The Coffee Break Screenwriter: Writing Your Script Ten Minutes at a Time

I can't tell you how much I love this book. It's well-structured, insightful, easy to understand, and gives you the freedom to choose between a tried-and-tested formula or a free-flowing way of working. I need more stars to rate this. A gem.

Let's face it; your life is so complicated and busy that you have trouble finding the time to text your friends and get on the computer to watch that cute penguin take a bath with a crocodile. But that doesn't mean you don't have time to write a hit screenplay!Yes, I'm being a bit cute on the subject, but seriously, you CAN make the time to write. Many successful and famous writers had one rule: write something, at the same time, every day. It may be trash, you may just throw it away, but write, write, write. Get into the habit of writing.The Coffee Break Screenwriter is in the same vein: you can find the time to write, 10 minutes at a time, if it takes that. Squeeze it in between baby feedings. Do it while Cheaters is the only thing on TV. Schedule a writing session while the clothes are in the dryer. Do some writing while the oil drains out of the pan in the Mercury.Get the point? You can write, and you can find time to do it. That's the message of The Coffee Break Screenwriter.That's not all to the book, of course. Most of the book has the more general information you'll find in many screenwriting books about plot development, rewriting, emotional connection to the characters, and so forth. That's valuable information, and if this is the first and only book on screenwriting, it's an excellent source of some pithy information.But the number one message of the book: You can do it! And you can write that screenplay 10 minutes at a time.

I have just finished this book while working towards a Film Degree with my focus on writing (for screen and academic). While I do not have a ton of experience under my belt, this book is a good "blueprint" book for the budding screenwriter. It is going to tell you when what needs to happen and when whatever else doesn't. It is also flexible for those avant-garde structuralist out there (in other words, you want to remake "Memento") Speaking of avant-garde, I do not feel this is a good book if you are into "artsy" films. And I don't mean independent art house films; this book could work for those too. I am talking, you want to remake "Daisies" kind of writers. You have to want to make Narrative films. And the more commercial the better. If you are starting out, this is a great book to get the rules out of the way, then when you have mastered them, you can go hog wild and crazy (Charlie Kaufman like). It has some great advice on what to look out for in your script when doing your rewrites. Yes, we know it is your baby and you're quite fond of that scene... but you're going to have to KILL it in order to save the script and not lose the audience because of [blank] and [blank]... that sort of thing. Also, not a good book for formatting. It gives you the most basic run through. Get another book for that or hell, just Google "Screenplay Formatting" if that's what you want the book for.

I have always considered myself a great idea person, but not the strongest writer. I love making films, but as a director, I really wanted to develop my own stories so I could really put the passion of writing to be in tune with my passion for film making. I then found this book. I listened to a podcast with Pilar Alessandra and really loved her infectious personality and her true passion to bring people great methods for writing a screenplay with confidence.I used to think my screenplays were pretty decent, but after reading this book I realized that I didn't think of the basics when writing. I've managed to win awards for my films, but it was directing other people's stories that I did so.Knowing how to approach your basics before you try to get crazy with a story really brought it home for me. I can truly say this book has given me more great information than any class I have ever taken in my life. So with a sincere heart, I can't thank you enough for your great wisdom Pilar, you truly are a great teacher.

Pilar's book is not only user friendly, but the built in templates in each chapter actually allows you to leave each chapter with something already On The Page! This book is for new writers (aspiring to be), experts, or anyone else who enjoys the creative process. Basic information provides you with writing fundamentals in the beginning and each chapter elaborates a little more until you've got the building blocks for your next blockbuster screenplay! A must have and a must gift to anyone interested in the entertainment industry. Also unlike most screenwriting books out there, Pilar doesn't waste your time with endless pages of a script pages. Sure, she provides plenty of quick examples to illustrate each point but were not stuck reading 8 pages of "The Matrix" screenplay that I could buy on my own. In other words, each and every page and example is brief enough to jumpstart the writer and get them working on their craft. I couldn't recommend a better book out there...and trust me, I've already purchased the rest and Pilar's is the best.P.S. As a local LA subway commuter, each page in the book stands on its own. You can bookmark your spot anytime and pick yourself right back up on the next page. Obviously this book is bus stop friendly, waiting at the bus for my ride friendly, or reading till we get out of commercials friendly.

This book is incredible. After years of being bombarded with information (most of it fluff, or irrelevant and confusing detail to a beginner writer) this book is the first one I have found that gets you results. The book simply asks you a few questions and you end up with a plot outline. Honestly, in three ten-minute chunks you can go from a blank page with no ideas to having an outline of a story that contains all the right ingredients for an interesting and exciting screenplay. It's not so much a blueprint but a series of short exercises that extract the information buried deep inside you. You can go from having a blank page and no ideas, or you can bring your existing idea to the table and the book will help you finish what you started. It's close to magic!

OK, OK, I'll admit; I wasn't even LOOKING for a book such as this. I was scouring for the 'Kill Bill' screenplay(s), which are, sadly, not available at the moment.During my search, THIS book popped up. A book for everyone; aspiring writers, industry hotshots and everybody in between. The ten minute lectures sometimes made me feel stupid; the basics of writing are SO very simple, why didn't I THÍNK of that?! But then the basics become details and the shape your story already has starts to increase its focus.The fun part in this book, for me, comes with the fact that sometimes you'll really learn that the direction you were taking is a bumpy one; Ms. Alessandra directs you to a way smoother path. Then again, in other cases, you just KNEW you were mistaken when trying certain methods. The industry would say the same but according to 'The Coffee Break Screenwriter', it's very much OK. And for good reason. For example, having certain actors in mind for your characters is supposed to be a big no-no, but this guide book proves otherwise.If you can't wait to start the actual writing process; be patient! There's a lot of planning preceding that phase, but it's also a lot of fun! And described in detailed ten minute lectures and assignments, which'll make the actual writing a lot easier.If you ever got stuck or thought your screenplay was unbalanced, this is the book you've been looking for. I cannot recommend it enough!

I've read at least a dozen books on screenwriting before coming across this one - and I wish I'd read this one first! It has made me explore my ideas in ways that I wouldn't have otherwise thought of, and gives far more practical advice than some of the other books I have read (which often focus too much on the analysis of existing films, or are full of anecdotes). Whilst some of the '10-minute' exercises will, in my own experience, often take more like half an hour to complete, they are well worth doing! A word of warning to those writing solely for television - this book is mostly focused on writing full-length feature films.

I found this book through being a regular listener of Pilar's podcast and was weary of another screenwriting book. But this one is fantastic. No need to follow the book precisely, it's great as a guide and has helped me through writer's block.As long as you have a basic idea, the book will help you turn it into pages!

This book works for me, it describes strategies that enable you to write through blocks, story gaps etc etc gets over some hurdles that in the past has stopped developing ideas namely fitting it all in a busy lifestyle. In breaking it into ten minute chunks, I found that the process of sitting down to write wasn't a mountain to climb and once started I have become very productive.If you have a shelf of writing books, this publication is an excellent addition.