Book Review: Alone in a Room

Alone in a Room : Secrets of Successful Screenwriters
by John Scott Lewinski (Ingram Pub Services; Aug 1 2004) is not a how-to-write-a-script book written by , rather it is a field guide to navigating the system of being a working writer in the business, from coming up with marketable ideas, to writing alone in a room on spec before the terrifying specter of the blank page, to accepting writing assignments and collaborating with others, to overcoming the challenges of adapting someone else's work for the screen or blog. The art of comedic writing, dealing with those dreaded "notes" and how to best utilize constructive criticism, dramatic writing for TV, being professional in meetings and making a good impression, getting your work out there to the people who can say yes or no, and how to deal with rejection as well as acceptance and, hopefully, success. As "they" say sometimes success is more frightening than failure.

Reading this book, as an aspiring screenwriter myself, I felt as though the author cared not just about my fate, but about the fate of all writers, and that personal respect and shared understanding makes this book inspiring and motivating. Alone In A Room is honest to be sure, but in a way that will make your path as a screenwriter all the more easy to walk, having now been awakened to many of the obstacles you may encounter.