Teach Yourself: Complete Screenwriting Course
“Inspirational”
“Truly phenomenal”
“No other book takes you by the hand and explains how to write screenplays like this one…”
Getting your script right starts with the first idea and continues to selling your polished draft screenplay. Amazon best-seller Teach Yourself: Complete Screenwriting Course will take you through the whole process from beginning to end, and on – to getting an agent, working with others and developing a screenwriting career.
This book also tells you the truth about screenwriting. Too many books, in my opinion, make the process of writing seem very neat and prescriptive, and make writers feel like failures if it doesn’t all fall into place first time. The reality is that writing is messy.
Everyone is different and the book explains the different ways that screenwriters can choose to work – with quotes and advice from top professionals, experienced screenwriters, and also directors, producers and executives who work all the time with writers.
Practical
Practical exercises will teach you the craft of writing for film and television, both mainstream and independent, the art of building your own plots, characters, dialogue and scenes. It gives you the skills you need to succeed.
It also helps you critique your own work and deal with typical screenwriting problems as they arise.
Hollywood and non-Hollywood
Unlike most other screenwriting books, Complete Screenwriting Course is not prescriptive. It shows you the mainstream Hollywood way, but also references many other styles and cultures from around the world, to help you find your own personal approach. You’ll learn the rules, but also how to break free of them, if you wish.
Develop your voice
This book is filled with essential writing tools, including techniques for overcoming writer’s block and how to find your unique voice. You will learn how to pitch and get your work optioned, how to work as part of a team and how to make the best use of social media. It’s a book to keep by your side whether you’re starting or already experienced – a comprehensive companion that you will want to keep coming back to.
Complete Screenwriting Course has been in Amazon’s screenwriting best seller lists, sold out completely at London Screenwriters’ Festival and is recommended reading on MA screenwriting courses.
Out now in print (large format) and e-book… – UK – US – or your favourite bookshop/internet store.
Reviews
Raindance – Madison Rumowicz in In Our Opinion
Adrian Bain – The Screenplay
More reader reviews in the comments section at the foot of this page…
13 Comments
October 17, 2014 at 11:16 am
Good Day Mr Harris
I dropped by to thank you for your book, which dropped on my door mat this morning, ‘Complete Screenwriting Course’ I have had it in my hands a mere two hours but have already devoured half of it!
I feel like Im ready to tear Michael Bay a new one ( as they say in Hollywood)
thank you for an amazing piece of inspirational work, If I knew as much about screenwriting as you do I wouldn’t share it with my Mother let alone the world. You are an amazing individual and I promise to give you a deal in on my first commissioned Scrips 🙂
kindly
Mark.
October 17, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Hi Mark, I’m very glad you liked my book and are finding it useful. Good luck with the writing – and I look forward to the deal! – Charles
January 5, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Charles – I cannot stop reading your book – brilliant!
January 5, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Thank you, Ellie – Charles
March 4, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Good afternoon, Mr. Harris. I found your book in Raindance website and I decided to buy it. I must say it´s quite easy to understand for non-English natives (I am Spanish), and it is really useful to learn screenwriting techniques if it is not possible to do a course. It is also amazing to read it, really interesting.
The book is helping me a lot as I am writing my second script. Thanks!
Kindly,
Pablo.
March 4, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Hi Pablo, Thank you very much for your comment. I’m delighted you found my book easy to understand and that it’s helping you with your second script. (A big thanks, too, to the Raindance website for listing it!) I wish you the very best of luck with your writing. Do tell me how it goes. Charles
March 14, 2015 at 7:03 pm
I’d only been self taught in scriptwriting until I discovered this book, now it’s taught me everything I know to an ever more exceptional standard! Thank you so much for a truly phenomenal read!
July 11, 2016 at 6:47 am
Recently, I bought Charles Harris’ book on Complete Screenwriting Course…
I had been looking for many years to find such a book as this one…
No other book takes you by the hand and explains how to write screenplays like this one…
From A to Z this book guides you through the maze of crafting a screenplay…
It explains all one needs to know when writing a screenplay…
I have over 100 books on the craft of screenwriting lining my shelves…
Not one of them comes close to Charles’ book on Complete Screenwriting Course…
One doesn’t need any other books for guidance when you purchase Charles’ excellent book…
In fact, you’ll save many hundreds of pounds by buying this book…
Most books on the subject of writing a screenplay doesn’t go far enough. Thus leaving the reader bewildered…
This is not the case with Charles’ book…
In my honest opinion, by using the tips and techniques in Charles’ book. One has a better chance of selling his/her screenplay…
Best wishes, Charles for a book well written.
Dave Oman
February 8, 2023 at 11:45 am
Hi there, I was wondering if your book covers “Page 3, 10, 30,45,60 Moments”? I was made to understand this terminology is imperative when writing screenplays.Thanks!
February 8, 2023 at 5:53 pm
Hi – yes it does, though I wouldn’t get too hung up on the terminology itself. Different producers may use different terms, or not use them at all. As long as you know what the point of these moments is and how to make the structure work for your personal voice. Good luck with your writing.
February 8, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Thanks Charles! It puts things into perspective and producers that use arbitrary page numbers that almost never match where the actual moments are is confusing and maybe they should use proper terminology instead. Glad you clarified.
February 9, 2023 at 6:09 pm
You’re welcome. Do get back to me if you have any further questions. The book goes into the whole issue of structure in quite some depth, but trying to avoid jargon where at all possible. The important thing is the effect on the audience.