WGA BOOK ENDORSEMENTS

David S. Goyer

WGA Screenwriter/Creator
Terminator: Dark Fate, The Blade and Batman Begins trilogies, Dark City, Jumper, The Puppet Masters
TV’s Krypton, Da Vinci’s Demons, Constantine, Flash Forward
Games Call of Duty: Black Ops I & II

“Tabb's book asks you to look deep within yourself and answer a fundamental question; why are you writing this particular story? Why are you even writing in the first place? It gives you some very pragmatic tools to help make your writing more soulful and authentic.”

Nicole Perlman

WGA Writer
Captain Marvel, Detective Pikachu, Guardians of the Galaxy, First Man, Black Widow, Sherlock Holmes 3

"A comprehensive, honest, and heart-felt look at the craft of screenwriting. Writers at all levels will find something in this book to inspire them to do their best work."

Howard A. Rodman

President, Writers Guild of America (WGA)
WGA Writer
August, Saving Grace, Takedown, Joe Gould’s Secret

“Michael Tabb has thought long, hard, and usefully about how to write screenplays with vision and intent. He understands premise, character, conflict, drama; far more importantly, he can impart wisdom about all of them without condescending or "dumbing down." I know of no better guide to the work of writing that happens before we write.”

Bill Prady

WGA Writer/Creator
The Big Bang Theory, The Muppets, Gilmore Girls, Dharma & Greg, Caroline in the City, Dream On

“The best way I can think to get yourself writing again if you’re stuck would be to have Michael Tabb come over with a bottle of bourbon and a couple of glasses and talk you through things. The second best way would be to buy this book and read it. You can supply your own bourbon.” 

 “Tabb provides an insightful and engaging guide to the process of breaking story and character. Writers looking to set a strong foundation for their first or next script would be well served by reading PREWRITING.” 

Carlton Cuse
WGA Writer/Creator
San Andreas, Rampage, TV’s Lost, Locke & Key, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,  The Colony, Bates Motel, The Strain, Nash Bridges, Martial Law, Crime Story

“I wish I had this book when I was just starting out — but it’s still immensely helpful. An indispensable handbook of the craft written by a seasoned veteran and accomplished writer. A must read for anyone serious about screenwriting.”

Marc Guggenheim
WGA Writer/Creator
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Green Lantern
TV’s Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, No Ordinary Family, Eli Stone, CSI: Miami, Law & Order, Brothers and Sisters, 3Below, Troll Hunters
Games Singularity, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Call of Duty 3, Perfect Dark Zero

“The book every writer has been waiting for -- a step by step guide to nourish and develop your idea for a screenplay, book or story. Invaluable and vital.” 

Evan Spiliotopoulos
WGA Writer
Snake Eyes, The Unholy, Bright 2, Charlie’s Angels, Beauty and the Beast, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Hercules, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

Damon Lindelof

WGA Writer/Producer/Creator
The Hunt, Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness, World War Z, Prometheus, TV’s Lost, The Watchmen, The Leftovers, Nash Bridges, Crossing Jordon

“Michael understands the nuts and bolts of storytelling like no one else — Whether you’re penning your first script or your thirtieth, this book will make you a better writer.”

Edward Ricourt

WGA Writer
Now You See Me 1 & 2,
Jessica Jones, Wayward Pines, Raising Dion

"Michael Tabb's book will challenge writers to do the hard work in polishing that rough idea into a clear artistic vision. I wish this book was around when I was writing my first screenplay, or even my fourth screenplay."

“Teachers of screenwriting often miss the most basic truth that writing should be fun and that writers should work from their gut, not from their fear of rejection. In Prewriting Your Screenplay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Generating Stories, Mike Tabb simplifies the process of story writing and character development to its most essential elements, in the process inviting the reader to embark on the joyful journey of self discovery that is screenwriting.” 

Douglas Day Stewart
WGA Screenwriter/DGA Director
An Officer and a Gentleman, The Blue Lagoon, What About Love, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Thief of Hearts, Listen to Me

“Michael Tabb is a powerhouse. He’s one of those writers that I envy – he is ALWAYS writing. Ever since I’ve known him he has constantly pumped out quality work at a steady pace. He’s a machine! And, after reading Prewriting Your Screenplay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Generating Stories, I now know his secret. There are a lot of “how to” books on writing but Tabb’s book is the first one I’ve come across that gets to the heart of the matter: how do we find a consistent method of digging out our deepest authentic feelings and ideas? If you have ever stared at your blinking cursor on a blank page, this is the book for you. Michael Tabb proves that we all have our own stories that need to be told. We think manifesting them is hard work, but Tabb shows us it is effortless.”

John Lehr
WGA Writer/Creator
10 Items or Less, Quick Draw

“It’s vitally important for aspiring writers to understand that a professional screenwriting career is built upon the relentless pursuit of asking the right creative questions and then finding the most satisfying answers. In his new book, PREWRITING, writer and teacher Michael Tabb generously shares his innovative approach to meeting that challenge. His original method of generating story, character, and theme will be valuable to both veterans and novices, and should help any writer get past the fear of writers block.”

Jeff Melvoin
Emmy-award winning television writer-producer
Chair of the Writers Education Committee of the Writers Guild of America, West Killing Eve, Designated Survivor, Army Wives, Alias, Early Edition, Northern Exposure, Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele

Roberto Orci

WGA Writer / Creator
Transformers 1 & 2, Star Trek 1, 2 & 3, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, People Like Us,
The Legend of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III, TV’s High School 51, Sleepy Hallow,Hawaii Five-0, Fringe, Alias, Matador, Xena, Hercules

“Are you a writer? Then you’re a fraud, right? Every time you stare at that empty page, you feel it in your bones. The movies I have written have grossed over 5 billion in box office, and STILL, I feel like a fraud every time I start a new project. When I read Michael’s book, I felt a lot better. Michael is not only a great screenwriter, but he understands how to explain screenwriting in a way that I never could and in a way that helped me move forward. It is so strange to have a decent man you know help you, through his writing, help you become a better writer. I got a free copy of his book on my shelf, but I would’ve paid for it. Writers like Michael who help other writers understand the art or the craft of screenwriting are truly among our best and brightest. Think about it. He is helping his own competition! Only a wise and true class act would ever do that. This book is yours. Consume it!” 

“Writing for television means you cannot afford to have writer’s block, and coming up with new ideas is the hardest part of the job. I wish I’d read this book years ago! Prewriting has an original premise, which is only fitting for a book about original premises.” 

Brannon Braga
WGA Writer/Executive Producer
Star Trek: First Contact, TV’s The Orville, Salem, Terra Nova, Flash Forward, 24, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: The Next Generation

 “Great advice for budding screen-writers and those more established. A rich resource to find the creative code and original strengths within yourself, and most importantly, tips on how to sustain passion for a project through the trial-by-fire of re-writes on the writer’s journey to getting it produced and onto the screen.”

Alex Proyas
DGA Director / WGA Writer
I Robot, Gods of Egypt, Dark City, Knowing, The Crow

Daniel Petrie, Jr.

WGA Writer, Beverly Hills Cop, Turner & Hooch, Shoot to Kill, Toy Soldiers
TV’s Combat Hospital

"All too often, screenwriters, eager to start writing, will be tempted to skip the hard work that needs to be done before typing the words ‘FADE IN.’ That’s why so many screenplays, even by talented writers, are doomed from the start. Now, screenwriter and screenwriting teacher Michael Tabb comes to the rescue with a book centered on the all-important work the writer must do beforehand, the most neglected, challenging, and rewarding part of the process. Grounded in Michael Tabb’s deep understanding of how a premise is created and how characters come to life, Prewriting identifies each step of what for many is a chaotic, or even subconscious, process. This invaluable book combines those insights with down-to-earth, practical observations on the influence of genre, the varied functions the characters could fulfill, and how screenwriters can approach the story building process more systematically and more creatively at the same time. Prewriting offers thoughtful, practical and creative advice on all aspects of building a successful screen story. This should be on every screenwriter’s bookshelf."