How To Begin Writing A Script

A script is any narrative piece that contains an event, action, or conversation. A screenplay is a very specific kind of script!

Intermediate writers may be familiar with the term “script” because it has become ubiquitous in Hollywood. Almost every major film production now requires at least one written draft before filming can begin.

That means most actors have their lines ghost-written ahead of time. The actor does not need to speak well for themselves, so someone else writes down what they want to say and polish it up.

Most screenwriters get this treatment too, even if only due to timing. For example, when your favorite TV show goes off the air, there are usually efforts to prevent the writer's job from being outsourced as well.

Fortunately, writing a script is much simpler than people make it out to be! You will probably know some version of the tool already since you've read some stories online. So let's learn how to write a script quickly using that technique. Read more...

Create a writing space

Starting from how you organize your computer files, determine what style of writer you want to become and then start creating a writing space that supports that style.

If you’re more of an action writer, use white paper or notebook as your writing surface and take notes using index cards or bullet points.

For story writers, have a laptop or desktop computer with word processing software and pre-existing documents you can add content to. You can also create new documents and edit them in the software.

The easiest way to get started is to choose a genre that has similar themes and stories.

Take notes

Even if you don’t take any writing classes, reading scripts is an excellent way to begin writing your own script. There are many ways to do this. You can read one or several pages at a time, or you can read multiple pages at once. Either way, make sure to analyze not only what they say but also how it makes you feel as a reader.

Reading scripts out-of-context may give you false impressions about the writer and their style. A good way to read a few pages is by yourself first without looking back at the source material. Once you have the hang of that, then you can compare those details more clearly.

The easiest way to start reading scripts is via Amazon. Just pick a book you want to read and click “read free chapter.” You will usually get two chapters for free before you need to pay to access the rest. Sometimes there is a limited number of books available for free at a given moment, so check back later!

Another option is to use Google Play Books. Not only can you read free chunks, but you can add audible narration which adds even more value. Try both out and see which one works better for you.

Do not write until you are completely ready

Starting to write is the hardest part! Once you have a idea for an article or script, you must prepare your writing space and equipment before starting to write.

You do not want to start writing without having done your homework first. This means making sure you have all of the necessary materials and that you know how to use them effectively.

Too often we get into trouble when we begin writing because we lack the needed resources or the skills to properly utilize them.

Do not make this mistake!

Begin by reading some good material. Read blogs, watch videos, listen to podcasts - anything content rich will help you find the information you need to start writing.

Once you have read enough to feel prepared, then take time to organize and edit your ideas and text. Make sure everything in your head has been put onto paper.

Use an outline to start

Starting from scratch is always the best way to go if you want to get into writing quickly. Even if you already write short stories, blogs or creative essays, it’s worth starting at the beginning with screenplay format.

A screenplay is a story told in order of scene, not person. A scene is usually about one minute long but can be shorter or longer depending on what kind of movie it is. For example, a romantic comedy may have a few minutes for each scene while a thriller could easily spend twenty-five minutes in just one setting!

Your first draft should be no more than three pages per screenplay format. You can edit and rework your script later, so don’t worry too much about being perfect right off the bat.

Write in the first person

The easiest way to begin writing your script is to use the story format. This article has some tips about how to do this!

The story format comes from screenwriting, so you are not too bad already.

This can be tricky at times because people sometimes associate storytelling with making a speech or narration. This is actually the second most common type of screenplay (after action).

When writers make a movie using the story format, they usually keep it within a mile-long journey for each scene. A lot of filmmakers learn this tool.

However, there are two main parts of the story format that separate it into something more useful. These are the introduction and conclusion.

The introduction and conclusion tell what the story is about and give an indication of how it ends. They also typically contain a theme, setting, and characters.

This brings us back to our tip: write in the first person. First person means the writer uses his or her own experiences to create the story.

He or she can relate to certain events, situations, or themes and apply them onto their character. Or, they may describe someone else’s experience totally from scratch.

Using yourself as a source material is the best way to start writing a script.

Provide backstory

A script is not just for making movies, it can be anything! You can write a screenplay as easily as writing someone’s biography or an article you read online. All great stories are built on a framework of events that have happened in the past and what people feel about those events.

The first step in writing a script is to provide some background context for your story. What has happened in the past? What situations have characters found themselves in? What feelings do they hold towards these situations?

These are all important parts of your story because they help bring focus onto your main character and their emotions. Your audience will also want to connect with the characters, so make sure to give them enough details to understand who they are and what makes them tick.

After all, reading a script without any understanding of the characters may lead to boredom or even frustration.

Provide examples

Starting from the beginning is always the hardest! If you’ve got nothing written, then go through your writing materials (notebooks, phones, etc.) and pull out any pieces of text that you feel would make a good starting point for your script.

These can be short stories or longer paragraphs, it doesn’t matter. Just make sure they are clearly related to each other and convey a strong message.

You can write this new piece of material directly into a notebook or document, but if you’re looking to get more serious about writing, try to do it in an online word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. This way you don’t need to physically have access to your computer to work.

Edit your work

After you have written some version of your script, it is time to edit! There are several ways to do this, but the most common way is to make changes by adding or removing parts of the story.

Start by re-writing sections that feel flat or uninteresting. Perhaps the scene with X needs omitting because it does not contribute anything meaningful to the plot. Or perhaps the action in the scene should be moved to include longer descriptions so people can actually see what’s happening.

By editing like this, you create more space for new material, which helps you to start writing again soon. The editor may also want to add additional content or insert new scenes to give the narrative more depth.

These edits can be done at any stage, even later when the script is fully finished.