The Coffee Break Screenwriter Breaks the Rules: A Guide for the Rebel Writer

I bought Pilar’s previous book TWICE (one paperback, one Kindle) because it’s a 100% useful tool that I need with me when writing. This book is the creative counterpoint to it. All those rules we hear from Save The Cat and McKee and podcasts? Pilar says: hmm, let’s try breaking those rules! She provides perfect examples of hit movies and TV shows that go against common wisdom and SUCCEED! But... you have to pick your battles. And Pilar throws in yet another reversal for each example: maybe we DO need to just give in and follow the rule after all. The point is, we have more options to tell a story than we realize. Pilar tells us: Here’s how you follow the rule, here’s how you break it — including why or why not. Contains lots of real-life script excerpts. Easy to understand. Good stuff.

This book, simply put, is wonderful. Pilar Alessandra has written a great little book on scriptwriting and storytelling rules were made and how and why to break them. Then she shows you how to create your own rules. Many viewers and readers feel these rules and principles at work. Now Alessandra articulates how to energize storytelling. Read this, then keep it handy as you work through your stories and take them to ever-higher levels. It's also a little book; less is indeed more.

Her other books are much better, this one was shorter & seemed rushed. Pushing through each topic briefly with minimal examples.

Amazing book for screenplays writing.Very very useful.

v recommandable after hearing Alessandra herself pitch and explain the purpose too the book short concise and Rules can be amended in screenwriting circles Good value enjoyable read.