The Coffee Break Screenwriter: Writing Your Script Ten Minutes at a Time -

By 

JEFF F. HAINES “Jeff F. Haines” (Arcata, CA United States) –

  

I’m new at the screenwriting biz.

I’m entirely self-taught. Which means I’ve learned the craft via watching movies, listening to podcasts, and reading TONS of how-to books (oh, and of course, via actually writing).

I wish THE COFFEE BREAK SCREENWRITER had been my introduction to writing for the movies. I’d have saved myself a lot of time.

This book, written by Pilar Alessandra, assumes you’re a busy person (and who isn’t?) who might not feel that there’s enough time in the day to write a screenplay.

Poppycock.

There is enough time. Whenever you have ten minutes to spare, you can work on writing your movie.

The entire book is supported by great advice and 10-minute exercises, most of them meant to put a finished screenplay in your hands . . . and eventually, in the hands of a buyer.

Complete one 10-minute step at a time, and before you know it, you’re a screenwriter.

Do you have time to read this review? Then you have time to write a screenplay. (And please do write one. Every second of procrastination robs the world of your vision.)

Every chapter of THE COFFEE BREAK SCREENWRITER works on an effective formula. Alessandra introduces the subject, sometimes giving a “ten-minute” lecture to educate you about the industry and craft: set-pieces, scene intention, sluglines, story development, and other topics that we all wonder about.

Then she gives multiple ten-minute exercises to help you build your script, one block at a time. In this way, she eliminates the fear of the blank page. Before you know it, these ten-minute chunks have added up, and you’ll start seeing the movie in your mind before you ever tackle the keyboard.

At the end of every exercise, she does something wonderful. Tells you “what you’ve accomplished.” This information helps you digest all that you’ve written. You’re not left wondering, “Did I do it right?”

And finally, at the end of every chapter, Alessandra summarizes everything you’ve done and learned.

Put it all together, you have this formula: Overview + Lecture + Explanation + Exercises + Recap + Chapter Summary = Actual Learning.

= You’ve written a screenplay!

It’s no wonder she’s one of the most popular teachers in Southern California.

Here are the chapters. They fall in the order necessary to get you from the brainstorming stage all the way to the stage where you woo potential buyers.

CHAPTER 1: The Story
CHAPTER 2: The Structure
CHAPTER 3: The Outline
Chapter 4: The Characters
Chapter 5: The First Draft
Chapter 6: The Dialogue
Chapter 7: The Rewrite
Chapter 8: The Craft
Chapter 9: The Final Edit
Chapter 10: The Presentation
Chapter 11: The Opportunity
(There are also several “bonus” chapters, one of which asks successful writers to comment about their own ideas on writing in “ten minute” chunks.)

Altogether, you go from brainstorming to outlining, to first draft, to revision, to selling (which includes guidance for preparing your pitch!).

I myself haven’t gotten to the selling part.

This review is simply by a guy who has read every major book on the market in an attempt to figure out how to get his ideas on the page. But there’s no need for YOU to spend all that time or money.

Let this book be your first purchase.

My guess is you’ll next buy THE SCREENWRITER’S BIBLE by David Trotter . . . but then will there be any need to further your education?

No.

You’ll be too busy writing.

Let me say that I’ve listened to THE GRIM READER podcast. And I’ve read the famous STORY: SUBSTANCE, STRUCTURE, STYLE & THE PRINCIPLES OF SCREENWRITING by Robert McKee. There are valuable lessons to be learned therein. But DO NOT start with these products. I promise you, if you’re a newbie, you’ll never actually end up writing a screenplay. These guys make you feel like one big gigantic loser.

Pilar Alessandra is more than just knowledgeable, she’s upbeat (you should listen to her podcast, called ON THE PAGE). She not only teaches you how to write a screenplay, she makes you feel good about doing it. By the time you’re done with THE COFFEE BREAK SCREENWRITER, you’ll know you INDEED CAN write a screenplay.

My guess is, by the time you’ve finished her book, you will have.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment

By 

Jacob J. Buterbaugh (Pittsburgh) –

  

Read Syd Field, Robert McKee, and Blake Snyder to learn theory. Read this book to learn how to write a screenplay.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment (1)

Let’s face it – most of us who are toiling away at our laptops writing the next great screenplay aren’t paid writers…yet. So writing is as much a matter of finding time around our day jobs, families and picking up the dry cleaning as it is about great ideas. Well, in this book, Pilar gives you both – how to work out your great idea…in ten-minute exercises. Most of us dream of having that ‘whole day’ to sit down and write, but admit it – it’s not going to happen! But you do have ten minutes somewhere in your day, right? Pilar takes you from your initial premise, through expanding your idea, to structuring your story beats, to characters & dialogue and finally, writing the first draft. All in manageable bite-sized chunks. So get this book – and get to it!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment