Akers Books

After you've acquired John Truby's "Anatomy of Story" and Robert McKee's "Story", you MUST get William Akers' "Your Screenplay Sucks!", or you're not a serious writer. What good is it to write a great script if no one reads it. Mr. Aker practically guarantees your screenplay will be not only better, but will be read.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3OV2MIYRQTQHS This is a great book. Seriously. Buy it.

GREAT BOOK! Unlike most of the other screenwriting books out there, this isn't a how-to guide for writers who have never before tackled a screenplay; rather, this is an in-depth checklist for writers who understand the basic tenets of screenwriting or, at the very least, have finished a draft of their script. It goes through, point by point, the 100 most common mistakes screenwriters make... making it super-easy to put your screenplay through a rigorous rewriting process so your script can be as tight, solid, and sellable as you can possibly make it. If you're serious about making it as a screenwriter, this rigorous rewriting bootcamp may not be able to sell your screenplay for you, but it'll whip you and your script into the best shape possible!

I'm relatively new to the craft of screenwriting, but I'm passionate about creating a great work that has a legitimate chance at making it to a theater near you. It seems that the trademark start for every aspiring screenwriter is to stock up on a library of books that explain screenwriting from every imaginable angle; only to find a few that truly make the difference. Rare are the books that stand out as "Must Haves", and Your Screenplay Sucks! 100 Ways To Make It Great, is a "Must Have".

Although people write for different reasons, it's relatively safe to assume that most people attempt to write a screenplay because they want to sell it. They want to see it on the big screen. The logic that should then follow is to make your screenplay the best it can be at all costs. In reality, this doesn't often happen. In my opinion, if near perfection is not your goal or if you are writing solely for the money, then screenwriting is probably not your ticket. However, if it's your passion, this book is an indispensible companion to realizing your dream.

While I think of this book as the ultimate checklist, the truth is that it's far deeper than just a checklist. It's like having a coach with you at every step of the writing process; from initial concept, to rewrites. Each topic Mr. Akers discusses is clearly explained (often with examples) and communicated in an entertaining and humorous fashion. Also, the topics are broken up in such a way that finding answers and explanations take no time to find.

What I love most about it, though, is that if this book is used properly, it will greatly reduce unnecessary rewriting. I'm not talking about the inevitable rewrites that you'll have to do. I'm talking about the ones that make you throw your laptop or Smith Corona(???) across the room - not to mention the loud expletives that will have mothers within a three mile radius covering their children's ears in shock.

Most importantly, if you want to write with the confidence that your story structure is tight; that you didn't forget to give your bad guy a "Bad Guy Speech" and that every one of your scenes means something BEFORE you've finished your first draft, just plunk down the dollars, pounds, euros, yen, rubles or whatever currency and buy this book. You'll be thankful it was written and happy you bought it!

I have been writing screenplays and weirdly getting paid for it for years - i wish I had had Will Akers book when I was stuck. He has practical, been there - done that - knows what works advice. LISTEN TO HIM! He will help you move ahead. And he is entertaining to boot....

I bought both 'The Buck Book' and 'The Joy of Origami'.
The illustrations in 'The Buck Book' were a lot more easy to follow than the directions/illustrations in 'The Joy of Origami' by Margaret Van Sicken.
In 'The Buck Book' there is an actual size dollar bill which makes it a lot easier to make the folds as you can line up the bill you are working on with the one in the book. I made all the folds after a lot of patience and practice. I am only a beginner origami folder. 'The Joy Of Origami' definitely leaves a lot to the imagination and I would not recommend it for a beginner.

I was hoping for a step-by-step detailed description of how to fold the dollar, instead I had to pass this book to my brother who is an expert in folding the buck to use this book. But even he found some of the directions difficult to understand. There also weren't that many ideas suggested in this book. There are more ideas for folding the buck online than offered in this book.

Having been at the beginner level of origami for many years--that is, I follow the ideas in the books and don't create my own--I have at least 30 books on subjects from origami boxes to modular (unit) origami to money origami. This is one of the best introductions to origami in general. Dollar bills are made of excellent paper with printing on them that helps you get oriented with the diagrams in the book. The projects make great gifts (and tips at restaurants, of course).

This book does not introduce you to the variety of "folds" (such as the outside-reverse fold and the rabbit fold) that are the vocabulary of the mainstream origami books, but eases you into the basics (including the inside-reverse fold without labeling it as such). You will enjoy the transition of your ordinary one-dollar bill into these little origami models, which are mostly three-dimensional (many origami books have you sweating and, 47 folds later, ending up with a flat two-dimensional depiction of some insect). Go to other books if this one inspires you to become an origamist. Or just stay here and have fun. And yes I know that insect origami seems to be viewed with a certain amount of reverence, but you get animals in this book also.

When you have folded your masterpiece, origami is fun in that you can unfold it and practice it again until you have it memorized, very useful for when you want to leave a "Dime-In-Ring" as a tip (this project will cost you $1.10--a bill and a dime).

I would not hand the book to a young child, as the activies probably work best with an adult helping those under 10 years old. The adult should have completed the model first.

I would recommend getting a bunch of new crisp bills from your bank. Ask the bank when they come in, as the book says they usually arrive around January. Just in case the US government has any plans to change the pattern on the one-dollar bill, that's another reason to hoard some of the old ones. However, bills that are fairly crisp but not necessarily brand new work very well, and you can find these regularly in change handed to you. When you receive nice crisp bills in change from a store, hand over a $5 bill and get five more crisp ones.

Lastly, as commented on already, the humor and the little facts about money are quite entertaining. Typical "Klutz book" excellence.

Happy folding.

Mike

PS Another book, also on an origami specialty but also for the serious beginner who wants to produce fun and useable projects is "Wings and Things: Origami That Flies."

Very cute book--fun for all ages, or for all ages of people with a little patience.

I got this for my 11 year old son. He already had some origami experience and really enjoyed it. He easily did the the first few projects, but had a little difficulty with the elephant and the peacock. After we looked at it closer, we were able to figure it out with little trouble. The book is very well written (and illustrated) and the projects are very clever. My son's main problem was that he was just using the pictures and wasn't taking the time to also read the directions. The spiral binding allows the book to lay flat while you work with the dollar. There are also fun facts included. All-in-all, it is entertaining and well worth the money. I only wish there had been a few more shapes to make.

very clear instructions with lots of pictures. text is large font and easy to read. purchased for my 11 year old daughter. She enjoyed it, though she hasn't tried to actually make any hair wraps yet.

This is exaclty what you would expect frm a klutz book. Easy to follow concise instructions. Easy instructions and easy to do are not the same thing, this is a very time consuming activity. It takes a bit to get the hang of it and then a good little bit of time to do the entire wrap. Granted my girls have very, very long hair. If the idea looks fun to you then you will like the book.

This was a present for 10 year old grandchild and she loved it.

I have read this book and although I have not done a hair wrap yet, I am a hairdresser and can tell that the directions are very easy to follow and the pictures are great of the finished product. I am very happy that I ordered this book, I would recommend this book.

I am a girl (...), and this book is great! I learned how to do many designs! I now have my own hair wrap business and do hair wraps at craft fairs! I also have the Quick Wrap from Conair. I make over 20$ a day doing hair wraps! it is great!

Bought two of these books as gifts for Christmas for neices (ages 13 & 14). Great book! Wish I'd had this at their age!

Haven't had much time to even try any of the recipes in the book. But have looked all through it, have used some of the great tools the book comes with. I like the simple ideas using the simple kitchen items. Would be great fun to have girls do at a slumber party. Or just a little mom time, which is what I got it for. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes to take care of themselves, naturally, and have fun while doing it. This would be great to have while watching a good movie too! Hope this helps.

When I first bought this book, I was worried that it wouldn't be worth 20 bucks because it had only 7o pages, I was sooooo wrong!
This book is my first spa recipe book, if i could describe it in one word, it'd be wow. Just wow. The nail buffer that comes with it is soooo cool. I never new how to get rid of the ridges on my nails and make them shiney until i read this book and used the nail buffer.This book changed a part of my life! A biiiig part. It even comes with pumic! The miracle of this rock is fantastic, it removes dead skin cells(doesn't hurt a bit) Though i should tell you, it may be kind of a challenge to find rosewater and citric acid. (i havent found it yet but i just got this book 2 days ago.) Anyway, EXCELLENT PRODUCT! a must-have for spa lovers or people who are really tense.

this book is really cool. it gives you great directions and as a whole, picks recipes that include ingredients you could find at home. it also includes essential oils and other must-haves. this book is really fun and would make a great gift.

I have to say, I'm a sucker for Klutz books. They give simple, easy to read instructions, and you get all of the supplies to do it with! How fun!
The Body Book is my favorite book of all, though. It has tons of recepies for your skin, hair, face, hands, nails, and feet. All the ingredients I have tried so far have made a signifant difference after I tried them! The book includes three essensial oil bottles, a shower cap, tools for your nails, a foot scrub, and a face brush. The pictures in the book are beautiful as well, which makes it all the more worthwile to read. Who would I suggest this book to? Girls 12 and up, teenage girls would especially love it, but I'm sure many women would too! It makes a great gift!

When OS 9 Classic was retired, it forced a radical transition to reorganize and manage fonts without the ATM.

This book is the clearest and simplest guide for OSX users to understand how font functionality has altered in the OSX environment. Also vital to crossplatform users, the author Zardetto Aker simplifies the complex nature of sharing fonts between two platform radicals (Windows and APPLE).

Those who earn their living in computer design using real world situations would benefit from buying this book.

One analogy that describes it best:

Any graphic project is like the recipe for a perfect pot of "CHILI"
FONTS are the spices going into that pot.
If you don't manage the spice in your chili, like not managing the fonts in your project .... You wind up with disaster.

MUST READING ... Zardetto Akers' Font Management in OSX takes the confusion out of the font dynamics restructured on OSX.

I love my Mac, & I love typography. What I don't love is the mind-numbing complexity of OSX's font handling. Although I don't lament the passing of the ever-crashing OS9, it's framework for fonts was beautifully simple. There's a price for progress.

This book provides what's needed to understand the foundation concepts and terminology, and to deal confidently with common font issues. Thoroughly explained, it's made apparent that the font framework of OSX is not so incomprehensible after all. For any tech-savvy graphic artist or designer, an indispensable volume for your reference shelf.

What a splendid guide! Even if you are content to use TIMES ROMAN all the time, you should still look at this book to see a model of how to write a computer guide. None of the breezy self conscious humor you find in some books (the Dummy series or Scott Kelby's otherwise informative PhotoShop books). But friendlier and more attuned to the reader's anxieties and potential mistakes than the standard dry guides (e.g. the Missing Manuals series, which are not bad). Aker seems to sense exactly what you might need to know at just the right moment, but yet does not overwhelm you without a lot of detail all at once.

I recently switched from a PC (since 1980)to Mac, which is as everyone said so much more elegant, stable and better in almost every respect. But the font system is just as complicated and eccentric in OS X as in Windows XP. You need to do some housekeeping even if you are not a font maven. Follow the steps carefully laid out in Chapter 2 (rather tedious but precise), and your system will run more smoothly and you will know a lot about where your fonts are, and how to keep them behaving well.

I am almost never moved to write reviews here, and certainly not of computer books. But this is an exceptional contribution.

Face it - you'd think just putting your fonts in the FONT folder would be sufficient. But, strange things do happen. And, for me it is never at a good time. Like when you upgrade Adobe CS ... which made half my fonts DISAPPEAR.
Thanks for the info and instructions about AdobeFntXX.lst alone - made this book a must have in my library.
And, that was just one small enlightened moment Aker's offered

I do graphics and own Macs from October, 1985. I passed thru all the font technologies that were done into the computer... from enlarging 72pt bitmaps and correcting them, the early times of Adobe's ATM and so on.
But --maybe I'm getting old-- with the introduction of Mac OS X, typography went almost out of control for me. Althought I do not use per se Office I need to install it to open others files... and it destroy any organizated fonts folders that you had managed,
Then, in a desperate move, I bought Zardetto's book!
And everything came back to order: clear instructions lead me in a clever and consistent way. I confess I did it twice. First time I said myself: "I'm an old macintoshian..." But then I realized that following the step-by-step instructions was more inteligent. Then, with everything in order, I was back "in control".
So, my advice --for newbies and oldies-- follow the instructions and then personalize your fonts. OK, first buy and read the book!

Thought provoking and worth the read. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a better way.

Steps Into Light is beautifully written and easy to read. Pamela's story is truly inspiring, a testament of how we can heal when we "step into the light".

I don't usually read books on these topics, but because I know one of the co-authors, I was curious. And it was well worth reading. Just as it's important for your mental health to take a vacation periodically, it's important to read something you wouldn't usually, just to get a fresh perspective on life. I can highly recommend this book for that purpose. It's full of useful ways to look at things differently and can expand and enlighten your outlook on life. Take a vacation, read this book. And like a good vacation, you'll be sorry to leave and look forward to returning.

Steps into Light is an easy to read book. I get these glimpses of "I know that to be true." I use some of the techniques often.

I have read many books who don't deliver what is promised, but Steps Into the Light is filled with wisdom and guides the reader to let go of the illusions of life, the stress of life, and the limitations of life and step into a new way of looking. This book touches something very deep withing us and moves us to become all we were meant to be. I love the questions and the insights! Congratulations Malissa on writing a Stellar Book! Ken D Foster, Author - Ask and You Will Succeed: 1001 Ordinary Questions to Create Extraordinary Results (Ask and You Will Succeed)

The 1960's are before my time, but I still enjoy looking at stuff like this. My mother used to save EVERYTHING. She had NEW (never used-still in the packaging) gift wrap paper that I knew even when I was a kid that it was from the '60s (I was familiar with the styles). I guess she figured that she may need it one day (who knows), but I thought it woefully out of style! Other things of that era were saved in our household. I always enjoyed them. I found them to be cute and sweet and colorful, too. I also love the late '60's and early '70's.

I love this book because I am extremely nostalgic. It may appeal to other people for the same reason. As an artist, I also like to have wonderful reference books about art! I don't believe that anyone would be disappointed in this book if he or she has it for those reasons.

One more thing: I am also extremely amazed that the person who put this book together would be able to find such wonderful samples. Wow!

A perfect little coffee table art book. Lots of great, colourful scans and not much annoying text...unique and fun!

this book is amazing! i don't know how they found all these incredible patterns! the book is just jam packed with those fun wrapping papers from the 60's. a great gift for any pop-arty design fan!!!

I hardly ever write a review here, but I ordered this book for myself for Christmas 2005 and have been looking at it probably weekly since then. As a 43 year old child of 1962 and collector of everything 1950s, 60s, and 70s, this book brought SUCH a smile to my face when I initially flipped through it and has continued to bring joy. For those of us who truly relish images/graphics/design styles from our past -- feed your brain with THIS book and feel your dopamine and serotonin levels spill all over themselves as you take that trip down memory lane into Christmases, birthdays, and baby/bridal showers past! Then, buy a copy for all of your retro type friends!

This book will bring back so many memories. If you're 40 something, you'll want a copy for yourself, one for your parents and more for your 40-something friends. It's a scrapbook of the groovy generation and the perfect gift for the person who thinks he has everything! All Wrapped Up is a gorgeous book. My kids loved looking through it. It sparked a lot of conversation about what it was like to live in the 1960's.

You'll not only remember every birthday you had in the 60s but you'll start to remember songs you forgot, commercials you saw on television and the gifts you received. This wonderful book is a treasure.

Michelle Akers is the example of what persitence can do for you in any area of your life. We are taken into her world and shown what the career of an athlete entails. I was presently surprise to not be hit over the head with a sermon of why I should be Christian. In this book metaphors can be drawn and you can take her inspiriation to apply it to your daily life. An easy read and you don't have to believe in Jesus to love this book!!
I reccommend this book!!!

I play select and I alway enjoy reading books on awsome soccer players. When my friend told me about this book I jumped at the oppertunity to read yet another soccer book. I read it and couldnt put it down. As a Catholic I diffently could relate and found it pretty cool we share the same faith.
It was a very good and inspiring book! IM GONNA BE THE NEXT MICHELLE AKERS SO WATCH OUT AMERICA CUZ HERE I COME!!!

Michelle Akers writes a truly inspirational story. As you read The Game and the Glory you feel as if you know Michelle personally. The book is easy to relate to because she tells her story on such a personal level. We see Michelle grow through her relationships, her spirituality, her CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome), and of course soccer.
Michelle is honest about the carefree wonders of childhood. She tells about two of her childhood dreams: One of being the next Mean Joe Green of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the other dream of being an Olympian. Although, for Michelle, childhood is not always carefree dreams. When she is only in the sixth grade, she struggles to understand the reason behind her parents' divorce. Ironically, even Michelle herself cannot believe when she goes through her own divorce. Michelle, with the guidance of a few friends and through her struggles, finds a relationship that will help her cope with all of her problems.
As a child Michelle always found mass to be boring and going to church on Sunday was never something to look forward to. It is not until Michelle is in high school, with the guidance of a teacher, that she truly finds a relationship with God. However, she gets distracted from this newfound relationship quite soon. After her divorce, Michelle realizes that there is something missing from her life: God. She turns to God at this point in her life, and this time she holds on to what she has found. Michelle promotes her Christianity in a way that no one else has ever done. She founds an organization called the Soccer Outreach International. An organization to promote Christianity in sports especially soccer. Michelle did not only turn to God for answers about relationships and soccer, but also about her CFIDS.
Not long after her World Cup experience in 1991, Michelle begins to suffer from CFIDS. However, Michelle is not diagnosed with CFIDS until 1994. From 1991 to 1994 she did not know exactly what was causing her to feel always fatigued and never well. Michelle has done what no other athlete that competes at the level she competes at has done. She played while suffering with CFIDS. This truly shows her unstoppable compassion for the game.
Michelle played many sports as a child, but soccer was her first true love. When she was only nine years old she attended a soccer camp. During the soccer camp she competed in a juggling contest to see who could juggle for the longest. Michelle stayed out at the field juggling for hours without once loosing control of her ball. The camp director stayed and counted her 5,392 touches, which shattered the previous record set by boy who went on to play collegiate soccer at Duke. This is only one of the amazing stories about Michelle and soccer. Through soccer Michelle has traveled to many countries around the world and established lifelong friendships. She is an original member of the first United States Women's National Soccer Team of 1985. With the National Team she has won many individual awards and is a 1991 World Cup Champion, a 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist, and 1999 World Cup Champion. Michelle admits that God has carried her through it all and without Him she would have never accomplished everything that she has.
It is amazing to think of how great a person she is and how truly human she is. Michelle has accomplished so much for women's soccer. She opened up a new door for girls around the U.S. by using her position as the best women's soccer player to promote the sport. She is one of the reasons that women's soccer become an official Olympic sport. Michelle is a role model to many not only as a world class soccer player but also through her display of Christianity in her every action. In reading her story I have learned that sometimes you just have to "show up" and let God take care of the rest.

I know I would love this book even if the writing sucked, which it doesn't...it's beatiful. Still, I'm bias. Michelle has been my role model as a soccer player for years, and I've always her respected her deep faith in Jesus Christ. I'm Catholic. I think Michelle's faith is wonderful, after all she has been through. And the fact that she is grateful for her suffering makes her, in my eyes, a true follower of Jesus.

You will enjoy the thoughts of this excellent (tough as nails) soccer player, and Christian who inspires many others who share her faith. Go USA!

PS. Since this book was written, Michelle has retired.

This is a great book for a young girl because it feels like Michelle is talking to you. I felt like I was her best friend, because I could relate to her family situation, and like her, I'm a tomboy. I don't care for soccer, but now I have a giant Michelle Akers poster hanging in my room, and I feel like I know her well even though I've never seen her play. I recommend this to any girl, ages 8-15.

The start of the book was slow but necessary to get some background into the characters that populate the book. Then, things really start to take off. 1/3rd of the way through, I could not put it down.

As a Texas genealogist, I found this book really compelling. As I read through it, I surfed over to Ancestry.com to pull the 1920 census from Freestone county Texas. This helped to flesh out the characters all the more. I was amazed to learn that of the sampling of the census records I reviewed (2 of 10 districts) over half of the inhabitants were black or latino. This points up another injustice that is often overlooked historically: These were taxpayers that were supporting the government that was hobbling them in every way.

While some may be amazed at what "God fearing" citizens would do in a mob, I, for one am not. I am never amazed at the violence perpetrated by our White fore fathers though I am often saddened. A land born of blood will take a very long time to shed itself of that origin. We can't do it over night and it seems as though a couple of hundred years won't be enough time either.

Kudos to Mr Akers on his well researched work.

Much of what is taught of Texas history in schools points to the proud and honorable past of our state. Flames After Midnight tells of a part of our history that we are too often reluctant to relate, but a pert of our past that we should never forget. The outrage of which should never be repeated.

What can cause civil, "God fearing" citizens of a small Texas community to commit such atrocities? What can cause the breakdown of rule of law and complete abandonment of American values? What can convince individuals that it is necessary and proper to burn a man alive on the town square of their community?
This book is a reminder that hatred and evil does not just live in some foreign land or some corrupt urban metropolis. It exists down the street and may be harbored by our neighbor or our drinking buddy.
While the events of this book happened more than 80 years ago, the author conveys what we Texans know; Too many civil "God fearing" people in our communities would say "he had it comin to him".
This book is important not just to Texans but to everyone to remind us that the monster is still there and can still be awakened. This book reminds us that we must be forever vigilant, not just in a small Texas town but anywhere.

Much of what is taught of Texas history in schools points to the proud and honorable past of our state. Flames After Midnight tells of a part of our history that we are too often reluctant to relate, but a pert of our past that we should never forget. The outrage of which should never be repeated.

"Flames After Midnight" is an expertly researched and documented bit of history that reads like a suspense novel. I was so interested in the drama of the events and people that it was easy to forget it is real - its reality of course, makes the book even more important. A great read for fans of suspense and history buffs alike.

Are you ready for an eye-opener? Undivided Love is an insightful and amazing book that I recommend for every married couple or single person contemplating marriage to read. In this book you will learn what true Love is and how God designed a marriage to be. It will teach you to how to maximize your love for one another and live a satisfying life of purpose together God's way. This book has changed my attitude and expectations for the better on love and marriage.

This book DEALS with it! The author flows from a deep understanding of the Word and thus the entire book flows from principals out of the Word of God. If you want a deeper understanding of marriage and your place in that marriage--and are ready to CHANGE-- then this book is for you!

This book is a must have. For the christain married man it should strenghten your relationship with God and your spouse. Teaching you Godly principles on how a husband is to love and cherish his wife. Now for the married christain women,they should step back and take a serious look at their relationship with God and their spouse. Eventhough this book has allowed me to evaluate my relationship with God and man, it has really blessed me and I must say it has been needed for such a time as this. Thanks Courtland for allowing God to lead you to bless others.

By reading this book you will learn how to experience love and marriage the way that God intended it to be. If your single it prepares you for marriage. If your married it will definetly enhance your marriage. Either way it's a must have!

This book definitely is an example of what a Christian-based relationship or marriage entails. If you are a man, it will help build you into a stronger person according to the Christian Bible. If you are a female, well it will give you direct quotes and opinions of being submissive to your husband as it states in the Christian Bible. Eventhough, I am a seeker of Mystic Spirituality, and I was raised a Christian, I find this book to be very inspirational and a must buy and a must read for women and men before marriage while they are still in a dating situation....This book perhaps will save a marriage..