Help me, I'm new to the screen writing process

[bobobag]

Do you guys/gals have any suggestions on where to start? I write short stories and thought about converting them to screenplays. I've also had some good ideas for new stories. Here are a few questions I have:

1. Should I buy some screenwriting software? Or is Word good enough?

2. What is the best way to learn about the format?

3. Is simply reading screenplays after watching the movie the best way to learn how to write them?

Any other suggestions please. Thanks in advance.

Mike

[CaffeineDreams]

Hi,

I just joined the boards here and have only written one screenplay myself, but I'm going to offer my thoughts anyway. It should at least provide something for more experienced people to agree with or refute...

> 1. Should I buy some screenwriting software? Or is Word good enough?

I would. I tried getting into screenwriting before, using Word, and it just wasn't going to happen. Professional screenwriting software lets a new writer forget about a lot of formatting and layout issues that interfere with the screenplay's substance. Personally, I use Final Draft, and I hear Movie Magic (?) is quite good, too. There might even be some Macro/Stylesheet add-on packages from Word that would be cheaper if you look around...

> 2. What is the best way to learn about the format?

Reading scripts, hanging out here, and maybe grabbing a book on formatting. Just hit your local Border's or B&N and have a look around. I'm sure somebody here will have a more specific recommendation.

> 3. Is simply reading screenplays after watching the movie the best way to learn how to write them?

Since you already write short stories, you probably won't benefit from story-theory books as much as I did, but they are are nice. Robert McKee's 'Story' is one, and if I've picked up on things correctly Syd Field has written a good deal on the subject as well. These books help you understand things like Act Structure and what (Hollywood) movie-viewers expect to see in terms of pacing and content.

As for your own idea of "reading screenplays after watching the movie": I almost agree, but I think you'll get a lot more out of doing it the other way around. Read a screenplay, THEN see the movie. Otherwise, your reading of the screenplay will be affected by what you saw in the produced film. Since you'll eventually be trying to look at your own screenplay well before it becomes a produced film, I would want to practice with that form. Of course, you can also read the screenplay again after seeing the movie to see how your reading of it changed.

Good luck.

[Bill Marquardt]

Reading screenplays is a good way to learn the format. Most parts of a screenplay are easy to figure out, but sometimes the writer includes mysterious abbreviations like "O.C" (off camera). One mistake many of us make when new is to confuse shooting scripts with spec scripts. You want to write in spec script format without numbering the scenes and with a minimum of camera direction.

Hang around the board awhile and you will pick up a lot of good advice, although some of it is conflicting. A lot of new writers get hung up over whether to use phrases like "We see..." or not. If you read a lot of pro scripts from a site like Drew's Script-o-Rama you will find than many pro's break the so-called rules we are told to follow.

It is generally considered good advice for a new writer to follow standard format, not give a lot of camera directions like "PAN LEFT", etc. and keep the page count to no more than 120.

The Done Deal main page has a link to some sample pages for you to look at.

[bobobag]

Thanks a lot! This is a great message board. I wish I discovered this site earlier. I will read through most of the sections on this site to get a lot of info because I'm sure most of my questions have already been answered here many times. CaffeineDreams, how did you do on your first screenplay? Is there a section on these boards where you can have people critic screenplays? Or are you worried that someone may steal your idea?

Mike

[shortscriptsonline]

Bobobag,

Screenwriting software such as Final Draft helps, especially in regards to formatting. It is a great tool and makes things a heck of a lot easier. However, you can work just fine without it. If you can’t afford it, Microsoft Word is fine. Don’t get stuck on the thought that you NEED software to function. Many great scripts were written before the invention of screenwriting software and computers.

Formatting is the easiest part of screenwriting. There are many books on the subject and there are many actually hundreds of actual screenplays available online. Here are some sites where you can download them:

www.dailyscript.com/index.html (http://www.dailyscript.com/index.html)
www.script-o-rama.com/table.shtml (http://www.script-o-rama.com/table.shtml)
sfy.iv.ru/ (http://sfy.iv.ru/)
www.simplyscripts.com/ (http://www.simplyscripts.com/)
www.screenplays-online.de/ (http://www.screenplays-online.de/)
www.screentalk.biz/gallery.htm (http://www.screentalk.biz/gallery.htm)

Read as many as you can. Eventually the language of screenwriting will become second nature to you.

WRITING screenplays is the best way to learn; but supplement your writing by reading as many scripts as you can. Visits the sites above to get them for free.

Since you are brand new to screenwriting, I don’t recommend posting pages on message boards just yet. No offense to this site (which is a great one), I just feel that 25 different opinions, when you are new and not sure of anything, will only serve to confuse and frustrate you. Until you begin to feel confident, I recommend having your work read by a few people you know and trust. Over time, your writing instincts will develop and can better tell the difference between good criticism and way off the mark criticism.

Bobobag, you’ve picked an excellent time in film history to try writing screenplays. Never before has there been so much free information out there to help you. I began writing scripts back in the 70’s. The number of books about screenwriting probably numbered about five – and they were very old. I learned plotting, characters and conflict from reading books about novel writing.

Good luck on your adventure.

[soonergirll]

Bobobag....welcome to the board and welcome to the *nightmare* of screenwriting :) No, it's a challenge, it's a learning process, it is, above all, a journey. I was once in your shoes, and there is so much to learn; hell, I'm still learning, five feature specs and 3 tv specs into the game. I too write short stories and essays as well. I took online classes thru the UCLA extension writers program and they were very helpful. I also attended UCLA weekend seminars as well as the Writers Studio, which is a weeklong course offered each February. I highly recommend it, if you can possibly make your way out to LA. Good luck and again, welcome!

[CaffeineDreams]

> CaffeineDreams, how did you do on your first screenplay?

It's still in progress. I'm only about three or four weeks your senior in the biz. :) On Tuesday, I finished the first draft which I believe was suitable to pass around to get contructive feedback from friends, "peers", etc. I want to polish it up before I have my boss look at it. (I'm fortunate enough to work in a management company.)

One great place I've found is www.zoetrope.com. They have a writer's forum on there that allows you to post your screenplay and have other writer's comment on it. In return for comments on each of screenplay you submit, you agree to comment on four screenplay's that other people have posted. It works great.

[Deus Ex Machine]

check out my links at www.thewriterslist.org (http://www.thewriterslist.org)

[OkeyDokey]

I'd recommend Zoetrope too. I've received mostly helpful and well-thought out critiques to the scripts I've posted there.

I have to say, one of the things that has most helped me develop as a writer is reading BAD screenplays as well as good (Triggerstreet.com is a good place for this) I find that when I'm critiquing other people's mistakes, I can apply the same comments to myself. Then you begin to recognize the mistakes when you make them and know what to avoid.

I'd also recommend looking for a writer's group you can join. Having regular deadlines and live interactions with other writers (and hopefully an instructor or leader) has been invaluable to me in developing my skills.

And try not to get too caught up in all the competing and conflicting schemes and theories about structure. A lot of people make a good living off promoting their own personal and highly arcane methodologies. It can become confusing and overwhelming. Try to focus on learning storytelling. You can't go wrong with "The Writer's Journey" by Christopher Vogler.

Good luck, and hang in there!

[Cyfress]

I'd reccomend that you do nothing but ferociously read scripts, maybe a dozen or so, then do nothing but write pages and don't stop.

One day you might come across 120 that are actually worth something.

[filmcarver]

don't do, listen, or type anything until you have a discrete, concise logline that starts with:

"The reasons I want to learn to write screenplays are....."

And then get educated according to your needs and desires. Choose wisely your resources.

[NewbWriter]

Scriptwriting Secrets (http://www.scriptwritingsecrets.com/index2.htm) is a good place to start. It has a pretty good run-down of all the basics, and gives examples. As for software, I prefer Sophocles. (http://www.sophocles.net) It's cheaper than Final Draft and most other software, but I personally think it's the best. I've tried the others, but still prefer Sophocles. You can download the demo for free and try it...you just can't export, and printed pages say "Demo version of Sophocles" or something like that on them. But you get the rest of the options, which will let you know if you like it or not.

P.S. Yay, my 100th post. :D

[Ravenlocks01]

Understand that your first script will be a learning process and will most likely be terrible. Expect to put it away and write a second and then a third before you think about shopping them around. Not everyone does this, but it's often wise.

[AnconRanger]

First off, I know nothing but I'd down a multi-vitamin with a warm can of flat Schlitz beer each morning.

Then I'd start taking all of this pretty seriously, if you're serious about it. If not, of course don't. But if you are serious, don't be too serious, just be serious about the writing great stories part and how to sell your writing part of the equation. I guess you do need to be serious.

Good question to ask is - exactly what would you like to achieve? What are your writing goals? Do you HOPE to sell a spec, or are you serious about a screenwriting career? Answer to that may involve moving in your near future, etc., or rethinking your goals...perhaps thinking of this as a hobby?

Whatever your goals are, don't let anyone tell you that you're competing with tens of thousands of other writers from across the planet or dozens of pretty decent writers from the DD boards who clog the system with their/our queries. They're/we're not your competition. If you're good enough to be really good, you'll be competing with a small number of the best writers on the planet and a few really lucky sobs with great ideas who think a slug line is an insect trail and a couple of well-connected fvcks who probably couldn't pen a decent grocery list. Anyway, many of the talented writers are making loot already and it will be hard for you to get in, but there's always room in Hollywood for one more talented writer. Some killer competition out there I hear. But space is available. May be a place reserved for you. They're supposedly starving for great material.

But from the little I know, it really comes down to you and your own stories, you doing your homework, writing "great" scripts and learning as much as you can about the business of selling your work and hoping for a little good luck. But don't count on good luck and other people opening doors for you. Try your best to make those all too important contacts and keep a lucky rabbit's foot in your pocket, but place the burden of your success squarely on your writing. You'll cover all the bases, then. Let your writing open your doors. The best writers have the best luck is what I'm told...and people and opportunity tend to gravitate to them, through their writing. Don't count on being lucky. Be good.

Write your stories. Focus on your scenes. Each and every one of them. Learn all of the things you think you should know about the craft and business of screenwriting. Learn and learn and keep your ears open but listen always to your instincts.

You've stumbled into a good place. Weed out what doesn't sound right to you...like this novice to novice advice from me probably. Ain't no yellow brick road I can find. Keep your pen to paper and listen to the guides for you have tons to learn from them but realize you'll eventually have to find your own way through the jungle. Nobody owes you success. Nobody. No one cares whether you make it or not or if your stories are ever bought and produced. You'd better care a great deal to swing that vote in your favor. You will need perseverance. You'll need to believe in your stories.

And make sure you catch a tan along the way. It's not that serious.

Best of luck.

[keithtowers]

Buy Michael Hauge's book, Writing Screenplays That Sell. There is a section that shows you how to set the correct margins and tabs in Word. However, I am in the market for Final Draft version 6 or 7. if any one knows where to get it cheap? I hear its very good.

Keith

[NikeeGoddess]

www.discountscreenwriting...tware.html (http://www.discountscreenwriting.com/software.html)

[NoozYooz]

The good old BBC has a free script formatter that works on Word. In the right column on this page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/script_archive.shtml).

And as long as you're not a working pro, this one (http://www.movietools.com/downloads.htm) (again building on Word) works fine too, it's fully functional - it only prints 'Unregistered software' in the header of all your pages until you register.

The last one is also available in a Mac version!

--Nooz

[Biohazard EHW]

I think you already answered the second question with the first. Programs like Final Draft pretty much put everything into format for you. Still, it's good to learn the format if you ever happen to be in a situation where such a program is not readily available.

[Winter in New York]

Buy Movie Magic Screenwriter. Hands down the best of the screenwriting programs out there. Trust me, use word and half your time will be taken up with formatting! (I started on word...ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) Everyone from Francis Ford Copolla to Ted Elliot us Movie Magic. Go to www.screenplay.com and get a free trial download.

Also go buy Syd Field's 'Screenwriting' book. Best book out there for mapping out what a screenplay's paradigm looks like (what goes where). Will demystify the whole screenwriting process for you.

Hope that helps!

Winter in New York