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Kill the Dog

The First Book on Screenwriting to Tell You the Truth

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Kill the Dog

By: Paul Guyot
Narrated by: Paul Guyot
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Kill the Dog is the first book on screenwriting written by an actual working professional screenwriter. Award-winning screenwriter Paul Guyot exposes the lies other screenwriting books have told, and presents authentic, essential instruction and motivation for anyone wanting a career as a professional screenwriter. This book provides all the answers, from what producers and studios actually want, to what makes one screenplay better than another, to why so many have been doing it wrong for so long. The author takes us inside the exclusive members-only world of professional screenwriters, from television writers rooms to meetings with producers and studio executives, to facts about formatting, structure, craft, art, and voice.

Every aspect of screenwriting is covered with an authority and credibility never seen in any book to come before. Told with honesty, humor, and vulnerability from the real-world perspective of a working, professional screenwriter, Kill the Dog reveals the secrets of what it takes to have a successful career as a Hollywood screenwriter.

©2023 Domestique Inc. (P)2023 Domestique Inc. Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Screenwriting Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing Inspiring Witty Thought-Provoking Fiction
Practical Writing Advice • Authentic Industry Insights • Inspirational Narration • Liberating Creative Approach
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Must read for screenwriters especially aspiring ones. Informational, impactful and motivating. Guyot bravely lifts the curtain as a true screenwriting professional

Truth shall set you free

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This book spoke to me in a way that few others have. After consuming numerous books on the subject I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed. Kill the Dog eliminated the barrier and after reading it I wrote my first scene. My thanks to Paul Guyot!

Experienced wisdom full these pages

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As a learning screenwriter it’s so refreshing to hear somebody say, write it your way. It’s the most honest advice I’ve received. The book is also quite entertaining and I enjoyed listening to the audiobook, as it felt like Listening to a friend in the car. if you’re my screenwriter, this is a must read/listen!

So Very True

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I loved the candor about the inner workings of the industry. While structure, the noun, is discussed, this book is more about the actual process of writing for film and TV from someone who has actually done it for a lot of years.

Right up there with William Goldman’s “Adventures in the Screen Trade” with plenty of recent examples.

A must read/listen for any screenwriter and/or filmmaker!

No BS, if you only read one book about screenwriting this year, this should be it!

Just buy it.

It’s all the stuff no one talks about!

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There’s something wonderful about a glimpse into how someone works and goes about their craft. Particularly when you can hear them read the book in their own voice. I particularly enjoyed learning about his process and what the life of a professional writer is like. I got so much out of the book that I told all of my writer friends about it before even finishing it. Thanks so much for writing this book and sharing your stories.

A Real Straight-shooter on Screenwriting

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Great book, felt like he was talking directly to me. A lot of wake up calls in this book and some helpful suggestions towards the end. But mostly like a slap to the face - write!

Encouraging

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insights, with humor and practical approaches. very helpful writing exercises and read list. read on

honest and to the point

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I can’t begin to tell you how meaningful and explosively powerful this book is. After trying to write and being restrained by all the “rules” I’m thankful to Paul for telling the truth and just setting the record straight. I can’t wait to read the other books he recommended as well as writing with a New perspective. A must read for anyone who wants to become a screenwriter or any writer for that matter.

Absolutely liberating!

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I will start by saying there is a lot of good and practical advice here. It is worth a listen. However, it did feel, at times, like the author was trying hard to convince you that all the “other” advice out there is wrong, which I don’t totally agree with. I think the big things to remember here are to take all advice (including this book) with a grain of salt while also being open to what others have to offer on the subject. There is no single person who can tell you how best to approach your stories and writing. There is no single person who can hand you the winning ticket. However, I personally believe there’s a lot of little nuggets of gold you can piece together by being open to ALL “how-to” books like this. So, yeah, I picked out things that made sense to me from this book and let the rest of it go. That being said, I totally agree with the author when he says to write to find your voice. Like I said, there’s some great things here; just don’t buy into everything else being totally wrong.

Some good advice but sometimes feels like it tries too hard to convince you all other ideas are wrong

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This is going to be a classic text for screenwriters. Guiot imparts a lot of solid knowledge about both the art and business of writing screenplay, but best of all is that he manages the amazing trick of giving you a brutal reality check on how much you must work to succeed while simultaneously making you feel you really can get there. This screenwriter is an honest and generous soul.

In my headline I mention disagreement. What I have in mind is that I don’t fully buy his near total dismissal of the study of story structure. There’s no way many of the great screenplays out there weren’t in part constructed with planning and analysis, although I’m sure that often happens during the many rewrites Guiot urges us to prepare for. He repeatedly underlines how it’s not this or that theory but that it’s THE WRITING that matters, and of course that’s true, but THE WRITING surely can include deliberate work on structure and theme. To me, that sounds like a romantic simplification. Would you tell a painter not to bother with composition, color theory, perspective, and anatomy, because what matters is THE PAINTING? Yet, I acknowledge that this excellent man knows much more than I and so I share this doubt in full awareness I may be partly or entirely wrong, and even if I’m right, Guiot’s emphasis on practicing the actual craft of writing and writing and writing is still a beautiful, inspiring, and necessary thing. I’ll be rereading this book soon. My strongest recommendation.

Even the few things I disagreed with I was still inspired by

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