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Writing a Script: The Fundamentals for Creating a Compelling Story

Young man at cafe writing a script on his laptop

Author: Ari Eisner

Last updated: Apr 26, 2023

Reads: 6,470

Ari Eisner is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and content creator, professionally active in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. He’s worked as a Writer, Director, Producer, Narrative Designer and Creative Director across a range of mediums.
FULL BIO

  1. Introduction
  2. Script Fundamentals
    1. Sluglines
    2. Action Lines
    3. Introducing Characters
    4. Dialogue
    5. Parentheticals
    6. Camera Angles
    7. Transitions
  3. How to Write a Script
    1. Let An Idea Spark
    2. Start With A Logline
    3. Build An Outline
    4. Create A Treatment
    5. Write The Script
    6. Rewrite
    7. Study The Greats
  4. Summary
  5. FAQ
  6. References
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People also ask

  1. What are the 5 basic elements of a script?
  2. What are the 6 basic steps in writing a script?
  3. How do you start writing a script?
  4. What is the format of a script?
  5. Can anyone write a movie script?

No matter the size of the production, the scope of the work involved, or the details needed to roll cameras, nothing happens until a screenplay is completed and ready to shoot.

Scripts are the backbone of movies and television production.

Script Fundamentals

How do you start writing a script?

Ari Eisner (CareersInFilm)

All scripts start with two things – an idea behind a story and a desire to tell that story. Getting started is literally a matter of how much you want to write a screenplay.

Everyone’s got an idea (or in some cases, several ideas) for a movie and/or TV show. But how do you transfer something from a nebulous idea to a concrete screenplay? There are many elements to a screenplay, from both technical and creative standpoints. Let’s start with the technical aspects…

What is the format of a script?

Ari Eisner (CareersInFilm)

There’s an Industry standard professional template for scripts that’s best to follow when you’re writing. Feature screenplays tend to run from 90-120 pages (following the general rule that one page equals – on average — one minute of screen time). They’re written in courier 12pt font and printed on 8 ½”x11½” white paper. Page margins should have a 1½-inch margin on the left of the page, a 1-inch margin on the right of the page, and 1 inch of white space on the top and bottom of the page. Page numbers should appear in the upper right corner of every page (with the exception of the first). Title pages contain the work’s title, the author’s name and their representation (if applicable).

Beyond the clinical aesthetics of script templates and what the page should look like, there are several elements that go into writing a screenplay accurately. Let’s get into some of those fundamentals…

What are the 5 basic elements of a script?

Anna Keizer (CareersInFilm)

When writing a script, certain elements are essential for putting together a story that can one day translate into a successful film:

  1. Crafting characters. Who are we following? Why do we care about them? What about them is keeping us invested for two hours or more? A script first and foremost must have interesting, dynamic characters whose story we want to know and see to the end.
  2. Giving them a want. Audiences most identify with characters who want something. Maybe it’s a new job. Perhaps it’s a healthy relationship. Whatever that want or goal is, make sure it’s clear and compelling. And don’t forget to do the same for everyone else in your story! From your antagonist to supporting characters, give everyone something to chase after.
  3. Outlining plot. Maybe your protagonist wants a lazy, quiet afternoon on the couch to read a book. Well, that’s not going to make for a very interesting story if that’s exactly what they get to do in the film. Instead, have a plane crash into their living room. Or space aliens that abduct their dog. Or something, anything, that gives the protagonist something to do as they try to get their want. A story must always have a plot!
  4. Building a structure. In the world of screenwriting, a three-act structure is commonly used to get audiences interested in the story and invested enough to follow it through its entire trajectory. That means starting with an introduction to our characters and their wants, the journey of them struggling to get to their goals, and finally the ultimate climax that reveals whether or not they’re successful.
  5. Infusing conflict. If an audience is invested in a character, they typically root for them and hope that they will attain their goal. But nothing’s more boring than a protagonist who gets everything they want with ease. That’s why screenplays need conflict. Yes, as the Screenwriter, you might develop a soft spot for your characters and not want them to go through danger or despair, but that’s what makes their success at the end so satisfying! (Or their failure that much more heartbreaking.) So push aside your protective instincts and make sure your characters endure plenty of conflict before getting to their goal.

Sluglines

Sluglines are also known as “scene headings” and they exist to establish if the scene takes place interior or exterior, their location, and the time of day. They’re always presented in all caps with interior or exterior denoted as either “INT” or “EXT”.

A sample slugline would read as “EXT. PLAYGROUND – DAY”

Action Lines

Action lines are straightforward sentences (or sentence fragments) that define what’s happening in your scenes. They describe the locations, characters and actions as it plays out (they’re always written in present tense). From a formatting standpoint, action lines align with the left margin of the page.

Introducing Characters

A screenplay’s characters get introduced in action lines. Their names should always be capitalized the first time they appear on-screen. This can be followed by a concise description of them (age, gender, outstanding physical attributes and maybe a quick word on their personality). Again, remember to keep these descriptions brief – the momentum of your script depends on that.

Dialogue

Dialogue includes all spoken words in your screenplay. Center and capitalize the name of the character speaking. Underneath the character’s name is where the dialogue itself is placed. Sample dialogue looks like this…

BILL
The floor is slippery.

For characters who are off-screen but can still be heard by an audience, place an (O.S.) to the right of the speaking character’s name. Use (V.O.) for characters who are speaking in voice over. The difference here is that an off-screen character is still inside the same space as everyone else in the scene (they’re just not visible on-screen), while a character using voice over is speaking from another time and location.

Parentheticals

Sometimes you’ll need to be specific about ways certain lines of dialogue should be delivered. Words and phrases can often have clouded, multiple meanings and parentheticals are a way to clarify your intent as the writer. Parentheticals can often add meaning, depth, and clear direction to a speech (or even solitary word). They’re placed directly between the character’s name and the dialogue they’re speaking. They look like this…

BILL
(terrified)
The floor is slippery.

Note how that single parenthetical can change the emotional feel to the entire scene. But be judicious in how often you use parentheticals, it’s your job to tell the story, not necessarily direct the on-camera talent.

Camera Angles

Although these should generally be avoided (as it’s the director’s job to place and move the camera), sometimes using a camera angle is necessary to convey a specific story point or reveal. When used, camera angles are written as action lines.

Transitions

Transitions denote changes between scenes. They’re always capitalized (FADE IN, FADE OUT, etc.) and can be used for dramatic, as well as narrative effect (for example, SMASH CUT TO).

What are the 6 basic steps in writing a script?

Anna Keizer (CareersInFilm)

As you progress in your screenwriting career, you will inevitably find a system that works for you in terms of how to write a script. Because with rare exception, no one just sits down and starts typing out a screenplay.

Not all of the following elements may remain a part of your personal screenwriting process, but if you’re just starting out, it’s important to understand how each of these elements can help in your writing journey:

  1. Logline. A logline is a single-sentence distillation of your script. Yes, it’s a tall order to whittle down a 100-page screenplay into one sentence, but a successful logline can be an invaluable reminder of what your story is really about and staying true to it as you write.
  2. Outline. An outline gives you the space to more thoroughly write out what happens in your script. It may contain important bits of dialogue here and there, but generally an outline will focus on each scene as a whole and what happens in each of them. In short, the outline will highlight the main action and plot of the screenplay.
  3. Treatment. At the end of the day, your script is a story, so you should be able to retell it as one. A treatment offers the opportunity to explain your narrative in a more conventional format – present-tense prose – that you can again use as a blueprint for your longer script.
  4. First Draft. Now it’s time to actually write your script! Don’t get too hung up on doubts about dialogue, action, or other details. Just get it out. That’s why the first draft is often referred to as a “vomit draft.” Don’t worry. The edits will come!
  5. Formatting Corrections. Your software program will likely provide a robust framework for your script. Many of them do the heavy lifting for you as it concerns format, but you should still go over your script with an attentive eye to correct any formatting errors. Especially if you intend to send out your script to a Producer or Executive who may have the power to option, buy, or produce it, you don’t want easily fixable formatting errors to be the reason they pass on it.
  6. Edited Draft. A first draft is never a final draft. It’s often recommended that you put away your first draft for a few days, weeks, or even months so that you can return to it with fresh eyes. However, you must return to it.

Some Screenwriters prefer to make holistic changes to the script with each editing pass by simply correcting or addressing any element of it that they bump on while rereading it. Others alternately will choose specific elements like dialogue or action lines to tighten up for a particular pass. It’s up to you to use the method that works best, just make sure that editing is always part of your screenwriting process!

How to Write a Script

So now that you’ve got the nuts-and-bolts basics of how to properly format a script, it’s time to start thinking about actually writing one! Ready? Of course you are (why else are you reading this?). We just need to break down the process to make things a bit more manageable…

Let An Idea Spark

We all have stories to tell. So what’s the one you’re really wanting to tell at this moment? The one inside you that’s just screaming to be made? Why do you want to tell it? The answers to these questions will help craft a launching point for your story.

Start With A Logline

A logline uses carefully (and effectively) chosen wording to break a script idea down to one or two sentences (but no more than that). Here, because you’re using so few of them, it’s vital to make every word count.

A great example of a logline is the one for BACK TO THE FUTURE and it goes like this – “A teenage boy time travels to the past, where he must reunite his parents before he and his future cease to exist.”

Easy, right? Now you try with yours. Make sure to include your protagonist, their goal and the story’s central conflict. Keep the logline visible in your working space as you move into next steps, it’ll serve as a helpful guide if you get stuck on a story point.

Build An Outline

Multiple Academy Award winning writer William Goldman said it best, “Screenplays are structure.” Movies tend to follow a three act narrative. Put simply, it’s a story told with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Another way to look at it is setup, confrontation, and resolution. Outlining is arguably the most crucial part of the writing process. It’s when the map through the jungle is essentially drawn, ideally creating a clear beginning-to-end path for the author to follow.

Create A Treatment

A treatment is the outline written out in story form. Broken down into paragraphs, treatments should read like fast-moving short stories, steadily fleshing out the beats and moments you established in your outline. The document should be an engaging read and give your audience (and you) a complete sense of the movie (from overall story to character to genre to tone) you’re putting together. With that in mind, detail the treatment as much as you need to convey your intent.

Write The Script

This is the step where the rubber meets the road. Time to put your pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) and start executing all the story elements you’ve been building in your treatment and outline and lay them out in screenplay form. A few writing tips to keep in mind as you move forward… remember to enter scenes late and leave them early. Also, it’s always better to show than to tell. Keep the writing in the present tense. And finally, don’t get bogged down with details; let the story flow. You’ll have lots of opportunities to rework things. So let’s gets into that now…

Rewrite

And rewrite. And then rewrite some more. This stage is arguably the most crucial when it comes to script development. Scripts can often go through dozens of revisions and rewrites before they’re put into production. Some landmark films such as CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, AVENGERS, and WHEN HARRY MET SALLY 2 all went through significant screenplay changes before they were eventually turned into the films we all know and love so well.

Study The Greats

From Billy Wilder to Joel and Ethan Coen to William Goldman to Nora Ephron to Woody Allen, it would behoove any writer to study the works of the masters. A number of their screenplays can be found here.

But don’t just read these scripts; study them. Break them down into components. Analyze why certain events happen when they do and why certain characters behave in specific ways. Soon, structures and themes will become clear. You’ll get a thorough understanding as to why the work is so terrific. This could prove to be an invaluable tool when it comes to your own writing.

Can anyone write a movie script?

Ari Eisner (CareersInFilm)

Absolutely. Script writing doesn’t require any type of degree or technical know-how. With writing, it’s all about finding the idea and then deciding on the best story and characters to express that idea. All you have to do is want to do it.

Summary

Scripts are the basis for the creative vision behind every movie and TV show. Understanding not just how to professionally format them, but how and why they work on contextual and subtextual levels will guide you towards creating your own, sold and produced work.

FAQ

What is the format for writing a script?

Anna Keizer (CareersInFilm)

Writing a script requires a format unlike any other used for storytelling. A screenplay in and of itself is not the desired end result. Rather, it’s a blueprint that Screenwriters, Directors, Producers, and other Filmmakers hope will one day be produced and made into a movie.

For this reason, a script’s format must explain to any person who might be involved with a future production how the story will be shot from scene to scene. That is why a script format includes scene headings, action lines, character names, dialogue, transitions, and other elements that help to describe what is happening in each scene.

  1. 1. "10 Screenwriting Lessons From William Goldman". Screencraft. published: November 19, 2018. retrieved on: April 2023
  2. 2Sherlock, Ben. "10 More Movies That Drastically Changed From The Original Script". Screenrant. published: May 9, 2021. retrieved on: April 2023
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