Reader Question: Who is your favorite screenwriter?

From @jannagummo:

Who is your favorite screenwriter?

To kick off this new series of Reader Questions, I thought I’d start with this one and redirect it at you. Who are your favorite screenwriters? And a second question: Why are they your favorite screenwriters? Or perhaps to narrow it down, what are your favorite screenplays?

Of course, to answer any of these questions properly, you should restrict your answer to screenplays you have read. And to do that, you need to read screenplays. Which is a perfect opportunity for me to fling the screenwriting mantra of all screenwriting mantras into the conversation:

Read scripts. Watch movies. Write pages.

[If you think I have a deal to earn a royalty payment for every time I mention this mantra, you’re absolutely right. I get 5% net profit points! It’s right there in my virtual contract! I’m still waiting for the first check…]

After you’ve had a chance to put forth your favorite screenwriters, I’ll weigh in with mine.

Thanks, @jannagummo, for the question. Lots of reader questions to follow over the next two weeks or so.

Comment Archive