How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make

The author, Denny Martin Flinn, has not only written screenplays but was employed for many years by the movie studios to receive and review the thousands of screenplays that are sent in by aspiring writers. In other words, the author was the first person to review scripts and give it the -yes or no-! The author has written a book that explains to beginning screenwriters all the "do's and dont's" of format, marketing, etc. An invaluable piece of material that points out many of the first-time mistakes by beginning screenwriters.

A MUST if you are thinking of becoming a freelance movie writer with no training. Common sense advice from a business standpoint. Some of the help provided in this book can prevent your screenplay from being thrown in the trash before the reviewers get past page 2.


Realistic Hands-On Help for Wanna-Be Screenwriters   March 6, 2001
Ann McElroy (Hickory, NC United States)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful

I inhaled this book in one reading. The next day I read it again. The third day, I started taking notes. How can you resist a book that opens with: "The first thing you really want to know when you're buying a book about screenwriting is...who is this guy? Has he won an Oscar?" (I'm not going to tell you the answer.) I know nothing about screenwriting, but by dumb luck and reading the reviews, I selected this as my first book on the subject. I learn faster from my mistakes and Mr. Flinn kindly offered up a platter full of them for me to consume and learn from. Very, very comfortable, practical reading from a man who is a professional reader of screenplays. He tells you the most basic information like what margins and tab settings to use, the preferred length of movie scripts, all the way through to character development, structure, conflict and story pacing. I have since skimmed two other books on the topic, but I would recommend reading this one first. I'm glad it's getting 5 star reviews. It is an excellent book for beginners! But to get the most out of it, read it several times so his overall message will REALLY sink in: pacing, pacing, pacing...make your story move like greased lightening and keep the reader interested!!


An awesome and very unique book!   November 21, 2000
Nate (L.A, California)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

I found that book very helpful, and written in a great way, funny at times. I loved the idea of showing examples of bad scripts instead of the regular casablanca, pulp fiction and all the other fine scripts examples that already been discussed to death in every screenwriting book. Anywayz,I know now (hopefully) what to do so the author WON'T include part of my screenplays in his next book! Althought, I'd also hope to see examples of GOOD spec scripts in future books.


Covering the bases on Screenplay   November 30, 1999
Scott Benton (Los Angeles)
30 out of 34 found this review helpful

Flinn knows his stuff. This is an exhaustive catalogue, if you will, of all danger signs and bear traps posted along the path of writing in the illusive art of screenplay. Presented in a slight tongue-in-cheek tone, Flinn is a able to reduce this complicated world into a fun-to-read and easy to understand format. By referencing well known works which have already made it to the big screen, this book makes those, sometimes vague, concepts all the more relevant and meaningful--a problem I find with many of these "how to write screenplay" books. Besides, Flinn has a writing credit on a movie already (Star Trek 6), something I find many of the authors to these books are lacking. It makes this read all the more authoritative.