Beginner’s guide : how to write an effective and efficient screenplay
By: Shannon Donovan
Tags: Tips, Screenwriting, Guides And Tutorials, Blog, Writing

Introduction to Screenplay writing

For those creative and like-minded individuals who have a passion for film or TV, the idea of creating a fictional version of a world in their mind and implementing that onto paper through storytelling is powerful and inspiring. Screenplay writing is just that.

In its simplest form, the aim of screenplay writing is to be written so that it can eventually be turned into a visual medium like a film or television show. These tend to be fictional and are very complex and detailed in their nature when referring to location, setting and character development. Specifically expressions, body movement and actions must be carefully highlighted when it comes to displaying these within your writing. This is because it allows for others to truly understand what you are conveying and trying to portray and reflect throughout the screenplay to a wider audience.

As well as this creative element that needs to be shown, we also have to adapt our writing style as screenplay writing can be very specific in order for it to be successful. Information such as time and location of scenes, any editing techniques and cinematography must all be communicated within your script in order for productions to work with it.

Where to begin

A vision

When it comes to screenplay writing, the most important thing when first starting out is having a vision of your idea. Whether it be a particular theme you want to focus on or the development of a character throughout the narrative, you really need to consider carefully the approach you want to take with it and what the message behind it really is, even personally to you.

That sets you up for success inevitably as you know what you want to put out and you can then take that vision you have and start to make a plan of writing down what you will include in the screenplay and how you will approach it.

Planning is everything

One of the hardest things anyone can do is write a screenplay off the top of their head with no real direction of where it is heading. Therefore jotting down just a few words or ideas on a piece of paper can help you gather your thoughts and start the process of writing your screenplay in a much more organized and composed manner.

Even visually drawing a character can be helpful to you envisaging your idea more clearly with self acknowledgment that you are satisfied with what you are trying to create.

An impactful start

Like with anything, to stay gripped to the end of any creative content, you need to be hooked from the beginning to continue reading, watching or listening — whatever it may be.

If you can set the mood well and really dive into the atmosphere you want to reflect for your piece, it will set the scene automatically for your audience and will encourage them to stay intrigued.

Tip: make a bang by hooking audiences at the beginning with something dramatic or impactful for the themes portrayed in the screenplay for example an emotional scene of a character having a mental breakdown will create enigma for audiences and will then enable them to want to know why and what will happen.

Where to start writing

The layout and structure of screenplay scripts can be quite daunting at first and hard to tackle on your own when you are just starting out.

So here are two useful script writing software that you can use which will make the process a whole lot easier:

StudioBinder

What makes StudioBinder so good is that it is one of the most easily accessible software due to it being completely free with an unlimited number of pages and scripts. When you are experimenting, coming up with multiple ideas and wanting to get them all down in one place, StudioBinder is evidently the best option.

WriterDuet

This software focuses on the writing style and technique of your work rather than favouring the production needs. This is really useful to get a head start in perfecting and practising what style suits you best and how to reflect it in your work regularly.

Some final thoughts

On a whole, anyone can be successful in producing a great screenplay. It all just comes down to the dedication and commitment you put in as well as the consistency and flow of your writing to depict the themes presented within your storytelling.

Some final top tips to improve and enhance your knowledge for future prospects:

Reading — When you allow yourself to indulge in other people’s work, it also gives you a broader perspective on ways in which you can write. It is all experience that you can gain crucial inspiration from and potentially implement into your own work.

When you allow yourself to indulge in other people’s work, it also gives you a broader perspective on ways in which you can write. It is all experience that you can gain crucial inspiration from and potentially implement into your own work. Research and online courses — If you want to develop and progress in your writing, reading articles on how to do so as well as tutorials and courses is definitely going to improve what you already know, benefitting you in the long term.

Overall, screenplay writing is a magical and powerful art that can be successful in representing the social culture of the media i.e. TV shows and films.