The goal when you’re writing a screenplay is to see it coming to live on the big screen, so if you have a impactful concept, relatable characters, and a well-structured story bouncing around in your head but you don’t know how to begin or how to create a narrative that will engage any audience, then this is the blog for you.
This blog will guide you through the screenplay writing process, breaking it down in 10 simple steps. We’ll go from that initial spark of an idea to a polished script ready to engage audiences around the world.
1. Immerse Yourself in The Craft
Before you start to write a screenplay, you need to become a student of the screen, and the best way to do it is by immersing yourself with a variety of films, you can watch classics, blockbusters, independent gems, or any genre you want to learn, but the key here is to really pay attention to how master screenwriters build suspense, develop characters, ans structure their narratives. Also try to read well-regarded screenplays to understand the format they use and how professional writers translate ideas into their pages.
2. Screenwriter Tools
Nowadays there are many screenwriter tools that will make you workflow smoother, and will allow you to focus on the content, some of the best choices are Celtx, Final Draft, or Script Timer that counts with all the script tools you need to take your scripts to the next level. These tools offer formats that ensure a proper format in your scripts, making them industry-ready. So, experiment with different options until you find the one that best aligns with your own unique needs.
3. Create a Compelling Logline
You need to see your logline as a one-sentence elevator pitch for your entire movie because it should encapsulate the main conflict, protagonist, and genre in a way that is engaging and concise. It’s like trying to sell your story to a busy producer in the time it takes for a lift ride, let’s see an example: A disgraced chef with a checkered past sets out to redeem himself by opening a restaurant in a forgotten corner of Europe.
4. Develop Your Characters
Compelling and relatable characters is what makes a story memorable, deeply elaborate your main characters, focus on their desires, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. Before fully developing your characters, ask yourself some questions that will help you develop better: What motivates them? How will they change throughout the story? Focus on creating a strong backstory for each character, and also consider how their different personalities will clash or complement each other.
5. Build Your Story Structure
When you start to write a screenplay, you need to think about how you’re going to structure it. Most screenplays follow a three-act structure for creating a well-developed and engaging story.
- Act 1: First act is the set up, where you introduce your characters establish the setting, and present what will be the main conflict
- Act 2: The confrontation begins, here is where your protagonist faces big challenges and obstacles.
- Act 3: After the protagonist confronts the main conflict, all ties are loose and the story reaches a satisfactory solution.
6. Write a first draft
Don’t try to make it perfect because eventually you will make many adjustments. The goal of your first draft should be to get your story down on paper, you don’t need to worry about making it perfect or polish the story because this is your chance to explore your ideas freely and let your creativity dictate the story.
7. Take a Break and Recharge
After you’ve completed your first draft, it is a good idea to step away for a while, so you can clear your head and then come back with new fresh ideas that will add more creativity to your story.
8. Gear Up For Revisions
Now comes the real hard work because you need to read your full script meticulously, and focus on pacing, dialogue, and scene clarity, then ensure you tight up any loose ends, ensure your plot points flow logically, and refine your dialogue until it is engaging and properly structured.
Here are some revision tips:
- Strengthen Your Characters: Make sure their actions are always consistent with their personalities.
- Elevate Your Dialogue: Ensure your dialogue always sounds natural and reveals characters’ motivations.
- Improve Your Scenes: Do they move the story forward and contribute to the overall arc?
- Try online classes: There are many classes out there that will help you improve your storytelling, and many of them are free like this class on how to become a better storyteller. https://resources.ripmediagroup.com/intro-page-masterclass-bootcamp/?_gl=1*1myapxw*_ga*NjY0MjM5MjA2LjE3MTExMjgyMjg.*_ga_3W6YPWW5BE*MTcxNDE0NzI5NS43LjAuMTcxNDE0NzI5NS42MC4wLjA.
9. Get Feedback
When your script is polished enough you can share it with friends or any trusted person to get an outside perspective of your script, this way it will be easier to identify areas that need improvement, just be open to constructive criticism and then use it to improve your script, this is a really important step when you write a screenplay.
10. Keep Learning and Practicing
Remember that the key to developing any skill in life is constant practice and it is especially a good idea when you write a screenplay. So, never stop reading successful scripts, attend workshops, and participate in online communities if you like, but the most important part is to never stop writing and practicing because the more you write the more you’ll improve.
Summarizing,the key to improve your script when you write a screenplay is constant practice and patience, don’t fall in love with the first script and don’t forget that there will always be room for improvement, and if you want to take your screenwriting to the next level, make sure you sign up to Script Timer to get free access to all the script tools you need to improve your writings.
