welcome to the world of professional script writing

So you're ready to write, you've got the itch you can't wait to scratch, you've caught the contagious writing bug, but how do you transfer those skills into a screenplay? Maybe you've had an idea that's been on your mind for some time, or just want to have a try to see if you can write a screenplay for fun. Maybe writing a short film, just to get the idea out of your head, is on your bucket list or has always been a hobby you'd like to start. For whatever reason your here I am so happy you have found this blog and I will do everything in my power to help you achieve what you have kindly dedicated your time here to doing.

Before you begin your journey, you will need some basic tools to get you started. These will help structure your ideas in a way you can clearly organise and transfer onto paper.

Firstly you will need the proper online resources.

STEP ONE: PROGRAMMES

To start crafting your script you will need to structure them properly. The script writing programme used by professional screenwriters for TV and Film, including Guillermo Del Toro and George RR Martin, is-

• FINAL DRAFT PRO

You can go to the website by clicking on the hyperlink above. The latest version is Final Draft 11. This programme can be expensive, however for $249.99 or £198.18 British sterling it is one of the best available script writing platforms on the market. This programme includes professional script writing templates tailored for Warner Brothers, BBC and Universal. The only template not included in this package is for writing radio. If you are a student you can also use your student discount on the final checkout. Student discount is 30%.

However, if this price has you reeling don't be dissuaded. There are free script writing software available such as :

• Celtx

The best programme seconded to Final Draft is Celtx. This programme includes audio script writing platforms also recognised by BBC and can be downloaded for free. A list of Celtx free features are included below.

Celtx Free Features (Basic Plan) :

• The basic online script editor
• Editing script files
• Unlimited script page count
• Notes
• Media
• Printing, exporting, and PDF generation
• Read-only Script History

File importing

• A maximum of 3 projects (including items in the Trash)
• Limited project-level sharing with other Celtx users
• Mobile syncing (all iOS/Android apps are now free!)
• Read-only production files (all non-script files will be read-only, but retain any work done in trial. They will also be printable)

WritersDuet is very reliable but can be difficult to navigate. Unlike Celtx or Final Draft, which primarily can only be used on computer platforms, WritersDuet can be accessed on any device including Phone, IPad and Macbook. You can go to the free download page by clicking on the links above. However be warned, WritersDuet will only let you write up to three scripts free. After that they will ask for a lifetime premium license of $159 or £125.81 to use their full line of writing features. If you do want to choose this option here is a list of what you will receive for your money.

Here's a brief rundown of the WriterDuet Pro features:

• Desktop application
• Dropbox and Google backups
• Customisable PDF watermarks
• Pin drop and typewriter mode
• Save unlimited scripts
• Write online or offline
• Auto-save to your hard drive
• Script statistics and reports
• Search and export drafts from any point in history
• Real-time collaboration

Other programmes which are less used by screenwriters but still good and affordable are:

• FADE IN
• Studio Binder
• Movie Magic Screenwriting
• Highland 2

However these packages are fairly limited unless you are willing to pay extra for certain system privileges

Another option you could use which would not require you to have a backup form of script storage, such as a flash drive or online archive such as Dropbox, would be to sign up to -

• Amazon Storywriter

This online resource allows you to write and store your screenplay on your own free Amazon account, import scripts from external sources, share scripts digitally with collaborators and receive tutorials on how to use the programme to the best of its ability.

This is a great free way of combining your storage and writing options online whilst being able to access your work anywhere on any device. However you can only read your scripts on phone or IPad. Also be warned, this software does not offer as many format options as Final Draft and Celtx.

If your a filmmaker director or producer learning screenwriting to create and manage your own projects, I would recommend joining the online film project manager...

• Studio Binder

This is a fantastic creators platform and you can sign up completely free! However this site is aimed more at production companies or small indie collectives who are creating their film projects and want to organise every aspect of the production. This means other features can sometimes lose out including the screenwriting forum.

The screenwriting software supplied by Studio Binder is not as in depth as other professional writing programmes but offers a brilliant work space for any writer wanting to cross into the production side of making their films. It has many free features you can use to your advantage including templates for professional treatments, tv bibles, shot list planners and more. It also has an option to share your treatments and invite treatments from other writers if you are working in a group. Studio Binder offers a free CRM filter system too, so you can easily send mass emails to multiple people who are part of your project. Included in your free subscription are a range of helpful tutorial videos on the Studio Binder web page and YouTube channel. You can find these by clicking HERE to help you get started.

If you do choose this platform to create your scripts online I would suggest signing up to one of Studio Binders basic plans in order to access their full line of features. This gives you a lot more freedom, and if you want to sign up to a monthly plan you can try and test the system to see if it's for you without having to make a yearly commitment. Studio Binder has a downloadable app so you can also keep track of your scripts on your phone.

Studio Binder is divided into three separate subscriptions. You can either sign up for a monthly subscription, or a yearly subscription. If you sign up to a yearly subscription you can save 15%.

So for a basic MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION plan you will receive:

STEP TWO : PROGRAMME COMPATIBILITY

Please do make sure to check with any of the programmes listed that they can be downloaded and used on your chosen brand of computer beforehand.

In my personal experience, I went to buy a very expensive Google Chromebook only to find that when I went to download my chosen screenwriting programme (Final Draft) that Chrome Book did not support the download.

So to clear things up, here is a list of computer brands that are compatible with Screenwriting Programmes

Final Draft requires a current or recent Mac or MS Windows operating system, neither of which can be run on a Chromebook.

Celtex can be downloaded on

• Windows 10/8/7
• Windows Vista/XP
• Apple Mac- Please note this is for Macs OS X 10.3.0 or later
• Chromebook

WritersDuet can be Downloaded on

• Any Mac- You can download Writerduet in the App Store
• Windows
• Chromebook
• PC
• Android
• IOS

STEP THREE : SAVING YOUR WORK

This is a critical step in any writers life, deciding how you are going to store and organise your scripts.

You will need a reliable form of backup with a large storage capacity and ram, as your scripts are probably going to be 120 pages or more for feature films, or 30-50 pages each episode for series including re drafts.

In this day and age there are so many ways to safely access your work online anywhere at any time. The best and most reliable method of storage would be to use either one of the two online resources suggested.

Sign up to:

• Dropbox

Dropbox can be a great way to organise your projects online. This can be easily accessed anywhere and scripts can be downloaded onto Dropbox in both a pdf and raw programme form. Dropbox also gives you the option of being able to collaborate with other writers and share your work with co writers who can leave comments, highlight suggested revisions and contribute to edits.

Dropbox is probably one of the best and most reliable ways to access your work without having to worry about losing it on say a flash drive, or other external source. Final Draft is also compatible with Dropbox as an online archive. For example, if you want to work from an IPad or tablet with a bluetooth keyboard on the go, you can download the Final Draft app and work remotely by saving your work to Dropbox. However, in order to save your work properly whilst traveling you will need to have internet access which is not always reliable on the move.

Another storage platform to be used is :

• Google Drive

Google is fantastic! I use Google for mostly everything including writing my synopsis and treatments on Google Doc's, or creating pitching files on Google Slides. The down side? Unlike Dropbox if your using Celtx and try to download a raw programme file onto Google Drive your file is going to be corrupted and you wont be able to open it again without having to go through a painstaking try and fail process of downloading other apps to open the file on. However you can download Final Draft files onto drive and open them again in the Final Draft programme just fine.

I would say the best possible solution if you have opted to use Celtx is to use Dropbox so your not keeping your precious script files on your desktop, just in case you accidentally misplace your laptop, or some light fingered stranger on the train decides to steal it.

Last but not least..

• USB Flash Drives

If you do choose the more old school method of saving your work onto an external flash drive there are a few things you need to consider.

1. How much do I value my work?- If you lose this USB without making a backup you are going to have to kiss goodbye to all that hard work and start all over again

2. Has this flash drive got enough space? - When selecting a USB I would recommend using a stick with minimum 32 Gigabytes or more. Remember you are going to be storing a lot of work onto this stick. That means thousands of pages and re drafts of just one project can be enough to fill up a pen drive.

The USB's I use personally are :

• USB Verbatim 2.0 store and go slider 32GB- £14.00
• SanDisk Cruzer Blade 128GB USB- £13.69

Make sure you have a reliable USB, or you can buy multiple low grade flash drives and store individual projects on them. If you have the extra money, I would recommend as a storage solution to buy a flash drive case. You can buy one for cheap on Amazon HERE

BASIC SCRIPT STATIONARY YOU WILL NEED FOR SAVING YOUR WORK

STEP FOUR : keeping NOTES

An essential part of sourcing great dialogue is to always be aware of what's going on around you. Have you ever heard of the phrase " life imitates art?" with screenwriting this couldn't be more true.

Screenwriting is primarily dialogue based driven by character. You can find an abundance of great dialogue anywhere. For example, hearing someone tell a dirty joke on a long bus ride home, seeing a fight break out on a drunken booze up with friends, hearing the latest village gossip at a PTA meeting . This is why you should carry a notebook everywhere you go. If a line or a random piece of information really resonates with you note it down, you may be surprised where you use it later. The best dialogue for characters is organically sourced and your audience will connect more with your characters if they are in part true to life, or can be identified with.

This is a habit you should pick up but it can be difficult at first. You forget your booklet somewhere at home, or you struggle to implement it into your everyday life. But remember it only takes 21 days to make a habit. Some days the difficulty can be moral. You may ask yourself, " Is this wrong to pry into people's private life?" My honest answer? Absolutely not! You don't have to make it too obvious who you're writing about but if it's good dialogue it's good dialogue and they are giving it away for free. I can't tell you how many random conversations for my characters I have sourced from train rides, job shifts and other mundane activities made all the more interesting by the people around me.

If you would rather keep your notes digital, or you have a tendency to forget note pads, you can download a notepad from the app store. I personally use the app for my Android called Inkpad Notepad, you can download it from Google Play free. Because this app is a Google based programme, meaning if you are a Google Drive user, you can also automatically send notes to yourself over Gmail and put it into a document later. This may be a quick option for those on the go with busy lives, or if you'd rather save a little money on notepads. It can also be a more discreet way of making notes if it looks like your just typing on your phone.

STEP FIVE : RE DRAFT PAPER AND STATIONARY

Re-drafting is an inescapable truth about being a screenwriter. You are going to need a lot of paper. However, for re drafting the trick is to get organised. You may have to revise your screenplay, episode pilot, or theatre script eight to ten times before you're happy with it and that's even before an external editor gets their chubby little hands on it.

Screenwriter and black comedy legend Michael Arndt has stated that he had to re draft the script for Little Miss Sunshine 100 times before he was ready to produce it.

There is truly no rush to finish your script and no matter what you may think no one's first draft is perfect . So this is what you will need for your re drafts

YOU WILL NEED :

THE WGA ( WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA) COLOUR GRADE STANDARD IS...

STEP SIX : PRINTING

Printing has got to be the most important part of producing a professional paperback script. If you get your printing settings wrong that's valuable time, money, ink and pages wasted and you will have to start all over again.

Top Tip- When printing make sure you print only the re draft pages you will need. If you're only doing corrections this is better than printing the whole script again. You can also print on the back of each page to save paper. Vuala! Your script editing has been condensed from 120 pages to 60 ( However never submit a script printed this way! Keep this for your own use)

If you're concerned about paper and the environmental/ financial impact it will have, you can print on recycled paper. HP makes a great paper that's 30% post consumer. This paper should only be used for your printed drafts and not your final script print.

Another eco friendly option is keeping your script digital and sending your client/ commissioner a PDF version. Nowadays this is probably easier as anyone has access to a computer, phone, or tablet and PDF's can be downloaded on almost any platform.

When printing here is a check list I tend to run through in my head before pressing the oh so tempting print button

Check list:

Are my pages correctly numbered?

Is my format correct?

Can my story be polished any more before printing?

Can I shorten or polish any dialogue?

Should I print this double sided?

Can I edit through a pdf or my writing programme?

Does my title page contain the correct information needed? (I.E Re draft dates and colour code, names of collaborators etc..)

Am I being eco friendly printing this script at this stage?

The real question is, what brand of printer offers it all?

I personally use the Epson Ecotank range which varies from small, to medium, to large. My tried and tested preference is the Epson EcoTank ET-3700 Multifunction Colour Printer - 3 Years worth of ink included. For £329.98 it is an investment that will undoubtedly save you money in the future. This is a high grade printer that saves a tenth of the printing cost and offers refillable liquid ink tanks so you will no longer need to buy expensive cartridges. The print speed is fantastic! It can often take half an hour to print a full feature script, however with this printer your waiting time is cut in half. This Epson offers the works. Wifi, USB, Ethernet and Wifi direct options are included as well as Duplex printing on A4.

If the price seems a little steep for the Epson ET-3700 The slightly cheaper version is the Epson EcoTank ET-2710 Multi-Function Inkjet Printer with 2 Years Printing Included. Now for £220.99 this can still seem a little expense at first, however this printer offers the equivalent of 88 ink cartridges worth of ink included when you buy and the re fill option cuts cost dramatically. You can also scan and copy work into this printer.

STEP SEVEN : BINDING

You are going to need a reliable and neat way of keeping your script together once printed.

Now when you have done all your revisions you will need to print your finished script again on white paper. There should be no coloured revision pages in your finished script.

For binding you are going to need a triple hole punch for the edge of the left hand page and brass pin binders. Binders should be 1 1/4 inch or 31.75 mm. You can update your binding method later. For submitting this is the standard way to give a script to an editor or commissioner.

You are only going to put two of the brass binders in the top and bottom holes. The third hole is for if a production assistant want's to put your script into a production binder for reading later. You can buy brass binders in any Staples or stationary shop. I have linked them below for you to order from Amazon if needed.

STEP EIGHT : ORGANISATION

Last but not least on our agenda, organisation. This is in reference to the paperback copies of your script. For organising your hard copies I'd recommend investing in a few high quality binders and partitioners.

I cannot overstate this enough. ORGANISATION IS YOUR FRIEND! The more organised you are the easier your writing process will be. Each project file should have it's own binder, labeled properly, with a triple hole punch so you can store and come back to it later

This also helps particularly when taking on new clients. If they ask the ever so frequent question after reading one of your scripts- " What else have you got?" You can very easily and quickly present a well organised file containing everything they will need to get to know your story. This saves time on both ends and makes you look super professional. In this expedient business commissioner's love nothing more than a writer who won't waste their time.

in CONCLUSION

So to wrap it all up in a neat little bow, those are the seven steps you will need to take to complete your first script and make a strong start. I hope this article has been helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

If you need further help with your script you can also hire me to read through your script and get professional feedback and advice by contacting me HERE