Shopping for the lastest eReader, or eReading App? Perhaps you need an update for your eReader? There are many options out there, and this list will help you find the right one for you and your budget. With so many eBooks out there, and many websites offering free ebooks, this is the starting point. The more we read, the more we learn – authors must read every day, to expand our writing style and word skill. If you know of an App that’s not listed here, please let me know so I can add it to the list.
Finding the right Software for the right job isn’t always easy. If you can’t afford the Editor, Graphic Artist, are willing to generate those MOBI & EPUB Files yourself, wish to learn Screen/Script Writing, create FlipBooks or need help with your Writing Style, here’s the list. I’m always in need of Software, and my searches are investigated prior to my purchases – get a trial version, always, before buying. If you have found a great software package, and wish to add to this list, please contact me.
There are some super tools to help you with many tasks. From finding the right Fonts and Graphics for your book covers to free Music for your book trailers, widgets, business cards or even making it easier to save your multiple account logins, this list will grow as I come across even more wonderful tools. Simplifying those tasks that take up your time, or automating them, you’ll find you have much more time to write. Isn’t that the most important thing on an author’s mind?
Books to Film is a very real dream of many authors. Finding those who know the industry, following them and learning from them, adopting them as mentors, is the first step to bringing your dream to reality. For me, this reality also consists of purchasing the software the big-name scriptwriters and filmmakers use and teaching myself to bring my novels to scripts. Multi-generational films/movies and their scripts can be found, and when you do find them, watch and read them through, because those are the keys to discovering why they have been popular and have become classics and successful for generations. Many of these links below will either offer insight to the industry, further details, or allow the free download of the scripts and films – you should never have to pay for them if they are in the Public Domain, yet many websites charge varying prices.
Each one of the links below are high traffic websites – each hosting book reviews. Locating the right person, with the correct method of contact however, is something that will take me a while yet to do – but, once found I will update this post with that additional information. In the meantime, if you find the right person, and their contact information, please let me know so I can update the information for others. I hope you find this useful. Best of luck to you.
When I write my stories, characters, scenes, plots, locations, dialogue, and narratives, there is a video playing in my mind. I can see my characters, hear their voices, feel their emotions, and yes, I can smell them just as plainly as I can feel their hugs. One of the most interesting things I plan on doing during these next few years is to learn to be a scriptwriter and transform my books for film. I dream of sitting in the theater, popcorn and a cold drink in hand, and watch my stories come to life on the big screen. They say if you want something done right, do it yourself – well, I don’t believe that I’m capable of directing and/or producing a film of any quality, but what I believe I can do, I will do, and that is to write it.
Surfing about on YouTube, in search of factual insight on the subject, I came across this nearly two-hour video below …
Scriptwriting for Beginners … a 2-hour lecture.
This instructor re-enforced my previous understanding that both Celtx and FinalDraft were the key software packages of this industry for their use and formatting of a script and to meet the industry’s standards of writing and presentation. Without these standards, no matter how great a story (or rather a script) could be – if it is not formatted properly and laid out according to a film-maker’s preference the script will simply be tossed – hitting File 13 (the trash bin) with a bang, rather than the big screen.
Filmmaking 101: Training for Scriptwriting, Camera, Shooting, Lighting and Video Post Production
This 1 & 1/2 hour seminar is jam-packed with tips, tricks, insights, do, don’ts, and much more. From the initial idea to story structure to scripting and on to the first stages of filming. These men came from nothing and now look at where they are! You can do it too if you want it bad enough, and I really do want it bad enough, so here I go.
Reading Scripts for FREE
The instructor in the above video mentioned a few websites where anyone can download the scripts for any movie that the producers and/or directors choose to release to the public. I find this extremely useful in seeing and reading first hand what and how the professionals write scripts and screenplays. Below is a shortlist of the websites mentioned in the video lecture above.
At LA Screenwriter the scripts available to read for free is endless. A few clicks of the mouse and I was reading “10 Things I Hate About You”. If you have the Print Friendly PDF Extension for Chrome, you can create a PDF file of the online script you wish to read.
Simply Scripts was so easy to use. I clicked the Menu button for MOVIE SCRIPTS then clicked “The Room”. This took me to The Room Script Blog page, where I could download the PDF of the full movie script for FREE! Learning how to write scripts to adapt my books for a film is an exciting venture. But, reading the same scripts that all of those famous actors have read, is even more thrilling. I plan on hunting around for several, by different and various famous scriptwriters.
Software Standards
Celtx has both a free and paid versions – allowing 3 scripts in total for the free version. An assortment of monthly fees expand this restriction. Depending on the number of users you might have, comes with various subscription packages and is mainly online, not privately on your own personal computer. I am not fond of the idea of my work floating around on the cloud, so I don’t think I will use this software for that fact.
FinalDraft 10 allows a full installation of the software on your personal computer, with options to invite other users to assist in the creation and development of a script, and empowers the ‘owner’ to control who may or may not edit the script. This security measure makes me feel like my work is safe, at home where it should be, and free from any damages of say, theft. With a one time payment, FinalDraft is yours to keep forever. FinalDraft, version 10, is my software of choice.
Scriptwriting – a book for beginners
Another mention from the instructor in the above video was the book “Save the Cat” – referring to the one and only book you’ll ever need to buy in order to understand the industry and its standards as well as learning the art and craft of a screenwriter. Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need can be found on Amazon. I plan on buying this book soon. Look for it in my Book Blog later this year.
Scripts & Movies
The IMDb is the place to go to learn about the latest and greatest movies, the hot and the not so hot, the cast and crew, comments and all things related to the subject of movies. Becoming an IMDb Member is a given if you wish to crawl into this world and explore, and with a few different Membership Types, you can rate, review, critique, and comment – giving you a front-row seat to these people and this world of motion picture productions.
Scriptwriting Awards
Stage32 hosts many awards and a great place for scriptwriters to show their wares, be discovered and work with many others, both newbies and seasoned veterans of the industry. This is exciting! And I will be looking into this further, so watch for future posts on the subject.
Bringing the world together to form a union of scriptwriters and material for movie producers, Page Awards is the number one source and service. Everything from discussions to collaborations, contest entry to winning the movie jackpot, I will not neglect to investigate this avenue thoroughly.
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