How to Write a Screenplay: A Practical Guide

What is a screenplay?

It contains information about the characters, the lines spoken by the actors, and directions concerning locations, set design and the detailed elements needed to bring the author’s idea to life.

A screenwriter must understand the established rules of writing and formatting a screenplay, but above all, they need an idea for a good story.

We have prepared a comprehensive guide to help you understand how to write a screenplay.

Screenplay structure — the basics

Every screenplay is based on a carefully considered narrative structure as well as technical elements that make practical production possible.

Story structure

Every composition must have a beginning, middle and ending. The rule established by Aristotle more than 25 centuries ago still applies today and remains almost unchanged. The principle also applies to screenplay writing:

• beginning (act one), most often called the setup — introducing the reader or viewer to the story and its mood, and presenting the protagonist. It is important for the viewer to form an emotional response to the character, such as sympathy or compassion;
• middle:
  ✓ first plot point — the action begins and the protagonist must have a goal or task to accomplish;
  ✓ act two (the confrontation) — the protagonist pursues their goals while struggling with reality and other characters;
  ✓ second plot point — a shift in perspective, the resolution of the mystery and the end of the struggle;
• ending (act three), also called the finale — the fates of the characters are brought together, and the protagonist learns some truth about themselves and/or the world.

Technical elements

When creating a screenplay, you must also remember two important structural elements that provide precise guidance for the people working to bring your idea to life:

• stage directions — instructions and explanations used to create the appropriate setting and mood, including descriptions of speech, the characters’ appearance and surroundings, and props;
• dialogue — the lines spoken by the people appearing in your text.

How to write a screenplay: 3 key stages

Screenplay writing is a process that is worth dividing into stages — from the initial idea, through the summary, to the final version.

The story idea

Every screenplay starts with an idea. If you already have an interesting story in mind, that is a great start. If you do not, but want to enter the world of screenwriting, here are several proven ways to find inspiration.

1. Analyze the stories of your family and friends — they often contain powerful emotions and drama that can become the foundation of an engaging screenplay. If you take this approach, protect the characters’ anonymity and state that any similarities to real events or people are coincidental.
2. Draw inspiration from real events around the world — both current and historical. Local media, archives and online information databases are excellent sources of inspiration. Remember that you do not have to limit yourself to the present day — Titanic, for example, was based on events that took place more than a century ago.
3. Turn to literature — novels, reportage and biographies often contain ready-made themes that can be creatively reworked. If you want to use a specific story, remember the legal considerations: an adaptation requires permission from the copyright holder.

Summary

Before you start writing the full screenplay, organize the story into three short forms: a logline, synopsis and treatment.

After the logline, create a synopsis — a short summary of the story divided into acts, with two key plot points in each one.

Next, develop a treatment: a detailed description of the plot. Include plot twists, the order of events, relationships between the characters, their motivations and conflicts. Leave out dialogue — only key lines may appear.

Writing the screenplay itself

You already have an idea and a preliminary plan. Now it is time to move on to the actual screenplay: expanding the completed framework into a full structure of scenes and dialogue.

Remember a few basic rules:

• list all the characters;
• write stage directions concisely and specifically (do not write that “the sun has disappeared beyond the horizon and the sky is becoming increasingly navy blue”; simply write that it is getting dark);
• write in the present tense;
• divide events into scenes (every change of location creates a new scene);
• describe only what can be seen and heard (do not write about what a character is thinking).

You do not have to begin with a grand entrance. If the ending and what happens to the protagonist matter most to you, write the final scene first, then create the moments that lead up to it.

Screenplay example

Below is a short example scene showing what a properly formatted screenplay looks like.

What does a screenplay look like? Formatting basics

You need to remember several formatting rules.

1. Use 12-point Courier or Courier New.
2. Keep the font size consistent throughout the screenplay.
3. Use single spacing.
4. The title page should include a centered title, while the author’s name and contact details should appear at the bottom.
5. Page numbers should appear at the top right. Begin numbering on the second page.
6. Give every scene a heading aligned to the left and written in capitals, including the exact location and time. Use INT. for interior scenes and EXT. for exterior scenes.
7. Place stage directions below the scene heading and write them as continuous paragraphs aligned to the left.
8. Write character names in capitals, especially when a character appears for the first time, centered above their dialogue. You may include an approximate age in parentheses. Dialogue appears in a narrower central column.
9. If you have directions concerning the delivery of a line, place them in parentheses beneath the character’s name.

Formatting plays an important role in a screenplay. Above all, it shows the reader whether they are dealing with a professional or an amateur. Failing to follow accepted conventions may result in your screenplay being rejected after the first page.

Even if your story has the potential to become an interesting film, no one will have the opportunity to discover it if the format makes it difficult to read. In the film industry, the form often determines whether the story will be read at all.