One quick note before we get started… Creative undertakings like writing a script can be helped by the tips we’re about to give, but give yourself space to find your own writing rhythm. No two Screenwriters will have the same process, and that’s okay. And in many cases, the steps we give will overlap with each other.

And with that being said, it’s also important to remember that screenwriting is a craft. So just like with any other skill, how to write a script requires education and preparation.

Frozen by the prospect of writing your script? This video offers some advice on choosing the path of least resistance to get started.

Whether you gain that learning through an institution like a film school or entirely on your own, it’s key to understand what makes a good script, as well as the tools that help it come to life.

If you want to write a screenplay, hopefully that means you love movies! Maybe there’s even a particular film or two that sparked the idea of writing your own.

Watch them again, but this time with a critical eye. Even better, if you can get your hands on the scripts of those films, analyze them from FADE IN to FADE OUT.

“Read every screenplay that you can,” encourages Soboil. “They’re all online now, so I would say whatever genre takes your fancy, go online and find those scripts and read twenty of them. You’ll see the same sort of first, second, third act structure, generally speaking. That’s really helpful with getting it inside your bones, if you will, on where those acts should fit and where those moments should fit.” 

If you’re learning how to write a script in school, you might be assigned a screenwriting book or two. If not, it becomes all the more important that you seek out these resources to learn from the experts on what makes for a great script.

Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field and Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee are two great reads acclaimed for their content and advice for Screenwriters both new and old.¹

At the end of our article, be sure to check out our complete list of screenwriting book recommendations!

Usually, aspiring screenwriters aren’t paid for their work, but they still write scripts for free that they hope to use to accomplish a goal. These are called spec scripts. But what they write depends entirely on their goal.

If your goal is to sell your script and see it on the big screen, you shouldn’t spend all your time and energy writing a sequel to an existing film or a spec for a new season of The White Lotus. It’s much better to focus on an original story you’re passionate about and you have the rights to.

Some people, however, are simply looking to kickstart their career as a screenwriter and secure a manager or an agent. Instead of writing a spec script that they want to sell, they write what’s called a sample script. These sample scripts are primarily meant to boldly show off their writing talent to managers and other industry players, even if it’s the type of script that will never sell or it’s someone else’s IP. In fact, many studio writing programs and professional workshop require aspiring screenwriters to submit sample scripts based on already existing IPs.

Screenwriter Nicolas Curcio wrote the script Barron: A Tale of Love, Loss and Legacy about the 2016 election from the point of view of Barron Trump. Though a variety of legal reasons might prevent it from ever hitting cinemas, the script was so wild and original that it made waves in the industry and ignited his professional career.

Of course, if you’re looking to simply exercise your creative muscles, then you can truly write about anything and everything! Even if you might want a professional career in the future, it’s always great training to simply write, write, and write some more.

A script has a format all its own; it is markedly different from that of a novel or other prose type of writing. For this reason, don’t make it harder on yourself by trying to format your screenplay through non-scripting programs like Word or Pages.

Instead, use software made for Screenwriters. Final Draft is hugely popular in the screenwriting world, but it’s hardly the only option. Celtx, Fade In, Highland 2, Movie Magic Screenwriter, and Writer Duet are just a few alternatives.

Many screenwriting software programs provide complimentary trial periods where you can practice with it to see if it’s the right fit for you. Explore your options to find out which program best suits your needs.

You can also get the down low on all things formatting by reading our Screenplay Format Made Simple article!

Even with screenwriting software freshly installed on your computer, knowing what all those different elements on your screen are is critical to how to write a script. Some of the most common scripting elements include:

Scene headings, or slug lines, are used to introduce each new scene. They include whether the scene takes place inside or outside, the location, and the time of day.

Action lines convey information that cannot be stated through dialog. That being said, action lines should mostly comprise of exactly that: action. Refrain except where absolutely necessary from explaining exposition or character emotion in action lines.

We need to know who’s talking, right? Hence, the inclusion of each character’s name above their dialog.

Dialogue refers to the element where a character is speaking to another character or to themselves or even the audience via voiceover. However, wordy or bland dialog can be the death of any script. Make sure each line has meaning and could only be said by the character saying it.

A Writer at times may want to include a parenthetical, which is a direction stated beneath a character’s name. While periodically vital to conveying dialog tone, parentheticals should be used sparingly, as the dialog itself should be clear enough to denote tone.

What Writer doesn’t love writing FADE OUT? It comes at the end of every screenplay, and it also happens to be an example of a transition. Outside of FADE IN and FADE OUT, however, use transitions sparingly as well. They typically stand in for editing cues, which is beyond the realm of the Writer.

Know what you want to say through your screenplay.

How can you include a theme in your script without it coming across too heavy or pedantic? This video explains.

Do you believe that love conquers all? Good always prevails over evil? There’s no place like home? Sure, a script should have an interesting setting, compelling protagonist, and dynamic conflict—as we’re about to explain!—but it always begins with the theme revealed through these elements².

Some Writers recoil from the idea of writing for a particular genre. But just how easy do you think it would be to convince a Producer or Development Executive that you have the next big sci-fi romantic horror dramedy based on a true story?

Have a favorite genre? This video explains why it could be to your benefit to stick close to it in your screenwriting work.

The point being, it’s okay to write within a genre. Especially as an emerging Screenwriter, it can be quite beneficial, as genre denotes certain elements inherent to how to write a script³.

Romances have love stories. Horror films have monsters. By choosing a genre, it can give a writer a much-needed framework for how to structure their narrative, which is a good thing.

Where in the world—real or otherwise—does your story take place?

As this video demonstrates, the locale you choose as your script’s setting can be highly important to its success.

Creating a fully dimensional and detailed setting is absolutely fundamental to how to write a script⁴. Think about it this way… When someone tells you that they’re going on a trip, what’s the first question you ask? “Where are you going?” The reason being that before you can ask why they’re going or what they intend to do, you need to know where in the world they’ll be.

With just the mention of Oz, Amity Beach, or Wakanda, many people can immediately draw up from memory these incredible and indelible worlds. But most fans of The Wizard of Oz, Jaws, and Black Panther love these films not just because of where they’re set.

Not quite sure what it means when someone mentions the story’s protagonist? Watch this video to learn about this critical character in a script.

They love them because of Dorothy, Brody, and T’Challa. The steps of how to write a script would be meaningless without creating a compelling protagonist because it is that very person who keeps audiences invested.

A protagonist does not have to be perfect. In fact, that would make for a very, very boring movie. Great protagonists come with flaws – that’s often why audiences can relate to them.

Bottom line: To keep viewers invested for the two hours they set out to devote to your movie, make sure that the protagonist is interesting enough for them to see their story through. Give them a goal to chase after and plenty of obstacles to that goal. Speaking of…

Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West. Brody and the shark. T’Challa and Erik Killmonger. What makes the journey of a protagonist compelling is watching them overcome opposition to achieve their goals. Conflict – whether in the form of a person, animal, natural disaster, internal struggle, or otherwise – is critical to a great story.⁵

Conflict might feel uncomfortable, but that’s exactly why screenplays need it! Click into this video to learn more about the importance of conflict.

How interesting would it be if Dorothy just took a nice walk with her new friends to Oz? Or if that summer at Amity Beach was uneventful with no unexpected apex predators on the loose? Not much of a story, right?

Though throwing obstacles at your protagonist might feel downright cruel towards this character you’ve created and love, it’s necessary for a captivating and ultimately satisfying narrative.

Continuing with our cinematic examples, would The Wizard of Oz be as entertaining without the Scarecrow, Tin Man, or Cowardly Lion? Would Jaws be as engaging without Quint and Hooper? Or would Black Panther be as thrilling without Nakia, Okoye, or Shuri?

Invest in your characters… all your characters. This video explains why.

A great script doesn’t necessarily need to include a huge ensemble cast, but no matter how many supporting characters you have, make sure they are as vibrant and dimensional as the central protagonist.

You have a poignant theme, a dynamic setting, a compelling protagonist, great conflict, and colorful supporting characters. Now it’s time to fit all that into a single sentence logline. Sounds impossible, but at the root of every successful script is a logline that can faithfully represent it.

It might be only a single sentence, but for many Screenwriters, the logline is even harder to write than the 100-page script! Follow along as this video breaks down this script writing aid.

Plus, what happens when that fateful day arrives of someone wanting to hear about your screenplay? What if it happens at a coffee shop, an elevator, or another impromptu location?

You can’t retell your entire script. Not only will there not be time, but also that person likely won’t want to stick around to hear the entire lowdown on your screenplay. That’s why a logline⁶ is essential to whittling down your script to a single sentence.

While a screenplay is not prose, could the story of it make sense in prose form? As you follow the steps of how to write a script, it’s easy to lose track of the fact that at its core, your screenplay is a story. Writing a treatment can help you pinpoint if that story is working on the most basic level.

A treatment is a prose retelling of your script⁷.

Treatments can provide guidance for Screenwriters, and in some cases, they might just also get someone interested enough to buy the idea! This video explains how.

The length can vary from only a few pages to a few dozen, but having this document is vital for two reasons.

One, it can help you identify where parts of your story may be lagging or not fitting into the rest of the narrative. And two, it’s an important document to have if someone wants to know more about your screenplay but is not willing to read the entire script just yet.

Attempting to write a script that may end up being between 90 and 120 pages is no small feat.

From loglines to treatments to notecards, Screenwriters often rely on a number of aids to write their stories. Learn the importance of another tool, the outline.

While all those screenwriting elements like your setting and characters and conflict might feel vivid and fresh in your mind right now, that might not always be the case. Plus, even the most accomplished Writers can forget story details or get sidetracked before even hitting page 50.

That’s where outlining comes in.

“I’m actually one of those people that does the cards,” claims Bezucha. “I have a card for every scene. I spread them all out on the floor of my apartment and I don’t proceed until I have a map of the entire road. You have to know where you’re starting and where you’re going to end. I definitely vary my route along the way, but I never start the car unless I know where I’m going.”

An outline is first and foremost a textual blueprint of how you want your story to unfold, and that blueprint comes to life through a three-act structure. Three-act structure is the industry standard because it’s proven to be a generally effective way to tell the story. That doesn’t mean a film can’t be terrible if it follows a three act structure. Nor does it mean that a script with a unique structure can’t be great. However, as some industry players swear by the structure, it’s worth at least familiarizing yourself with it.

The first act introduces the setting, the characters – and most importantly – the conflict. Act two comprises of the protagonist attempting to achieve a particular goal only to have that conflict get in the way of it. And act three shows the protagonist either succeeding or failing in their goal and the outcome that follows.

Whether it’s an executive who has agreed to read your script, or a viewer that has just clicked play on your film – first impressions are everything.

But what goes into making an impactful opening scene?

Well, for Bezucha, it comes down to the story’s tone and theme. “I definitely want something that, in a way, is going to be the whole movie in an image, or a counterpoint to a thing,” he says. “I just did this Kevin Costner movie, Let Him Go, and started with this image of horses in a barn. It’s a morning scene, and I ended with the break of dawn at the end. You want to tie things in thematically.”

But if you’re stuck on scene one, don’t stress! Malen recommends just writing something down so that you can always keep moving forward with the script, then come back to the opening once you know the story better.

He explains, “I just finished a script where, the whole time I was writing, I felt confident about the opening (because I thought it was strong comedically)… but then I got to the end and realized the main character would never have acted that way! I wound up changing it to something that I don’t think is quite as funny but works better for the movie overall.”

Within the three-act structure are the individual scenes that make up a script. While many scenes can be funny, sentimental, terrifying, or otherwise entertaining, a key question to ask is whether or not every single scene is moving the story forward.

If a scene does not help in telling the greater story, it’s not fulfilling its purpose.

Writing a script can be incredibly exciting and fulfilling, but it’s also hard work. And sometimes life can get in the way of it. That’s why like any other endeavor, goals must be set to ensure that you do eventually get to FADE OUT.

Consistency is key when it comes to screenwriting⁸. That doesn’t necessarily mean getting pages written every single day, but then it’s up to you to decide what that goal is by another metric.

How to set screenwriting goals that you can actually hit? This video shows you how.

If you can’t write every day because of work, family, or school, how many pages can you complete in a week? In a month? Holding yourself to a standard you cannot keep will result in frustration and possibly giving up altogether. Instead, create a realistic page-writing goal that will keep you motivated and on track to finish your script.

Some Writers claim that they can punch out an entire script in just a weekend. If that’s true, good for them! But that doesn’t mean you’re not a proficient Screenwriter if it takes you several weeks or months to finish your own work.

Again, what is important is setting a deadline for completing your script that is realistic–and then sticking to it.

One of the best feelings as a Writer is finishing a script. When that happens, acknowledge that incredible accomplishment… But realize that you’re not done just yet. In fact, as the saying goes, writing is rewriting.

Rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite some more! Find out why editing is so essential to creating a successful screenplay.

Revisions aren’t just a recommended step of how to write a script – they’re essential to it. No matter how many screenplays you’ve written or times your films have been produced, no first draft is a final draft.

Soboil urges writers to put their script away for a few weeks before sending it out. She explains, “No matter how long it took you [to write], if you take a week away, you’re going to thank yourself later. I know from years of experience doing this personally. I would be so excited that I finished a screenplay that I’d send it to everybody – Managers, Agents, and Producers. After a week I’d look at it again, see all these things I wanted to fix, and think: ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I just did that.'”

Even if you have to put your initial draft away for a while, know that revising a script is part of crafting a stellar screenplay.

Writing a script can feel incredibly insular at times. And while no one can write that screenplay for you, a few trusted individuals can prove integral to making it better.

Got notes on your script? This video talks about how to tackle them.

You don’t have to get feedback from everyone from your mother to your neighbor to your best friend. In fact, it’s probably better not to ask those so close to you that they may not be candid for fear of hurting your feelings. But in finding a handful of reliable and honest individuals with knowledge of the craft, you can get valuable feedback on what to improve within your script⁹.

“Get in a writer’s group,” urges Soboil. “Find people whose writing you love, because if you don’t, it’s hard to have them give you notes. Ultimately, find your tribe that you can grow up with. These people you meet at the beginning of your career are the same people you’re going to know in twenty years who are making movies.”

The best way to become a competent Screenwriter is to write. As another saying goes, practice makes perfect. Reviewing well-written produced screenplays can likewise give you insight into how to create your own masterpiece.

But it can be immensely helpful to read screenwriting books as well if you’re just starting out or need a fresh perspective on the craft.

Some recommended books include:

• The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting by Jill Chamberlain
• Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field
• Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: How We Mad a Billion Dollars at the Box Office and You Can, Too! by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon
• Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting by William Goldman
• Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee
• The Hollywood Standard: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style by Christopher Riley
• Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder
• The Screenwriter’s Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script by David Trottier
• The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler

Don’t let this list intimidate you!

You don’t have to go out and buy each one of them. That being said, even if you decide to read just one or two of the books on this list, you’ll find them incredibly informative – and possibly even inspiring!

Sitting down to create a screenplay can be a truly thrilling moment. But without having in hand the proper steps of how to write a script, it can quickly become a confusing, frustrating, and disheartening experience. By not just accepting but rather embracing the process of it, it can become a far more satisfying undertaking with ultimately greater results.