Screenwriting : Which software is best for writing? by Ann Burr

Why switch? Celtx is awesome especially if you spring for the cloud service so you can write anywhere! No need to switch unless you want to write for tv. Trying to format in Celtx for a teleplay is a beast.

thanks! Wasn't sure if Celtx was something a Pro would use.

Ann, I know of professionals who use Celtx. The answer, although cheesy, is simple, the best software for writing is whatever works best for you as a writer. That's in terms of creativity and working professionally.

I adore Final draft.

I use MovieMagic, and have for more than 20 years. It's a professional package that does a lot. I just won the latest Final Draft, but haven't tried it because I can't imagine what more it can do. Word just isn't appropriate for feature writing. Screenwriting software, free or otherwise, formats your script and allows you to write as fast as you can type, once you learn the shortcut keys. I haven't tried Celtx, but from reading about, it seems fine for spec script writing. Once you pay for their other services, a whole lot more opens for you, but those costs can add up. Their main claim about being able to share across the Internet is specious, as anyone can get DropBox for free and write ten thousand scripts before you'd run out of room.

Celtx is great for starters but Final Draft is so much better. I use both, Final Draft for projects I want to sell and Celtx when the studio asks for it. I work with some local studios that are small so they use Celtx instead of Final Draft. Movie Magic is great but a lot of what it does is not necessary for a writer. If you're looking to do a lot more than just write and want software that will be productive through the entire project then Movie Magic is for you.

Yes, Celtx is free. There is a paid version that lets a group collaborate on a project stored in the cloud but I have never had to use that feature.

There's a free 30trial. After that you can then pay for it.

I was using Final Draft for 3 yrs, but just recently purchased FADE IN. OMG, I love it! Effortless. I love the interface. And it is only $49.99. Think I heard about it either in Jon August and Craig Mazin's podcast. Heard a few pros use it. It has a free demo you can try also.

Forgot to say, I started with Celtx, before FD, but out of those 3, I like FADE IN.

I have been using Sophocles on and off for 5 years now.

The software is what works for YOU, what makes it the easiest for your writing to flow. I have had Final Draft, but I might jussta check out FADE IN - effortless is always good - writing can be torturous, but also blissful when it flows and you feel it. All the best to you.

Final Draft is considered industry standard, but you should choose the program that makes the most sense for you both artistically and financially.

Final Draft and Movie Magic are the current faves with the big studios I think. I try to be flexible and write in the software the studio wants. Since I work with small local studios that is Celtx more often than not. I use Final Draft for projects that I hope to sell because it is an industry standard and its the one I have a copy of. No need to over think things. ;)

Siobhan - the only reason it really matters is that, often, you'll have to send the script to the office, the producers or actors. While you can always send a pdf, sometimes creating the pdf alters page count (which is annoying) among other things. A producer may also need to alter the script, or an AD adjust slug lines for scheduling (if you don't have time or have moved on to another project). The idea is to have everyone on the same page, literally. There are a billion programs out there. When you're starting out, use the one that fits creatively (meaning the one you're most comfortable with) and financially (meaning, of course, that it doesn't break your bank account)... just know that, down the line, it'll almost always be expected by production companies or studios that you use Final Draft.

Personally I develop in Scrivener and polish in the free desktop version of Celtx. Celtx formats a tiny bit better. I am saving up for Final Draft. Not because I think it will make my writing any better or my specs any more presentable. But purely because I want to be familiar with it. Mainly for the reason Dan has reflected on.

Final Draft is the industry standard. It will save you many headaches in the long run and has some great features. Also, it makes it much easier to work with other professionals. Every time I have been asked to revise a script, it's been using Final Draft. Yes, it's pricey-ish, but if you're serious about writing, I would shell out the money for that above all others.

I've had no problems with Microsoft Word with the formatting programmed in as macros.

Siobhan - there's a free version of Celtx. If I were you, I'd use that as it'll handle most of the formatting for you. Writing a screenplay in Word seems likes a nightmare.

Final Draft is the industry standard. Celtx is fine for beginners to learn proper format, but nobody in the film industry will take you seriously if you submit a script in Celtx. Pros don't use it.

Ha ha, I use Movie Magic Screenwriter, which is another very solid script formatter endorsed by the Writers Guild of America, EAST. Comes with free tech support, unlike that "other" industry standard formatter, not that you're likely to need it with MMS; it's been rock-solid since the '90s when it was an independent program called Script Thing. I don't know about the new FD 9, but at least up until its launch, MMS has had more features than FD. One of these two are the most likely to be the programs used in the industry, though Final Draft is trying very hard to achieve a monopoly. I started out with Scriptware, and the only reason I started using anything else was that it did not allow me to use a file over my home network, I pulled up blank pages; other than that, it was once a leader and it still has all the features (except networking) you need to write, being othwerwise just as fine a formatter as the majors of today. MMS lets you work with a partner on the same script over the internet; each adds the other's IP address in "iPartner" from the menu and they can both work on the same file in real time. Another fine program is Movie Outline; if you would like integrated outlining and character-charting features with your formatting software, it's got some advantages. http://www.movieoutline.com/compare-screenwriting-software.html Another great program for outlining and for non-linear writing, for a very small cost, is "Movie Draft." http://www.moviedraft.com/ Costing only ten bucks more is a program called "Fade In" which claims to be more feature-rich than the others, as seen here. http://www.fadeinpro.com/page.pl?content=comparison There's also a round-up at Top 10 Reviews to consider. http://screenwriting-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

I just cannot understand why people gives so much attention to the software. I use Celtx and I have used Final Draft before and I don´t think using one of another makes you a better writter. Plus, both do the same right? Apart from this topic, wich really grind my gears, What do you think of the Adobe Story Plus?

If you listen to Jon August's podcast, he talked about how writers in the industry are moving away from FD, b/c they are using ancient coding methods and all the other software streamlines with EACH other effortlessly, no matter which one you have. And FD has no plans to bring their software up to these standards, (he says) because they never implemented the procedures in the beginning (code & programing wise) to be able to do so. He has all these statistics to show how things are slowly switching over. He also has a podcast where a panel interviewed the FD CEO about these needed changes, and the so called "archaic" coding methods. John August is also a software programmer. All this is according to him, not me. Well, at least I have a few different types of software.

John August said people are moving away from Final Draft becuase he's trying to sell his OWN software program, Most pros still use Final Draft. It's the most widely accepted format. Movie Magic is OK but execs and studios use Final Draft. Celtx is great for beginners because it's free and "close enough" - but when you get tot he point of submitting regularly to companies, you need to spend the money and use what the pros use.

I thought that too Danny, but when I looked at the comparison chart on the Fade In website, you can see all the things the others can do vs FD. But he is a software designer, gotta give him that. He doesn't really push his Fountain software that much. But I have all of them anyway, been using FD for 3 years, but really am not a fan of it. I am not pushing one over the other, just dialoguing re; pros and cons. Check out the chart: (it even does batch watermarking) http://www.fadeinpro.com/page.pl?content=comparison

Actually, Ingrid, I just checked and it looks to me as if in fact the other programs– Final Draft, Movie Magic, Story and Celtx– come out roughly equal. Not nearly as good as Fade In’s perfect score, of course– any given piece of software always “wins” according to its own comparison chart. (Funny about that…)

I like Movie Outline (on sale this month), but I switched to Final Draft cause everyone else uses it.

Ok

I use celtx but just bought final raft on sale on ebay. My problem with celtx is that you don't get 53-55 lines on a PDF page. Well, I couldn't. The standard is not to exceed 55 lines and the closer you get the fewer pages you will have.

I love Movie Magic. Been using it for ten years. goes to 57 lines per page... never had anyone call me out on it. Seems fine with readers. PDFs are rendered with no issues.

I started off using Scriptware, back in the DOS days, then switched to Final Draft when windows XP came out. It's what ever works best for you.