne

  • The Art of Dramatic Writing

    by Lajos Egri

  • The Foundations of Screenwriting

    by Syd Field

  • Adventures in the Screen

    by William Goldman

  • Which Lie Did I Tell?

    by William Goldman

  • On Filmmaking

    by Alexander Mackendrick

  • Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need

    by Blake Snyder

  • The Writer's Journey

    by Christopher Volgor

  • Into the Woods

    by John Yorke

*These resources have been curated from suggestions by film study professors and professionals in the field. It is by no means exhaustive and we encourage you to research additional resources as you seek to develop your craft.*

Additional Resources and Guidelines:

Screenplay Formatting Guidelines