Narrative screenwriting and television scripting are two of the most basic and lucrative areas in the field of creative writing. This comprehensive text, suitable for both beginning and advanced writing courses, explores the "mystery" of how a creative script comes into existence.

 It covers in detail basics of good scriptwriting, such as narrative structure, specific narrative techniques (exposition, preparation, points of view), characterizations, themes, settings, dialogue, and writing adaptations.

This book also features some sections that are unique to screenwriting texts, such as discussions of: the creative process, with imaginative exercises to stimulate creativity; the structure and development of the scenes that comprise the script; more unstructured contemporary film practices as well as formula television writing; and a lengthy section on comedy writing theory and technique.