Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need (Blake Snyder)

[****] ISBN: 9781932907001

This is the best book on screenwriting that I've read so far. It can't take the place of basics like "Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting" by Syd Field. But whereas Syd's book shows you the form of a screenplay and gives you the overall strategy for creating one, Blake's book gives you the nitty-gritty details and tactics for actually getting one written.

Look for even more guidance on creating a killer logline than "Crafty Screenwriting" gave. Look for a better explanation of genre than I've seen elsewhere (which is expanded on in "Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies"). Look for the amazing Black Snyder Beat Sheet (BS2) that gives a page by page breakdown of what goes where in your movie (every movie that works) and why. This is a must read for prospective screenwriters. And it's fun to read, too.