RESOURCES
We often get asked about writing software and books that can help with the writing programme. We only share products that we have used and recommend.This page contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
SOFTWARE
1.SCRIVENER
Scrivener is a brilliant tool that seamlessly combines the power of organisation with the freedom of limitless creation,
Scrivener can help you craft novels, scripts, research papers, and more. Unleash your imagination on its intuitive interface, where you can effortlessly structure your work,
switch between scenes with ease, and keep your research notes in perfect order. With tools tailored to writers of all kinds, from novelists to screenwriters,
Scrivener is your dynamic companion, guiding you through the intricate journey of bringing your ideas to life. Sign up here for a free trial.
2. FINAL DRAFT
Final Draft is the film and TV’s preferred software. Enabling professional filmmakers and screenwriters to write, edit, and manage drafts for movies, teleplays, novels, screenplays with ease, it’s the perfect software for collaboration.
The application enables users to automatically backup and store documents in a centralised repository for future reference.
You can find out more here
3. CELTX
If you are looking for a free software that still gives you industry standard scripts, you can’t go wrong with Celtx.
Celtx’s scriptwriting and pre-production tools help to tell great stories. Industry-standard screenwriting editors in a production-ready studio.
Find out more here
BOOKS
1.ANATOMY OF STORY
John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood’s most successful films, including Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, The Anatomy of Story draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby’s own unique approach to building an effective, multifaceted narrative.
2.ANATOMY OF GENRES
Most people think genres are simply categories on Netflix or Amazon that provide a helpful guide to making entertainment choices. Most people are wrong. Genre stories aren’t just a small subset of the films, video games, TV shows, and books that people consume. They are the all-stars of the entertainment world, comprising the vast majority of popular stories worldwide. That’s why businesses–movie studios, production companies, video game studios, and publishing houses–buy and sell them. Writers who want to succeed professionally must write the stories these businesses want to buy. Simply put, the storytelling game is won by mastering the structure of genres.
3.INTO THE WOODS
Why do we tell stories? And why do all stories function in an eerily similar way? John Yorke, creator of the BBC Writers’ Academy, has brought a vast array of drama to British screens.
Here he takes us on a journey to the heart of storytelling, revealing that there truly is a unifying shape to narrative forms – one that echoes the fairytale journey into the woods and,
like any great art, comes from deep within. From ancient myths to big-budget blockbusters, he gets to the root of the stories that are all around us, every day.
4.SAVE THE CAT
Save the Cat is a brilliant book that takes you through a fairly formulaic approach to writing a feature film. It’s a guide to screenwriting and storytelling that provides a clear structure for into creating compelling and successful screenplays and stories, and is perfect for writers just starting out. The book’s approach to story development includes tips and techniques for crafting engaging characters, memorable plotlines, and effective pacing
5. SAVE THE CAT WRITES A NOVEL
While “Save the Cat!” is primarily aimed at screenwriters, its principles and storytelling techniques can be applied to various forms of storytelling,
including novels, to create more engaging and marketable stories. Writers often use this as a reference for plotting and character development
5. ARCHETYPES IN BRANDING
A Toolkit for Creatives that is often used for branding ,but I use if for character development. Combined with a companion deck of sixty original archetype cards, this kit will give you a practical tool to reveal your character motivations and how they moves in the world.
6. SUCCESSION TV SHOW SCRIPTS
Few TV Series have been as successful in recent years as Succession.
This book contains the complete, authorised scripts, including deleted scenes, with an exclusive introduction from creator Jesse Armstrong.
The complete scripts of Succession: Season One features extra material, including deleted scenes, alternative dialogue and character directions.
The scripts reveal a unique insight into the writing, creation and development of a TV sensation and a screen-writing masterpiece.