Want Do Get: A Screenwriter’s Manual received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Merlin Goldman.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Want Do Get: A Screenwriter’s Manual
What’s the book’s first line?
Welcome to Want Do Get.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Want Do Get is a comprehensive guide to writing better screenplays. It contains many useful tools and techniques that will help any writer to produce more entertaining and well-structured scripts. Readers will also find it a useful guide for other types of storytelling, such as plays and novels.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’d read multiple ‘How To’ books and none covers the breadth of what I wanted to learn but also delivered in concise sections.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
If they want to have a writing resource that provides both the basics and more advanced theories on story, in short easily digestible chunks.
When did you first decide to become an author?
About eight years ago.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
It’s the first non-fiction book. My first fiction book is called The Carpenter and The Goat Herder.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I work as an innovation consultant, make short films and compose music.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
A few days a week. I host a weekly writing group too.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best bit is writing whatever book I want and having the final say on the layout and cover.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Don’t try to do it all yourself if you want great results.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Perhaps. If I still had the creative freedom but they took on the marketing.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
To be creative is enough.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I admire Ian Rankin as he’s so unlike me being able to write about the same character in the same place year after year.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. The most beautiful book I’ve ever read along with an expertly crafted story structure.