How To Write A Screenplay

If you want to learn how to write a screenplay you must first understand that it is unlike any other types of writing you may be familiar with. Even if you have written books or other narrative forms, screenwriting is a completely different animal. That said, it can be one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can ever do. My advice it not to get overwhelmed and remember that writing is rewriting. Just relax and tell a story that you are proud of. Below is a list of 20 steps that will help you on your journey as a screenwriter. I hope they help!

1. Why do you want to write a screenplay? Seriously. Is it because you have a great story that you’ve always wanted to tell? Is because you want fame and fortune (hey, that’s okay so long as you can back it up with talent and dedication), or do you just want a challenge? No matter what you want to achieve in life, it is always best to figure out “why” you want to do something before you begin making the effort to accomplish it. Simply put, if you have a big enough “why” you will figure out the how.

2. Pick a genre. What kind of movie do you want to write? Do you want to write a movie that people laugh at? Do you want to write something thought provoking and meaningful? Do you want to write a period piece, or maybe a horror? I recommend picking a genre that you are familiar with and like to watch.

3. Brainstorming. Once you have genre you are ready to start coming up with ideas. This should include story ideas, scene ideas and character ideas. Use note cards or a whiteboard to jot down your ideas. Remember that there is no such thing as a bad idea.

4. Select a story. Screenwriting is storytelling. Chances are you have many different ideas for a stories. Rather than working on all of them, it is best to focus your energy on the screenplay idea that inspires you the most. You might already know right off the bat which one that is. Passion is an important part of writing. If you don’t feel passionate about something you likely will get bored doing it and eventually quit. If you like all your ideas equally, I recommend pitching your story concept ideas to a few trusted friends. If you know someone who is successful in the film business, they are a great person to ask.

5. Research. Now that you have your concept locked down it is a good idea to become an expert on the story you want to tell. Start researching by watching films that have a similar theme. There is no better way to research than to watch films that have a similar story to yours. I also recommend finding and reading the scripts of these films. Finally, if you are writing about a subject for which you are unfamiliar it is imperative that you start researching the subject.

6. Structure the story. Organize the scenes from your brainstorming session to form an outline. It is important to have the basic structure of your screenplay before you begin writing. Don't under-estimate the importance of this or try to rush through it. You would never build a house without a foundation so why would you write a script without one?

7. Watch the movie in your head. One great technique that many screenwriters don’t use enough is visualization. Once you have a pretty good idea on the overall progression of your screenplay close you eyes and watch your movie in your head. This is something you should do throughout the writing process...you may be surprised how much this helps.

8. Let the writing commence. Finally! Thanks for your patience. Now that you have completed all the steps above I will show you exactly how to write a screenplay. But before you begin you need to get some screenwriting software. If you are serious I recommend buying what all the professionals use... Final Draft or Movie Magic. While they are not absolutely necessary, they will help you write with ease in the proper screenplay format.

9. Advance the story. Remember that every scene in the screenplay should advance the story in some way. Don't waste time writing scenes that have no purpose. Nuff said!

10. When writing scenes remember your audience. It is very easy to get in the habit of writing scenes that are way too long. Keep your scenes short and only include

11. Write what you know. Probably some of the best advice I received when I was first learning how to write a screenplay was to when someone told me “write what you know.” All this basically means is that you have within your own life experience countless stories and antidotes that you can adapt and use as scenes in your screenplay.

12. Avoid too much description. This is one of the biggest mistakes a new screenwriter makes. Don’t feel obligated to describe literally every action that happens on screen. It is important to trust that whoever directs your screenplay will take care of all the little details. Besides, if you give too much description it is impossible to tell what is critical to the story and what is not. The less description you give the more weight of importance it will have.

13. Sub Text is essential. Avoid “on the nose” dialogue. In case you are unfamiliar, that is a phrase used to describe dialogue that feels forced or un-natural because it expresses directly something that the characters wouldn't say at that time using those words. In real life people rarely say exactly what is on their mind. If a character is angry about something, don't have him simply say, "I'm angry." It is better to show his anger and the fact that he is angry will come though without feeling obvious or contrived.

14. Write believable dialogue. Have you ever watched a movie and thought yourself…people don’t talk like that. Writing dialogue is very tricky and something that usually takes a lot of practice and observation. If you have read enough good scripts then you know that the best dialogue is realistic and authentic. This is not as simple as giving someone a Southern draw or other accent. You must be a student of the way people speak to each other. You may be surprised how people actually talk once you really start listening. Writing the way people talk is completely different than the style we are taught to write in school. It takes practice, and a good ear for dialogue.

15. Avoid long lines of dialogue. This goes along with the above. People rarely, if ever, have long monologues. Nor do they do they speak in formal complete sentences. They usually talk in short, often incomplete, sentences. Your dialogue should generally be short and snappy. Avoid using dialogue for exposition.

16. Make sure you have a beginning middle and end. Ah, the infamous three act structure. This is up for debate…kind of. But virtually every successful film of all time follows this structure. Now, that does not mean the beginning has to be in the beginning. WHAT?? What I mean is the story does not have to be told linearly. It does, however, have to have the following plot points. The set-up in Act I usually establishes the main character and dramatic situation or conflict. This is the initial hook that is going to keep the audience interested in the story. The first plot point, which is usually near the end of Act I, introduces the main character’s primary story and his or her opposition to the antagonist. The next plot point usually occurs sometime midway through the screenplay, and is where the main character, or protagonist, is forced into the antagonist’s world, thereby redefining the story premise, this time by the antagonist. The Act II plot point is the lowest point in the whole story where the protagonist has been defeated by the antagonist and lost his motivation. Finally, the ending of the screenplay is the resolution, in which the protagonist gains a deeper understanding of his own conflict, and pulls together the courage to defeat the antagonist.

17. Make every word count. Unless you are Kevin Smith or Ed Burns avoid having meaningless dialogue and/or scenes. Make sure every scene is interesting, funny, sad, or inspiring. You want every scene in the film to stand on its own. It must connect with the audience on an emotional level. Read through your script rewrite or remove any scenes that don't cut the mustard.

18. Give the script to three people you trust. Ideally these people will be screenwriters themselves. If you don’t know any screenwriters I highly suggest networking and meeting some. The beauty of the Internet is you can literally be anywhere in the world and meet people in your industry (film or otherwise) that you can develop relationships with. I can’t stress enough the importance of networking…especially in the entertainment business. After all, it truly is all about who you know. Anyway, when you give your script be prepared to get critical feedback. That is what you want. If you get the script back with very few notes, then chances are you gave the script to the wrong person. A first draft a script is almost always NOT GOOD. You heard me correctly. It is very rare to have a script that is flawless after the first draft. Maybe Quentin, but that's it.

19. Make changes. Based on the feedback you received from your trusted friends, begin to make adjustments to your script. The beauty of giving you script to three people is you can pick and choose what advice you want to use. If you don’t agree with what one of them says, you have no obligation to change or alter your script. If all three people agree on the same thing then is should be fairly obvious that it needs to be addressed. Give yourself time to carefully make changes, but be mindful not to make drastic changes that may negatively affect the flow of the screenplay.

20. Repeat steps 18 and 19 until you are confident your screenplay is ready to send out to screenplay agents, production companies, or studio executives. Remember that before you make copies or send the script to anyone that the number one sign of an amateur is careless mistakes and typos. Take the time to proof read and have others proof read your screenplay to make sure there are abosolutely no mistakes.

*The list above is only meant as an overview and is not exhaustive. If you are serious about a screenwriting career or simply want more advice to help you learn how to write a screenplay I strongly urge you buy a few books on the subject. While I have read numerous books and guides to screenwriting, a few stand out at absolute must-reads. They are Syd Fields "Screenplay" and Robert Mckee’s "Story."

**Stay tuned for future posts on how to write a screenplay.