Reading literature on screenwriting

I read some of  Screenwriting for Dummies, it's a very informative book, giving you information on many different things that are involved in screenwriting. From reading this book i have learnt how to pick out the ideas with staying power, create a scene from a single image, which the writer calls the Great what if, it involves thinking of a single image for example a man riding a motobike, once you have your starting image you can start to put layers on it e.g what if the man is knocked off his bike, what if he had an important message to deliver, what if he was knocked off his bike on purpose, finally what if the person who knocked him off his bike was after the message. This is basically how the great what if works, though you may not be successful with every one, if you write them down there will eventually be one that stands out and is a good idea.It has also taught me how to breakdown the begining of a story into eight different elements, Introduction of  the main character or characters, setting up a routine or pattern of life, e.g. going to work then coming home to the family. Put forward a conflict that may change that routine or pattern, e.g maybe showing a broken picture frame of that family or somebody plotting something. Introduce the subplots and their conflicts, Set the tone for the piece. Suggest the villian or opposing force in the story e.g. Show the enemy troops if its a war film, suggest something important maybe at risk, e.g suggest to the audience that something may happen to the hero's family, or that something may happen to the world. and finally, raise an attention grabbing, e.g What will happen to the hero's family?.


Sources : Screenwriting for Dummies, Pages 52,53,54, 94, 95, 100, 101,102