The art of writing a screenplay can be highly demanding, particularly if you want to write a good one. Many people try to wing it, hoping for the best with little preparation. However, if you really want to write a good screenplay, you need to head into it with a plan. That way, you’ll be armed with knowledge and a clear direction, and you’ll have a much better opportunity of bringing your story to life on the screen. In this article, we will give you a detailed step-by-step guide on how to write a screenplay, covering every aspect from the very first idea to the final polish.
First Idea
Although you may have had a brilliant idea for a screenplay, it doesn’t mean that everyone will be able to see it. More often than not, the idea itself isn’t enough; you need a great outline to make it compelling. This is where the art of screenwriting comes in. If you’re fortunate enough to have a great story, you need to find a way to express it on screen. Following is a list of the steps you need to take in order to prepare for the daunting task of turning your idea into a screenplay.
Step One: Choose a Genre
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a “genre” is a type of writing or an “appellation” that groups related works together. Genres can be highly specific, like “horror” or “romance” novels, or they can be broad categories like “family sagas” or “coming of age stories.” Each genre has its own rules and expectations, so you need to make sure that you adhere to them when crafting your screenplay. For example, while thrillers often feature explicit action and violence, those elements don’t have to be present in a family saga screenplay. It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the generic norms within your chosen genre.
Step Two: Brainstorm And Narrow Down The Ideas
Having an idea for a screenplay is one thing, but being able to turn it into a good story is another. That is where the brainstorming and the narrowing down come in. You need to think of ways in which you can make your story interesting and dramatic, as well as adhere to the generic norms within your chosen genre. It is always a great idea to begin your brainstorming process by jotting down every idea that crosses your mind. Even if you don’t end up using any of them, the act of putting them on paper will help you organize your thinking and find the best possible solution for your problem. Alternatively, you can use a tool like ScriPhi to help you brainstorm, as it can save you the effort of going through numerous ideas in your head one by one.
Step Three: Create The Basis Of The Story
Once you’ve established the theme and the general set-up of your story, you can move on to the more specific details. One of the most pivotal moments in a screenplay is the moment where the action switches from the past to the present, as everything that came before it gradually fades away and is replaced by a completely new scene. This moment of “now” is what keeps audiences interested in your story and what provides the dramatic tension that makes it interesting. In order to avoid any potential plot twists or turns that may arise during the course of your story, it’s always a great idea to write the opening and closing scenes first, and then fill in the rest of the script as you go along. This will help you maintain the “illusion of truth” that is key to any good screenplay.
Step Four: Organize Your Materials
Once you have a functional script, you can begin the tedious yet essential task of polishing it. This is where the actual writing comes in. If you are fortunate enough to have a great story, you need to take the time to organize it properly, so you can bring it to life through the written word. The first thing you need to do is create a storyboard. A storyboard is a visual representation of your script, using a combination of drawings, diagrams, and written material. It should contain every important scene and beat, as well as the mood and setting of each one. A storyboard can be extremely helpful throughout the entire writing process, as it will serve as a guide for the actors who will eventually play your characters, as well as the rest of the crew who will be involved in the making of your film.
Step Five: Get Your Genre & Theme Correct
With your storyboard in hand, the first thing you need to do is double check that everything is correct. This is more important than ever, as you don’t want to turn in an incomplete product, particularly if you’re aiming for publication. Once you’ve double checked all the essentials, it’s time to move on to the more technical aspects of your script. One of the most important things to check for is the genre of your script. Does it fit within your chosen category? If not, then you need to look into changing things around a little bit so that it fits. If it does fit, then great! But if it doesn’t, then that is something you need to fix before you move on.
Step Six: Style And Formatting
The last step in the process is the most daunting yet essential one. Before you can start writing your script, you need to get it formatted to match the visual style of your chosen film. There are various styles in which you can format your script, so you need to make sure that you choose the right one. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to start writing. Remember to keep things simple and as clean as possible, as over-complicating things can make your script hard to follow for the average reader. The last thing you want is for them to have to spend too much time trying to figure out what is going on.
At this point, you’ve written your screenplay, and congrats! Your script will be much more pleasant to read now that it is formatted correctly and stylistically matched to the theme and style of your chosen film. If you’d like, you can take a quick break, before diving into the editing process. You can also ask for feedback from other writers, as there are many professionals out there who can help you make your screenplay the best it can be. Writing a screenplay can be very challenging, but it is definitely worth it in the end.