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How To Write A Movie In 21 Days Hardcover – April 27 1988
鶹
Viki King's Inner Movie Method is a specific step-by-step process designed to get the story in the writer's onto the page. This method guides the would-be screenwriter through the writing of a movie. It answers such questions as:
How to clarify the idea you don't quite have yet
How to tell if your idea is really a movie
How to move from what you want to say saying it
How to stop getting ready and start
Once you know what to write, the Inner Movie Method will show you how to write it. It also addresses such issues as:
How to pay the rent while paying your dues
What to say to your spouse when you can't come to bed
How to keep going when you think you can't
For accomplished screenwriters honing their craft, as well as those who never before brought their ideas to paper, How to Write a Movie in 21 Days is an indispensable guide. And Viki King's upbeat, friendly style is like having a first-rate writing partner every step of the way.
- Print length208 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper
- Publication dateApril 27 1988
- Dimensions15.52 x 2.82 x 28.22 cm
- ISBN-100060551127
- ISBN-13978-0060551124

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Product details
- Publisher : Harper
- Publication date : April 27 1988
- Language : English
- Print length : 208 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0060551127
- ISBN-13 : 978-0060551124
- Item weight : 454 g
- Dimensions : 15.52 x 2.82 x 28.22 cm
- 鶹 Rank: #6,427 in Reference (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Viki King is well known for her wise counsel to luminaries in the Entertainment Industry as well as consultant, to many people, all over the world, in all walks of life.
Viki has addressed World Cinema Forums as their keynote speaker in Beijing, London, Paris, and has lectured in the film schools of UCLA, USC and NYU. She is the confidant and visionary to the principals in the creation of many films.
Her book, How to Write a Movie in 21 days – The Inner Movie Method, in print for 40 years, has become a classic industry-standard guide and has been translated in many languages. Additionally, Viki is the author of three other books and her latest work featured here, How to Be the Hero of Your Own Life – a Unique Autobiography. Her literary style delivers powerful insights on every page. “Read it in a weekend, remember it always.”
As one client put it, “Viki has the uncanny ability, with levity and brevity, to get you from in your way, to on your way.” ~
Customer reviews
Top reviews from Canada
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- Reviewed in Canada on September 10, 2022Verified PurchaseIf you're struggling with your script, this is a fantastic book to get something down on the page. Which can sometimes be the hardest part of the writing process. I gave my first copy to a friend, so I had to get another one for myself!
- Reviewed in Canada on April 4, 2015Verified PurchaseWhat a great book! It's filled with funny and oh-so-true tips for the writer who doubts his or her abilities - this is every writer I've ever met, including my own woefully inadequate-feeling self at times! - and her simple, beautiful method of getting the skeleton of your story or screenplay down is easy to understand and follow. Easier than that very long sentence, I can tell you! This is a great addition to any writer's library and Ihighly recommend it.
- Reviewed in Canada on August 15, 2016Verified PurchasePocket book, perfect on the go.
- Reviewed in Canada on April 17, 2016Verified Purchasegreat help turning my first published works into screen play XXX yr fingers
- Reviewed in Canada on April 24, 2017Verified Purchaseexcellent book
- Reviewed in Canada on December 16, 2001Viki's system is a good kick in the pants. It motivates you to write, but it forces a three-act structure on your screenplay. Great for "Lethal Weapon" and the like, but a bit intolerant for something more innovative.
But typing "Lethal Weapon" in 21 days is a good deal as well! Not a bad intro to screenwriting, but not great. Take her page-by-day deadlines and apply it to something with deeper character structure initially.
- Reviewed in Canada on January 28, 2000...at least not one that's actually sellable, or that has enough depth and craftsmanship to survive in the real-world marketplace. To think otherwise is to be laughably naive. Having said that, I strongly recommend this book!
Why the discrepancy? Simple. I've been writing for years, off and on. I've read dozens of screenwriting books, and taken a few of the big screenwriting courses. I've started writing about 50 screenplays, and completed about 3 of them.
One of the troubles I had (sound familiar?), is that I would begin writing, get about 30 or 40 pages into it, and then stop. Either I went off-course, I began to hate my concept or characters, thought my writing was atrocious, or came up with "a better idea." The result? Dozens of half-completed screenplays.
A writer writes. And writing is re-writing. You'll never fully appreciate these clichés until you ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND WRITE! And don't stop!
The script I wrote when I actually APPLIED this book (about 2 years after I bought it) was written in about 48 days. Hmmph! But you know what? It was WRITTEN. It was complete. It was my first, fully-completed screenplay. And it was actually pretty darn good.
Truth be told, when you finish writing the script Viki King helps you get out on paper, it will likely be only a FIRST DRAFT. Chances are, there'll be a lot more work to do. Re-writing. Making it more organic. Adding depth and breadth to your characters. Expanding your subplots and building elements necessary to your story that Viki's book overlooks (things experience will teach you). But if you've never written a screenplay before (or never completed one you like), this book will talk you through it. And it will give you the basic tools needed to actually complete it. Because before you can re-write, hone, and perfect... you need to get it on paper in the first place!
Make no mistake about it. If you buy into the idea that you'll get this book and have a sellable screenplay a month later, you'll be disappointed. You're not a writer. You're a get-rich-quick wishful thinker. Writing screenplays is a tough business, let alone a difficult process. It just doesn't happen overnight.
The power and beauty of this book is its ability (if you actually FOLLOW it) to help you get through the battle that happens inside, when you sit down to write. It will get your script on paper. It will make you a writer. The quality of your writing gets better with experience. Applying the principles of this book will give you that experience.
Also: Others have accused this book of being "spiritual". It's not. It's motivational, it's inspirational, it's conversational. Just what a first-time or would-be writer needs to overcome his battle with himself.
Some people talk. Other people act. Those who act will get value out of this book.
As I write this review, the script I wrote (in, umm, 48 days) is currently in post-production. And the script I'm working on now is even better.
It's a process. And this is a wonderful first step. A wonderful tool to help you through the self-imposed barriers to succeeding at this craft.
- Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2002In this short (less than 200 pages) book, Viki King explores both a method for writing a movie and some of the basic issues that all writers must face from time to time. Although King is writing specifically about the movie business, her lessons are generally applicable to all types of writing. King addresses issues such as what to write, how to go about writing, and how to overcome obstacles.
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.
Top reviews from other countries
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CelestinoReviewed in Mexico on December 21, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Libro
Verified PurchaseExcelente libro
-
StacheldrahtzaunReviewed in Germany on June 2, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Tolles Buch gegen Prokrastination - nicht nur beim Drehbuchschreiben!
Verified PurchaseDas Buch ist kurz, knackig, bringt alles auf den Punkt und fordert quasi ab der 5. Seite zum aktiven Mitmachen auf - mit kleinen Aufgaben. Ein Buch, das einfach Spaß macht - weil es letztlich auf JEDE Situation anwendbar ist, wo sich eine gefühlt unlösbare oder einfach ungeliebte Aufgabe auftürmt und eins sich bei jedem Anlauf zum Fertigstellen in Details verliert - und nicht weiterkommt. Dieses Buch schafft die psychologische Voraussetzung zum Selbst-Motivieren und die Sache in kleinen, aber klar definierten Happen anzugehen - und diese Happen während der Arbeit nicht zu hinterfragen, sondern für die vorgegebene Dauer (oder SEitenzahl) des jeweiligen Tages unbedingt weiterzumachen. Außerdem ist es charmant und mitreißend geschrieben, gibt gute Beispiele und ufert nicht aus. Wer mit irgendeiner (Schreibtisch)Arbeit feststeckt, macht mit diesem Buch alles richtig!
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MME Boireau MicheleReviewed in France on March 5, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Très utile pendant l'écriture
Verified PurchaseTrès utile pour le contenu du scénario et pour passer à l'acte, après avoir lu et fait les exercices du workbook de Syd Field pour la structure du scénario
- RcReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable
Verified PurchaseI have just finished writing my first screenplay thanks to this book.
For years I have been wanting to write and doing research for film ideas I had. I didn't know how to start writing. The idea of it felt terrifying and when I attempted writing I would immediately judge myself and stop. This book helps you write without judgement. My biggest obstacle before was being in my own way, and I was amazed at what I was able to write once I let go.
I agree that for it to work best you should make sure your idea is already precise in your head before starting the 21 days. I imagined the whole story first, writing each scene on a card. It helped a lot, and I was still able to change the scenes that didn't work once I started writing.
The book provides emotional support as well, and I loved how it links your character's journey with your journey as a writer.