Screenwriting : Any advice on formatting..i.e. the physical appearance of the text on the page... by Mike Romoth

I just googled "screenplay margins" and came up with this site: http://www.wikihow.com/Write-Screenplays-Using-Microsoft-Word A lot of people swear by Celtx. It's free and I think web based. I'm a Final Draft fangirl. Whatever you decide, format is not something to ignore. As a contest reader, the format is the first thing I see. If it looks strange, it takes a lot for me to start trusting that the writer is going to tell me a good story. In 14 years, there's only been one script that has come back from a weird format to earn a recommend.

Celtx can be used as you're just starting out. But if you want to do this professionally, you buy the professional tools. That's like a doctor saying, I know people use scalpels, but they're kind of expensive, so I'm just gonna buy regular scissors and that should be fine, right?

Way back when, I used Celtx and would not recommend. Their is enough to worry about when writing a script. Investing in script formatting software is worth it.

I gotta say this debate around softwares, makes me think about people in CGI who prefer one software as opposed to another, that is capable to do exactly the same thing... I started back then ( in french) with Final Draft 5 and 6. Still got a copy of it. Never seen a software as simple as this one shutting down, snapping out of my screen, just like that when you're working on it. Hopefully I am sure it has changed since. I had commentaries erased on The Page Contest wall on facebook. Stating that no! Final Draft is not the best: "blablabla Advertisement". But I learned my lesson so to enlighten everyone. What's important? Three things. 1. Having a a good word processor 2. Capable to manage the formatting aspect of screenplays. 3. Using a FILE FORMAT used by other professionnals. You have several options. Here is a few, in alphabetical order CELTX / FINAL DRAFT / FOUNTAIN (hardcore) / A description mark up language. You can create script on a simple text file using very simple parameters. SCRIVENER / TRELBY ( open source & free of charge) I tried all of them, my choice is my own. But all these softwares can do the heavy lifting of word processing. They can format a script for you. And yet, I would advise you to format your script as you see fit. For many reasons and I am sure a lot of people here can tell you why. And last, but certainly not least, all these specialized writing tools can read / import FDX files: final draft 8-9 files. (except for FOUNTAIN) They can all create PDF Files (except for FOUNTAIN again) And a few of them can put together FDX Files which is the format in usage by most of the industry aside from PDFs. FINAL DRAFT / SCRIVENER / TRELBY. Sorry for the long post. But why is it so difficult to talk about this topic? Why do we have this answer over and over? You should use a professionnal tool. I could make a lot of (bad) jokes with this one. No you should use a tool that facilitate your workflow as a writer in this case, responding to three basic requirements! No more no less. You have options. And for those who are going to say to me, the devil is in the details. I'd say make up your own mind, and adopt the one that is best suited for what you do. M'avez-vous compris? Ou dois-je recommencer? ;)

I used a macro for years, then bought Script Thing (which became Movie Magic). I've never used Celtx, but it's free.

It's not anymore. I used celtx after I used Final Draft. I stopped using celtx because it is essentially a web based cloud service now. You write your script on a web navigator... I really don't like my work to be on a server even if I pay for it. I am not hardcore enough, so I took scrivener. At least I can put my work where I want and produce PDFs and FDX. I mean people are talking about these tools like they are the "Nirvana". Emily go here: http://www.trelby.org/ You have a free tool and if you know someone who can code, you can even make your own.

Found a great little Word template which allowed me to add it and it works fine. I then convert the script to .pdf format to send out. I like that .pdf files can be locked.

Thanks to all for your comments and recommendations. I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in sorting out these issues, and your responses will be helpful to many.

Yep but if you don't have it already, it's gonna get very hard to find. Look at their website. Plus I am afraid some of the features won't stay very long in the software. Like generating PDFs. Now they greet you with a little annoying widget we don't really need. So your choice, I made up my mind.

Hi Mike have you tried Adobe Story. Its free to use and all scripts are easy to export to PDF. It has a great tutorial. I hope you find what you need as there has been some great suggestions above.

There is no such thing as 'industry standard screenwriting software'. What does that even mean? That a peer review group or authority assess screenwriting software and has give one a seal of approval!? People in marketing would love you to believe that. It's probably true to say that one version of software is more widely used among industry professionals, than other versions. Of course, you'd need to survey every working screenwriter to reliably make that claim, but Final Draft , can probably make that claim. The only 'standard' is script format. Use what fits your budget and allows you to set out a screenplay correctly. Try a few versions, or look for demos and YouTube videos to give you a feel for which may best suit you. Many of the free versions work just fine, with the ability to export and import into other software packages, save as PDF and perform many production and scheduling tasks. Celtx can still be downloaded as a standalone version.

Adobe Story is great. And its link to premiere pro is also great. But what if the adobe cloud studio is down? Well, you have to take the paid version that gives you access to a desktop application.

Celtx is really good, it does everything you want. Your PDFs will come out looking just like FD or MM pdfs. Now, if you're on a writing team, working with a producer/director, and exchanging files, maybe you need to have FD or something, maybe that's what Danny meant by saying it's less "pro" but for now Celtx is totally fine. So if $170 is a lot to you, use Celtx and don't apologize one bit!

And this precisely what I want to say, you don't necessary need Final Draft. You need its FILE FORMAT. There are plenty of software out there that can generate it. Nobody tells you about them.

Save The Cat screenwriting software is awesome. I love how the logline can stay at the top of the board. The scene cards are so helpful with color coding, up/down status, and conflict. It reminds you to write the emotion in every single scene. The views are extremely helpful too, If I forget who a character is , I just pop up the characters etc. I'll export it into FD when I'm done and then use the features that are most beneficial in that program.

And another one Barbara, I heard about it though. ;) The outlining features of the program used, are equally important. This is one of the thing I forgot in my features list requirement. But that's also why I choose Scrivener. By the way CJ, I wasn't responding abruptly to Danny. But more about this trend I've heard many times over ( not just from him) in the industry: That you need a professional tool, without clearly describing what a reliable tool is for a screenwriter. A bit of explaining for newcomers in the field won't hurt...

Many thanks again to all who have taken time to address these issues. Sounds like there are many paths and no clear "standard." Thanks also for clarifying the benefits of using something like FD as a tool for interacting seamlessly with other professionals in the industry and not just a tool for formatting the text on the page.

As someone who reads tons of scripts for a living I can tell you hands down, formatting matters. I read 23 scripts over the weekend and 2 were formatted properly throughout, making my job so much easier. If you're going to take up my time, make it worthwhile.

Another thing to be aware of on formatting is how the program exports your pdf files. John August put out a fabulous app last year that enables pdf scripts to be read clearly on devices such as a smartphone, for someone like me that is invaluable and I use it regularly, but when a script's pdf does not have embedded formats, those pdfs come in as one long ugly ass block of text.

Love that line "it really Frosts" me. LOL I may borrow that someday.

Programs don't 'export' PDFs - PDF printers do! Some programs have inbuilt 'save as PDF' and if you don't use these, the formatting isn't preserved correctly.

However you want to phrase it -- the pdfs that are a result of some programs that they are created in -- do not retain the formatting.

Some don't, if you use certain third party PDF printers - use the programs inbuilt 'save as PDF' function and the formatting is preserved. It is the third party PDF printer that doesn't preserve the formatting - not the screenwriting software.

Proper formatting is the key to any document. I was a keyboarding teacher and I discovered during the years that most people use the spacebar instead of the tab key to tab. I used word processing software to type my screenplays for years. However, I set the appropriate margins and tabs before I begin my typing. I have been saying for years that the lack of adequate training in typing for many people has created numerous problems. I usally save my word file to a PDF file and email it.

Fade In is an excellent program for about $50 that imports and exports to all of the file formats you would need including Final Draft, PDF, etc. It's intuitive and stays out of the way so you can just write and it still does pretty much everything the big boys do.

Thanks for clarifying the need for software that can work with different types of mobile devices and not just personal computers. I know that websites that work on PC browsers do not necessarily work on mobile devices. Ugh! Technology! But...yay! Technology!

I like Celtx. I bought the upgrade. It works for me, since I am just starting out.