One of my favorite books on screenwriting, and I find myself referring back to it when I begin a new writing project. Irwin Blacker taught screenwriting for years, and his real-world knowledge of the subject shines through into his book - especially the later chapters about writing with actor's schedules in mind and how much description is the screenwriter's responsibility and how much to leave to the director's discretion.

The first half of the book is equally applicable to writing novels or short stories that aren't meant for the screen. Lots of good advice on plot, suspense, and character development. ( )