What People are Saying...

When I saw some of the people included in Script Partners, I said, "I've got to go out and buy this book!"

– Carl Reiner, Writer, Director, Actor, Producer, and Father.



Why hasn't this book been written till now? A lively, knowledgeable, user-friendly guide to how not to be alone in what can seem the loneliest profession on the planet. Claudia Johnson & Matt Stevens know the collaborative process from the inside; and they have gathered insight, encouragement, wisdom and wisecracks from some of the great writing teams of film and television.

– Janet Burroway, Novelist, Playwright, and Author of the Bestseller, Writing Fiction.



This is a charming book! A delight to read. A wonderful insight into how movies that you have loved were created. It is a step-by-step instruction book for becoming part of a collaboration. And it lets you know how much fun you could have. Made me want to find a partner and get to work.

– Joan Darling, Emmy and DGA Award-Winning Actress and Director



If you're considering the possibility of collaborating with another writer, Script Partners just might be the answer to all your prayers. Johnson & Stevens have deftly combined entertaining anecdotes, incisive interviews, hard-core info and sage advice into a no-holds-barred Bible for writing with a partner.

– Kathie Fong Yoneda, Paramount Pictures story analyst/development specialist and author of The Script-Selling Game: A Hollywood Insider's Look At Getting Your Book Sold and Produced.



To collaborate, or not to collaborate? If that has been a question you've asked yourself occasionally, Script Partners is a book you'll definitely want to read. Authors Johnson & Stevens have interviewed 19 script partners/teams to find out what it takes to create a successful collaboration. The joys, the tears, the pitfalls, and the triumphs are all here for you to experience.

Script Partners offers a unique opportunity to learn from some of the very best in the business. The book features interviews with writing teams such as Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski (The People vs. Larry Flynt) and the Coen Brothers (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) who discuss what makes their partnerships work.

Chapters of the book are devoted to why you should collaborate, how to find the right writing partner, and how to overcome the difficulty of where or when to work. Choosing the right project for partners is also covered along with tips on co-creating a character, the story and the structure of a script. The creative relationship is thoroughly examined and discussed. The interviews and comments regarding disagreements - and getting past them - are extremely interesting, especially for writers who are confrontation-shy. Not to be missed is the chapter devoted to the business relationship.

Every chapter ends with a summation page of "Script Partner Points." This helpful little list provides those contemplating collaboration with a good overview of what to look for in a partner and what they themselves can contribute to the partnership. Even if there were several books on the market regarding the collaborative writing process, Script Partners, with its witty and high style, would be at the very top of the heap for its insightful information. To find out more about the Johnson & Stevens team log onto: www.scriptpartners.com.

– Sable Jak, Scr(i)pt Magazine



A clever and well-crafted book. It will give you the best insight on writing with a partner you may ever read. Claudia Johnson & Matt Stevens' approach to writing with a partner is truly inspiring. They get to the bottom of the collaboration process with some of the best writing teams on the planet. You will refer to this book for years.

– Mark Doyle, Writer & Managing Editor of Film Festival Today Magazine



Successful writing teams share their "secrets" of co-creating scripts. Be assured this is no cookbook approach to scriptwriting. Instead this book describes the joys and agonies of the creative process and offers guidance for establishing a productive collaborative. It's "required reading" for those engaged in or considering a writing partnership!

– Carol Nicolay, Ed.D, TV and Film Program, University of Washington Educational Outreach



Effectively collaboration is often difficult to achieve but Script Partners sheds light on the intricacies and challenges and demystifies the process. The insights of numerous writing teams shows how fun and rewarding the process can be, and the authors give a clear picture of how to have long lasting partnerships that produce high-quality stories. A must-read for anybody who wishes to work with other writers.

– Jason M. Eng, Marketing Manager, Write Brothers, Inc. Editor, Screenplay Scoop Newsletter



Read this book! It's essential for anyone who wants to write movies. You won't get this information anywhere else, and it's hip, funny. If they gave an Academy Award for Best Screenwriting Book, Script Partners would win it.

– Andy Ruben, Producer and co-writer of Poison Ivy