Screenwriting for Teens: The 100 Principles of Screenwriting Every Budding Writer Must Know

Having had no experience with screenwriting but always having a fascination for wanting to learn, I searched and came across this book. What a great find. I guess the best I can say is I’m now motivated and ready to put to use what I’ve learned, to give it a try. What did I learn? From the 100 principles I think the most significant ones were a film tells a story differently than a book. That was particularly important to me because I tend to think in the “storyline” and not scenes, scenery, dialogue, the elements of a screenplay. The first shift for me had to be this big picture understanding and once that occurred the anatomy of screenplay writing, the principles, fell into place easily. This book was laid out to achieve that ends where a bunch of data is not just thrown out but rather it’s systematically approached for maximum learning. It’s so well written and fits with basic writing concepts that took the sting out of feeling overwhelmed to commence this new writing experience. For example, the conflict moves the plot along and needs a precipitating factor to set it in motion, locations are important and give depth to the action, and each action generates a reaction, lending to the relationship that sustains the conflict. There’s much more I could say but what’s important is now I’m excited to put it all to use. I feel motivated and encouraged thanks to Christina Hamlett’s sharp, comprehensive, and easy to follow book.

Have you ever wanted to write a screenplay but are not sure where or how to start? Well, look no further, the ultimate book on screenplay writing is here! Screenwriting for Teens by Christina Hamlett goes through all the steps of writing a screenplay in an easy-to-understand format. For the aspiring teen screenwriter, Ms. Hamlett's book will take you to worlds of screenwriting you never knew were there. Ms. Hamlett goes through all the steps of screenwriting as well as different types of movies and how to publish a screenplay in this impressive book. If you have ever wondered how your favorite movies came to be, if you have ever wanted to write your own movie, look no further, Screenwriting for Teens is the book for you! Before you send your finished screenplay to a consultant, be sure to read this book for instructions on how to successfully send it off so that it might just get considered! So what are you waiting for? Go pick up Ms. Hamlett's Screenwriting for Teens now and start writing your screenplay! Screenwriting for Teens: The 100 Principles of Screenwriting Every Budding Writer Must Know

Christina Hamlett does it again. Really, she's just brilliant! This easy to read book is not just for teens. It's for ANYONE that aspires to learn the craft of screenwriting. From A to Z, Christina Hamlett conveys it all to the reader. From the classic story structure, to themes, characters, compelling ideas, conflict, plot, loglines, synopses, screenwriters etiquette to bulletproofing your script for agents and producers. The information, brainstormer ideas and countless numbers of references and websites are priceless in and of themselves. Really a must read for anyone, especially just starting out. If you've never written or have little experience, even better. I would HIGHLY recommend you read this book BEFORE taking any screenwriting class or instruction of any kind. Had I read this book before I took my first screenwriting class, I would have been better for it. Patrick Languzzi Aspiring Amateur Screenwriter

I teach a screenwriting class at a middle school in Los Angeles and would have been lost without this great resource. Not only does Ms Hamlett present the material in a easy to understand and straightforward way, she follows each of her principles with activities and suggestions to make her points clearer. This book contains so much information and so many great ideas that it was impossible to cover it thoroughly in a ten-week quarter. Perhaps my school needs to make this a semester course. Again, this is a wonderful book, and I look forward to taking Ms. Hamlett's online screenwriting class.

I purchased this book over the summer so that I could have something to look to in creating a curriculum for an 8th grade screenwriting class. This book has been more than useful. Now, it drives my curriculum! There are brief explanations on 100 meaningful concepts as well as activities and assignments that allow my students to grasp what is being taught. This is a great book for teens to investigate, piece by piece, tools and knowledge necessary to pen their own screenplay without jumping in to it haphazardly.

I was a few years out of High School when I finally combined my love for films with my love for writing. I had already slogged through writing a couple mediocre novels when I finally thought: "Hey! Why don't I write a screenplay!" And the rest, as they say, is history. Well history in the sense that I haven't actually SOLD anything yet or had any of my screenplays made into hit movies or well...okay - back to the review: "Screenwriting For Teens" takes a very simple and honest approach to screenwriting. Each principle (and there are 100 of them) is explained on one page and then the following page is broken down into two sections. Section 1: "Look & Learn" gives you examples to seek out to prove the principle being discussed. Section 2: "Brainstormers" provides you with three tasks to explore the principle more by giving you assignments to follow. Some of the principles she talks about: "Aiming for High Concept," "Hooks, Foreshadowing and Uh-Ohs," "Motivation and Redemption," and "Genre Dictates Structure." The book is well thought-out and written in a way that gets right to the heart of being a teenager. Examples like: "You are in the cafeteria when..." or "You find out a friend said..." This is not a book that, by title only, says it is for teens and then dispenses lots of advice using really big words. The principles are broken down cleanly and simply. For us who have been writing screenplays for years (and years), we may want a bit more "meat" behind the principle regarding subtext. We may want Ms. Hamlett to explain more about the nuances in regards to films in the Romance genre - but the reality is that this book is written for teens: simple and easy to follow. That doesn't mean she does not take on complicated principle or use the occasional big word, she does. But she never disregards or looks down at the core audience. As excellent as this book is, I do have issues with a couple items. The first is in regards to the "Brainstormers." As good as these are, there are a number of "Brainstormers" that involve the writer writing 100 word essays. Unless this book is being used as a school text book, I cannot imagine teenagers, on their own time, sitting down and writing a 100 word essay on how a trick they pulled fooled the audience or any of the other dozen "brainstormers" where Ms. Hamlett encourages 100 word essays. The other issue I have is the lack of a compendium of web addresses used within the framework of the book. At the end of the book Ms. Hamlett provides pages (and pages) of recommended films and other reading materials. But what about a list of the dozens of websites that she refers to in the book? This way the reader doesn't have to go back through the pages but can go straight to one area and see the web addresses. One other note. A number of the films that Ms. Hamlett refers to, or suggests watching, are "R" rated. You may want to ask your parents' permission before you watch "Die Hard" or any of the other "R" rated films mentioned in the book. Bottom line: Ms. Hamlett does a great job simplifying the principles and reality of screenwriting to fit around a teenager's mind. Where was this book when I was growing up? It would have saved me years of writing in the dark.

Any kind of successful writing involves being able to cut out all the unnecessary stuff. An instruction book that really gets down to the bare bones of a subject is useful to people at all levels of skill and experience-- because we all need to be reminded of what's important: Some of us forget, some just missed that class. This is a great book on screenwriting with something for almost anyone. Just check your pride at the title page.

I've used this book on so many occasions, and I'll most likely purchase quite a few more copies for the library I work in and organize. I'm curious to know if people liked the ebook version. Currently I have the paperback.

Bought as a gift for Christmas to go with the Zombie Movie Making kit and the Monster making kit for my daughters! Think they will love it!