How to Write a Movie in 21 Days

Writers are frequently faced with the challenge of how to write when the rest of the world is calling on us to do something else. King's suggestions on the `junk job,' writing with (or without) partners, and creating time and place to write are universals that are valuable to all types of writers. I also enjoyed some of her tricks--creating the whole book with blank paper and an end note, then filling in the rest as you went--to overcome writers block. Writers who want to explore screenwriting, or who just want to look at writing from a different slant will enjoy HOW TO WRITE A MOVIE IN 21 DAYS.

Although I don't write screenplays, I re-read How to Write... occasionally just to remind myself of what I'm trying to do (write novels) and how to keep the priorities of my life straight. My wife, who does write screenplays, has adapted the Viki King approach to meet her needs--she finds that having her task for the day set out makes it a lot easier to get it done than if she was just given the formatting and plot and had to take it from there.

If you've ever thought about writing a movie, or if you're a writer looking for a little inspiration, I highly recommend this book.


I'd give it more stars, if I could.   June 21, 2001
 17 out of 18 found this review helpful

If you have at least a glimmer of an idea for a screen play, this is the book for you to get it into manuscript form. It's writing by the numbers, i.e., the first crisis by a certain page, but it's an exceptionally easy formula to follow. In addition, the author gives specific instructions to set up the page format in acceptable script form. I know college writing classes where this little book is required reading before you can even enroll. I write stage plays, 12 that have been produced, several off-Broadway, and I have found this book helpful for that medium as well. Again, if you've got the idea for a plot, follow the instructions herein, and you will have a completed script in 21 days using this painless method. But, there's the rub -- you do need an idea.


Get started in ONE day   September 20, 2000
 14 out of 14 found this review helpful

This book managed to motivate me when no other book or situation could. Viki King's Inner Movie Method gives small enough building blocks that writing a screenplay becomes possible, even though doing it in 21 days seems like such a difficult goal. King helps the writer define the movie's essence and then begin writing.

King stresses that the writer's first draft should be from the heart, and then subsequent rewrites and editing sessions should be conducted from the head. This frees the writer up to just write and think about the movie after something is on the page.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who gets intimidated just thinking about writing, to anyone who hasn't managed to write a screenplay yet but has a burning desire to do so, and anyone who needs some motivation or has writer's block.


This book is about discipline.   April 23, 2002
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Thank you thank you thank you Vicki King. I put off buying this book for a long time because I thought it sounded like a gimmick. What it really does is teaches you discipline. Follow King's advice and you'll be on your way to a completed screenplay (I used this book to write my second feature-length, and I will use it to write all future projects too).


An excellent way to jump-start the screenwriting process   June 13, 1999
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

I had already written a couple of screenplays before I read this book. While I can't say I agree with everything in this book's approach, I can say that it helped me put "pen to paper" when I was "stuck" otherwise.

There are a couple of weak points to the book. One is that King should have advised that the writers know something about supporting characters before starting to write the actual screenplay. Another is that she advocates a set pattern of writing when in reality such a formulaic method will not apply to all people.

But, I still highly recommend this book as it was extremely helpful to me. I would just add a cautionary note to modify her method of writing to fit your own. Once you do that, you will become more prolific in your writing.