Screenplay Writing Tips

By

Sharon A. Floyd

My first time writing a screenplay proved to be a challenge. Between everyday life issues, responsibilities to the family, evangelism and my job responsibilities, I searched and found little time to focus; but I’d say that consistency did pay off.  The Detroit Writers Guild began to study screenplay formatting during the first quarter of 2010.  I committed 14 months to complete this work.  Generally, a good class or review is enough for me to write at some level of mastery, but I learned to write a professional screenplay by trial and some errors.  This is what I’ve learned.

1.       Proofread your work at least three times for format, grammatical, tenses, etc…

2.       Find a professional to edit your work.  Swallow your pride, and accept constructive criticism. It's well worth the time and money.  Also, if you are in doubt, research to verify the advice of your editor.

3.       Abide by the page-numbering rules.  Page 1 begins at the first FADE IN notation.

4.       FADE IN notation is only used at the start of the script.

5.       Don’t include shooting directions in your screenplay.

6.       Songs are CAPITALIZED AND CENTERED IN THE SCRIPT.

7.       The actual word, “ESTABLISHING,” does not have to be included by all EXT.  and INT. notations.

8.       Character's actions must be documented throughout the script.  Be specific (i.e. one of the patients held the door close vs. Dan gripped the doorknob and pressed his body against it to keep it shut).

9.       Transitions over time require additional explanation for characters that have grown up.

10.   Make sure all scenes fit together.

11.   Less descriptive text is better.

12.   Action, Action, Action must be written as opposed to EMOTION.  Never tell actors how to feel – just tell them the action, and if they understand the circumstances, the emotions will flow naturally. 

13.   Don’t write what the actors are thinking – just show them doing something.

14.   A true parenthetical should be one word or a short phrase – use very sparingly.

15.   Make characters talk natural vs. formal.  Realistic is the key.

16.   Dialogue is sometimes too on-the-nose and too long.  Most of the time, people don’t give long speeches about themselves. 

17.   Use all names of the characters consistently throughout the script (i.e. title BLIND DATE sometimes and DEVAN EDWARDS, who is the blind date, other times, etc…).