Method 1 of 5: Learning Scripting Conventions

1 Have a title page. Your script will need a title page. This will include the title and your name,
but it will also include your contact information and your agent's information (if you have an
agent).

2
Use the correct font, margins and breaks. You will need to use Courier font
(typewriter font) when writing your script. This will give it a more professional
appearance but it is also key for making it easier to read. Similarly, you should use the
correct indentations for each part of your script, as it will help the reader differentiate
between dialogue, scene description, etc.[1]

3
Give helpful details about the setting and characters. Use slug lines before each
scene. These say whether the action is taking place inside or outside, what the location
is, and if it is day or night. A character's name should go in all caps above or next to
their dialogue (depending on what you're writing for). You can also put instructions,
such as pauses, in parentheses.

4
Use the correct formatting for your intended method of presentation. If you want to
write a movie script, then you will have to write your script in that format. If you want
to write a play script, then you will have to write your script in that format. While they
are largely similar, there are distinct differences and learning them all can take time. [2]
Read lots of scripts in your intended medium to see how the pros do it.

5
Make sure you haven't written too much. Scripts usually last about one minute per
page, though there is certainly some wiggle room.[3] Scripts are not like books in that
word count is a definitive way to gauge length. Be careful.
Method 2 of 5: Developing Your Story

Formulate a premise. Write a short sentence or phrase of the fundamental concept which
drives the plot. This can be something which is the message or idea behind your story, an
extremely short plot idea, or something else to give you a goal and unifying idea to work
toward.

Create an outline or treatment. Before you begin actually writing dialog and script, it might
help to create a basic road-map/story of what will happen in your story so you don't get
sidetracked and can work out any plot holes or kinks. Sketch out a general plan and envision
how events will unfold. This should be told in the third-person.

Flesh out your story. Write the entire premise of the play, movie, etc. with lots of
details and ideas, paying no mind to style, format, repetition, or anything else that gets
in the way of your creative flow. Your finished product should cover the plot,
personalities, relationships, character arcs, and a larger point to the story. Sometimes,
drawings or diagrams may be used as a temporary storyboard to show to other persons
to demonstrate facets of your plot and characters, etc.

 Your characters should drive the action on the stage or screen, so make sure they
are interesting and innovative. It may not be necessary for you to fully develop
them right away, however, as they tend to take on lives of their own as the
script-writing continues.

4
 Trim the story down. Now that you have everything on paper, look for dead
weight, weak links, irrelevant details, over-explaining, sidetracking, elements
that drag, and anything else that weakens the overall trajectory. Be harsh; just
because you fell in love with something you worked on in the exploratory phase
doesn’t mean it should survive the revision phase.

Method 3 of 5: Improving Your Script

1
Research after writing your first draft. Watch plays, tv shows, and movies which are
similar to the work you’ve just written. Examine your own work in comparison to these
others. Do you fall into to many tropes? Is your story over done? See if you can find
ways to distinguish yourself from these works.

 Work on making profound contributions to the subject you’ve written. Take a

philosophical approach to the topic and challenge conventional ideas. This will
make your work much more engaging.
2
Simplify your writing. You don’t need overly fancy dialogue or crazy scenes to keep
your audience engaged. Much like with writing a book, our work shines the most when
we are showing, not telling. Make your character’s choices speak for them and put more
meaning into what they don’t say than what they do

3
Write the plot in script format. The exact format will vary depending on whether
you’re writing for theater, TV, or the silver screen – and in what country. (For example,
the American TV industry’s standard script format is modeled on the business plan.)
Use proper headers to introduce scenes, identify each speaker, and so on; many
production companies won’t even look at a script if it isn’t properly formatted.

 Consider purchasing script-writing software for this phase of the process. There
are several programs that will guide you through the formatting or even convert
an already-written script into the correct layout.

4
 Maintain your style. Remember, scripts are all about action and dialog. Make
sure your characters speak realistically, and try not to mix styles of speech and
vocabulary too much unless you are going for a certain effect.

Method 4 of 5: Engaging Your Audience

1
Set the scene. Don't forget to include important details such as time of day, setting, and
actions of the characters in the scene. These are nearly as important as the dialog that
occurs.

2
Describe action only briefly. Provide a sense of what’s happening on screen, but leave
it to the director to fill in the details. Writing out all of the action is not the writer’s job.
Trying to include too much of this will only leave you disappointed when things are
changed.

3
Spend a lot of time working on your dialogue. Dialogue will make or break your
characters and their relationships. What’s worse, dialogue is extremely difficult for most
people to write. To get your bearings, write down or record real conversations to see
how people really speak and which expressions they use.

 Be sure to listen to a variety of speakers to so that you can give your own
characters more flavor and individuality.
  Ensuring that different characters have their own "voice" and "persona" based on
their background will keep them from blending into one another. Remember,
their personal will affect their attitude, word choices and dialect.
 Read your dialogue aloud as you go, paying extra attention to whether or not it
sounds halting, stereotyped, over-the-top, or totally uniform.

Method 5 of 5: Finalizing Your Script

1
Edit your work. Polish it, but don't be a perfectionist; work toward perfection, not to it.

2
Show your finished work to people whose opinion you respect. Choose people who
not only come from different backgrounds and have varied personal tastes, but are also
willing to provide honest feedback.

 Don't let yourself feel insulted, controlled, upset, or angered by a critiques or

remarks; they’re opinion, not fact. Laugh and be enthusiastic about help and
advice, but weigh your critics’ opinions against your own judgment before
implementing any changes.

3
Revise your work as many times as necessary. Painful as it may be, you’ll be glad
when you’re finally able to convey your visión

Tips

 Know the type of script you're writing. If your script is a comedy, make sure that
other people think that it's funny. If you're writing a drama, make the dialogue
dramatic and gripping.

 If you’ve written a movie script, you may want to use one of the film industry's
online scouting services, to get your story and screenplay reviewed by industry
executives in a protected platform of exposure.

 A stage play should have a cover page clearly showing the title of the play, the
author of the play, and the approximate length of the play. Stage direction/other
direction is written in italics.
 If the movie you are making is a kids movie, get input from kids, not adults
because they are the ones who will be watching it!
  All scripts should contain conflict, progression and status changes, or will be
uninteresting to read or watch.

 Before pitching a screenplay, you'll want to get electronic proof-of-creation.

You can do this online.
 You may want to attend a scriptwriting class, which will give you helpful hints
on the nuances of writing a full script, especially things such as plot
development, character development, and dialog.

Warnings

 Don’t expect your very first script to get picked up right off the bat. It is a
difficult industry to make it in.
 Be patient. Writing takes time, and rushed scripts are usually subpar. If you take
your time, your script will be wonderful.
 If you would like to have your script performed on stage or screen, you will
need to contact an agent who can help you send it to the necessary people
(producers and directors). It is often a long and arduous process to get a script
accepted, so be patient.

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