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Summary: The moving hand writes...
Review: There are writers' books, and there are books written for writers. This is both. In four hundred and fifty pages, Skip Press, a writer's writer, writes for writers on writing.It's an extraordinary book, filled with tips, anecdotes, and (above all) handy information on how to get your script published in the ruthless and uncaring world of the Hollywood film industry. I felt the sections on the importance of accuracy in punch-hole placement and brad selection were a little insubstantial, given the subject matter of the book, but otherwise it's an excellent tome. I hope to read it sometime soon
Rating: 
Summary: A poorly written and organized book you should avoid.
Review: This book clearly reflects that the author knows little about his subject. It's poorly organized, fraught with misinformation and errors, and woefully insulting and patronizing to the reader. There are many far better "how to" books about this subject. Don't waste your time with this one.
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Summary: Some basic info, poorly organized from naive author
Review: This book tries to cover so much - from how to choose software to how to get an agent - that it gives everything short shrift. You'd really have to be a raw beginner to get much value from this thing. If you decide to read this, focus on objective info, like addresses for web sites, and non-industry info, like picking out software. The author has some really bizarre ideas on how Hollywood works, probably because he has no success there himself (it amused me the "about the author section" was 2 or 3 pages - like many people of small accomplishment, he tries to enlarge what he has done, like going on at great length about his articles for "Boy Life" magazine.) Yup, we aren't talking William Goldman here; in fact the author, despite professing his status as a screenwriting, doesn't offer one tangible accomplishment. That's ok; I just wish he had positioned himself as an journalist rather than "a friend in the industry." In many instances the author comes off as astoundingly naive. My favorite anecdote was the author recalling a producer who said the first 40 pages of the author's script was some of the most exciting he'd ever read, but he didn't have time to finish it. Um, right. The fact that the author repeats this with apparent belief the producer was telling the truth made me chuckle.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the money.
Review: This book was an (almost) complete waste of money. Wasn't organized very well. Alot of the info was wrong. The only good thing about the book is it has some good stories.
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Summary: A great resource for writers ready to market their work
Review: This is a great book filled with tips on how to navigate the often treacherous path of the screenwriter in Hollywood. Knowledge is power, and it helps to know the specifics of what certain producers and agents want. You could spend years on your own compiling the information contained in this book. I would definitely recommend this book to writers who may be just starting out, or those with completed scripts that are ready to start making the rounds in Hollywood
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Summary: If you have buy just one writer's guide this year...
Review: This is the one to buy. It covers a lot of topics in a relatively small space (454 pp.), but there's lots of good info here, written in a vastly more engaging style than any of the competing writers' guides (including Jeff Herman's book which is published by the same company.) The best thing about this guide is that Press takes thr writer's side: he does not hesitate to say what he really thinks (right or wrong) about the various agencies, producers, etc., and he refuses to let any agencies, production companies, etc. opt out of the book. Also, he includes detailed lists of personnel at the agencies, production companies, etc. Not perfectfar from flawless, but well worth your $18.40.
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Summary: Unfortunately, the book quickly dated itself
Review: This was a good idea for a book, but it's the sort of thing that quickly dated itself. The agent and manager contacts in this book, you will find, have become saturated -- while they seem interested in reading new material per their profiles in the book, you'll find it's a different story now as they've been inundated. It's sort of like coming into a gold rush six months too late. Too bad.
Rating: 
Summary: Why this edition is much better
Review: This year's book is 50 pages longer and rewritten from page one. Also, I've been hearing great things via email from people on a much more voluminous pace than with the first edition. Maybe it's because anyone who buys this book gets one free question about the business answered (and usually I do more than one).
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