Dr. Format Answers Your Questions

by David Trottier

THE FINE POINTS OF SPEC WRITING Do you have a question about formatting or spec writing? Now you can have all of Dr. Format's "prescriptions" in one place. He addresses such issues as

-- How do you handle foreign languages?

-- When can you "legally" use secondary headings?

-- How do you streamline your scenes for a great read?

-- What do Hollywood readers look for in a script?

-- How do you format e-mail conversations? Dr. Format contains every column Dave Trottier has written for scr(i)pt magazine (to 2006), and each entry has been updated to current standards. In all, Dave ansswers 194 common questions with concise answers and clear, illustrative examples that empower you to write with confidence. Dave teaches you how to direct the camera without using camera directions, and how to use formatting principles to develop your characters. He also shares specific tips on pitch letters and TV sitcom format. And he provides expert guidance on screenwriting issues not found anywhere else. Dr. Format goes beyond the rules and gives you practical applications that will expand your writing repertoire. According to Dave, "Understanding formatting and spec writing is key to crafting a great screenplay." Let Dr. Format help you do just that.

267 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2002

Reviews

[Chip'sBookBinge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Format is straight up a compilation of Answer and Questions taken from a few different screenwriting magazines that Dave Trottier wrote a column for where readers would send in their questions and he would answer as best as possible. If you've ever tried writing a screenplay, you have no doubt run into situations where you just didn't know how to format or write a particular idea pertaining to your script. This book basically is a run down of the most commonly asked questions and the book itself kind of falls into that trap as he answers different versions of the same question a few times in the book just to highlight that we all seem to get stuck in the same pit at times.

I like the book as it's concise and will free you up from wasting time on technical issues and get you back to doing what you should be doing in the first place.....writing your story. I think the book is a good read just to kind of get you out of your head. Just reading a few examples is enough to spark a creative urge to write, even if that's not its original intent.

Definitely worth checking out for sure.

4 Stars out of 5.

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[Dante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be required reading for all screenwriters. While the basics of screenplay format are fairly straightforward, Trottier provides valuable guidance on the 10% or so of screenplay formatting that doesn't readily conform to time-tested standards. He also offers some valuable stylistic pointers that separate beginners from accomplished screenwriters.

I'd give the book five stars as so much of it is incredibly instructive; however, some points are made multiple times, which gives the book some unnecessary padding. (Like some screenplays, come to think of it.) This is primarily due to the book being a compilation of columns, as opposed to being a book conceived and written from scratch. Be that as it may, this is an invaluable resource for screenwriters -- highly recommended.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful. Excellent book.