Sign-In
Cart
The 9 Cs: The Essential Elements of Great Screenwriting
Hardcover
TelevisionGeneral ReferenceScreenwriting
ISBN13: 9781960415820
Publisher: Bruce Scivally
Published: Sep 7 2026
Pages: 344
Weight: 1.39
Height: 0.94 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
A screenplay is not the finished work. It is the blueprint for a movie, television show, stage play, or other dramatic story that must first come alive in the reader's imagination. In The 9 Cs, veteran screenwriter and educator Ed Horowitz offers a practical guide to making that happen.
Horowitz draws on decades of professional experience in film, television, theater, and teaching to identify the core elements that make dramatic stories work. Rather than selling formulas or promises of instant success, he focuses on craft: how to shape a compelling story, build believable characters, create meaningful conflict, use structure, write effective scenes and dialogue, work with beatsheets, revise intelligently, and keep the reader turning pages.
Designed for new writers, experienced writers, producers, teachers, and anyone trying to better understand story construction, The 9 Cs presents screenwriting as both art and discipline. Its chapters, exercises, appendix, and glossary give readers a working method for developing ideas into detailed outlines and rough drafts. Clear, direct, and grounded in practice, this book helps writers write smarter, more efficiently, and more effectively while developing the habits and judgment needed to improve their craft.
1 different editions
Also available
Also from
Horowitz, Ed
Also in
Screenwriting
Screenwriter's Bible, 7th Edition: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script
Trottier, David
Paperback
Save the Cat!(r) Writes Horror: The Ultimate Guide to Creating Monster in the House Stories
Snyder, Blake
Nash, Jamie
Paperback
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Storr, Will
Paperback
Scriptnotes: A Book about Screenwriting and Things That Are Interesting to Screenwriters
August, John
Mazin, Craig
Hardcover
Save the Cat!(r) Writes for TV: The Last Book on Creating Binge-Worthy Content You'll Ever Need
Nash, Jamie
Paperback
The Writer's Journey - 25th Anniversary Edition: Mythic Structure for Writers
Vogler, Christopher
Paperback
The Hollywood Standard - Third Edition: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style
Riley, Christopher
Paperback
Essentials of Screenwriting: The Art, Craft, and Business of Film and Television Writing
Walter, Richard
Paperback
Middle-Earth from Script to Screen: Building the World of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit
Rice, K. M.
Falconer, Daniel
Hardcover
Save the Cat Library Edition: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
Snyder, Blake
Hardcover
The Structure of Story: How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters
Hartmann, Ross
Paperback
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Storr, Will
Hardcover
Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting
Goldman, William
Paperback
Easy Riders Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-And Rock 'n Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Biskind, Peter
Paperback
The Scream Writer's Handbook: How to Write a Terrifying Screenplay in 10 Bloody Steps
Fenton, Thomas
Paperback
Storytelling as Art & Craftsmanship: Practical Strategies for Screenwriters and Creative Writers
Clausen, Dennis M.
Paperback
The Writer's Journey - 25th Anniversary Edition - Library Edition: Mythic Structure for Writers
Vogler, Christopher
Hardcover
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter's Guide to Every Story Ever Told
Snyder, Blake
Paperback
Tales from the Script: 50 Hollywood Screenwriters Share Their Stories
Hanson, Peter
Herman, Paul Robert
Paperback
Three Screenplays: To Kill a Mockingbird, Tender Mercies and the Trip to Bountiful
Foote, Horton
Paperback
The Comedy Bible: From Stand-Up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate How to Guide
Carter, Judy
Paperback
Beyond the Hero: Relationship-Driven Screenwriting and the Secret to Hollywood's Greatest Scripts
Weiss, Michael
Paperback
Make Your Own Movies: A Beginner's Guide to Filmmaking with Whatever Equipment You Have
Parga, Migue
Paperback
The Virgin's Promise: Writing Stories of Feminine Creative, Spiritual, and Sexual Awakening
Hudson, Kim
Paperback
Save the Cat!(r) Strikes Back: More Trouble for Screenwriters to Get Into ... and Out of
Snyder, Blake
Paperback
Be the Train: The Mindset and Tools You Need to Make Your First Feature Film
Ringel, Selina
Paperback
The Creative Screenwriter: 12 Rules to Follow--And Break--To Unlock Your Screenwriting Potential
Hoxter, Julian
Paperback
The Tools of Screenwriting: A Writer's Guide to the Craft and Elements of a Screenplay
Mabley, Edward
Howard, David
Paperback
Inside the Room: Writing Television with the Pros at UCLA Extension Writers' Program
Venis, Linda
Paperback
Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters: Storytelling Secrets from the Greatest Mind in Western Civilization
Tierno, Michael
Paperback
I Got You Covered: The Premier and Fun Guide to Script Coverage, Notes, and Story Analysis
Neufeld, Beverly
Paperback
Story Made Simple: A No-Nonsense Guide to the Essential Elements of Storytelling
McNulty, Brandon
Paperback
Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar's Greatest Films
Movshovitz, Dean
Paperback
Save the Cat! Goes to the Indies: The Screenwriters Guide to 50 Films from the Masters
Rubio, Salva
Paperback
Conversations at the American Film Institute with the Great Moviemakers: The Next Generation from the 1950s to Hollywood Today
Stevens Jr, George
Paperback
The Structure of Story: How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters
Hartmann, Ross
Hardcover
The Heart of Your Script: The Insider's Guide to Writing the Difficult Middle Section of a Screenplay
Wilkes, Ted
Hughes, Phil
Paperback
The Protagonist's Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling
Myers, Scott
Paperback
Cinematics Storyboard Workshop: Filmmaking Essentials for the Entry-Level Storyboard Artist
Davidson, Gregg
Paperback
Dan O'Bannon's Guide to Screenplay Structure: Inside Tips from the Writer of Alien, Total Recall & Return of the Living Dead
O'Bannon, Dan
Lohr, Matt
Paperback
How to Write a Damn Good Thriller: A Step-By-Step Guide for Novelists and Screenwriters
Frey, James N.
Hardcover
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer: The Artistry, Joy, and Career of Storytelling
Straczynski, J. Michael
Paperback
Psychology for Filmmakers: Crafting Authentic Characters and Stories
Salakhieva-Talal, Tatiana
Paperback
Screenwriting for Storytellers How to Take Your Story From Idea to Script
Moore, Sherlann D.
Paperback
Reflections of the Shadow: Creating Memorable Heroes and Villains For Film and TV
Hirschberg, Jeffrey
Paperback
The Art of Lean Filmmaking: An unconventional guide to creating independent feature films
Eddy, David
Eddy, Kylie
Paperback
How Stage Playwrights Saved the British Cinema, 1930-1956: The Well-Made Screenplay
Cottis, David
Paperback
Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood
Mamet, David
Paperback
The Screen Playbook: A Writer's Guide to Negotiating Creative Rights Like a Pro
Morris, Tisha
Paperback
The Hollywood Standard - Third Edition: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style (Library Edition)
Riley, Christopher
Hardcover
How Stage Playwrights Saved the British Cinema, 1930-1956: The Well-Made Screenplay
Cottis, David
Hardcover
The Basics of Filmmaking: Screenwriting, Producing, Directing, Cinematography, Audio, & Editing
Brown, Blain
Paperback
Story Made Simple: A No-Nonsense Guide to the Essential Elements of Storytelling
McNulty, Brandon
Hardcover
The Proust Screenplay: a la Recherche Du Temps Perdu
Bray, Barbara
Losey, Joseph
Pinter, Harold
Paperback
The 10 Principles of Great Screenwriting: How to Make An Average Script Extraordinary
Allen, Gregory K.
Paperback
How to Be a Rockstar Screenwriter (or at least pay the bills): Mindset, Tools, and Strategies for a Successful Screenwriting Career
Silverman, David
D. Schuyler, Rogina
Paperback