When learning how to write a screenplay, one of the main challenges stems from how much information exists. You can read two guides on writing screenplays and come away with two different understandings of the process. Though there is no “right” way to write a screenplay, there are some useful tips you can put to good use when it comes to preparing your writing.

While you can easily find more than one different screenplay format and numerous tips on how to write a script, you want some useful, universal tips. These tips should make your life easier when it comes to writing screenplays. They should be the kind of tips you can repeatedly turn to for advice and insight. So, where do you start?

How To Write A Screenplay: Useful Tips You Can Always Use

Always Follow The Format

One of the first things to understand is that while different screenplay formats exist, it is better to stick to something easy for a potential script buyer to follow. As such, you should stick to the ‘standard’ screenplay format. This makes it easier for someone to read over your script and buy into what you are saying.

So, make sure that any screenplay format you write includes the following details:

· Pick a font that is accepted across the industry; most choose Size 12 font and Courier

· Clear authorship of any spoken words; make it clear who is saying what line in the script

· Add in some descriptions for dialogue, too; is the person angry? Sad? Happy?

· Descriptions of where something is happening; is it indoors? Outdoors? Where?

· Detailed descriptions of action scenes that are marked apart from dialogue

· If needed, also include ideas for potential camera angles that you feel would sell the scene

· 1 ½ inch page margins on the left and 1 inch page margins on the right-hand side

· 1 inch of white space at the bottom and the top of the page to help break things up

Stick to this particular format; you should find it much easier to create a script that people can pick up and read without any major confusion.

Create A Logline

Now that you know roughly how to create your script format, you should begin by creating a logline. What is a logline? It is a very short descriptor – probably around one sentence – that sums up what your screenplay is actually about. When learning how to write a screenplay, briefly describing the plot, or the purpose of the plot, in a sentence is very important. You can find that many screenplay producers will give up anything longer than this. Struggling with this? Look at some of our screenplay writing prompts for inspiration.

The logline should break down who the protagonist is, the plot's central point, and who, if there is one, the main antagonist will be. It’s a quick one-line teaser that succinctly breaks down the whole story. If you can describe the general point of the story, or even just the moral of the story, in one sentence, then you are pretty far along in creating content that is going to be enjoyed by a writer.

To entice someone into reading your screenplay, you need to give them a one-line explanation of what to expect going into the writing.

Develop Your Outline

One of the most important steps in learning how to write a screenplay is understanding the power of an outline. Outlines will break down the screenplay into a trio of acts. These acts usually are built around a formula of:

· Laying out the story and world of the screenplay, introducing the main characters and ideas

· Bringing in the primary conflict that is at the heart of making this story so interesting to readers

· The conclusion of the story: what happens to resolve this? Can it be resolved without issue?

Usually, your outline should be around 1-2 pages in length. It should give a pretty detailed account of the main events. The outline is important as it stops you from meandering. It also stops you from adding extra scenes and situations to the screenplay. Screenplays should often be quite brief, so you want to get to the primary point and explain everything in a way that the reader can understand. Outlines, though, will make sure that you are forced into creating a plotline that sticks to the original aim and ambition that you set out.

Write And Format Your Screenplay

Now that you have a solid outline, you should begin writing the screenplay. Some people will prefer to write a treatment first – this is like a short story equivalent to your screenplay. It should break down the story into a way that helps you determine whether or not the story is suitable for being made into a screenplay. Often, we can find ourselves writing a screenplay that, on reflection, is more suited to a different medium.

Once you have written your treatment and agree that your story is worth continuing, you should write the screenplay. However, ensure you write your screenplay in the present and avoid over-editing. Only once you have finished writing your screenplay should you go back and edit and format it according to the ideas listed above.

Make sure that you edit the screenplay once you are finished, as starting editing it now is not a wise choice. If you start editing mid-writing, you will be caught in a creative cycle that is hard to escape. Instead, focus on finishing the ‘first draft’, and then you can focus on the formatting and editing side.

Need Help Writing Your Screenplay?

Then, you can get all the help and support you need from the team at Premium Screenplay. We can provide insight, support, ideas, and even links to high-quality software that can make screenplay so much easier. There are many steps involved in writing screenplays; the above breaks down the foundations and the crucial steps needed.

Once you achieve the above, contact us for insight and advice. We can support you with writing your screenplay, provide you with feedback you can trust, and ensure you have the tools and techniques needed to make that screenplay jump off the page!