Software for Screenwriters


2013 update. Today I recommend only two software programs for format: the free Celtx (celtx.com) and the industry standard, Final Draft (finaldraft.com). The latter costs several hundred dollars and there's a student discount.

FD offers many bells and whistles beyond formatting. Reports are generated that can be very useful in analyzing the pacing and focus of the story. A text to speech feature programs the computer to read your script to you! You ever cast in the parts. In the future, I bet these are the voices of Hollywood stars.

Serious screenwriters should get FD eventually. In the meantime, learning, Celtx is great. Both have PC and Mac versions,

I decided to leave my earlier remarks, even though dated. Many of these programs are still available on the net at bargain basement prices. They were usable in the past, and they are usable now.


Software programs for screenwriters fall into two general categories:

The Whole Enchilada

As soon as you can afford it, purchase a full-fledged screenwriting program. Not only will it format your script on the run as you write and automatically reformat as you rewrite, a top line program will feature an index-card interface for outlining, scene breakdown features, and much more.

There are half-a-dozen such programs on the market, all "linked" and many reviewed at my screenwriters website at http://www.teleport.com/~cdeemer/Software.html . Here I will recommend the three full-fledged programs I like the best. Both do all the basics well (format, create character lists, etc.) but have different features I like.

A Word of Caution

Since all screenwriting programs have different features and a different "feel" to the interface, buying such a program can be as personal as buying a car and one person's dream program will not be another's. The best way to shop for a program is to test demo's yourself.

Here is yet another advantage of being a "wired screenwriter," of having access to the Internet: you can download demo's. If you are online, you may want to check out the following demo's for full-fledged screenwriting programs (in addition to my recommendations of Hollywood Screenplay and ScriptThing above):

Templates and Macros

If you can't afford a full-fledged screenwriting program, there is a less expensive alternative: a template or set of macros that turns your regular word processing program into a script formatting program. Check out:

If you have a minimal degree of computer savvy, you can put together your own screenplay template with Jeff Miholer's guidelines:

Jeff S. Miholer's Screenplay Template Maker

Tools for Screenwriters

An increasing number of tools for screenwriters are coming into the marketplace. In fact, this self-guided course is one of them.

Here are some screenwriting tools that I find useful and recommend:

Where to Buy Software

Look for sales at:

The Writer's Computer Story
http://writerscomputer.com/
from US or Canada phone 800-272-8927 toll free,
from US or Canada FAX 800-486-4006 toll free,
or e-mail to:  writerscom@aol.com

Another good resource is:

Starcomp
http://www.leonardo.net/starcomp/
(818) 609-0330


MODULE 4: SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting

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