Screenplay Software

The best screenplay writing software understands the writing process inside and out. For one, it should have industry-standard formatting in place. But there should also be additional tools for outlining, note taking, and even index cards to facilitate all the work that needs to be done before the writing actually begins.

Most people think the #1 rule of screenwriting is to "tell a good story," but that is vague and completely subjective. Instead, perhaps the most important rule in screenwriting is to make sure your story is clear and fully formed. If the reader can "see" your vision come across on the page, you'll have done your job well.

From a content perspective, the golden rule of screenwriting is "change." Most main characters in most stories undergo some form of personal change (for better or worse). In rare cases, the protagonist doesn't change at all. When this is intentional and not just amateur writing, a "flat arc" can be just as valid.

If you're writing a feature film, your screenplay should be anywhere between 90 and 110 pages. Anything less and it will appear as if you didn't have enough story to tell. Anything more and it will appear as if you are trying to tell too much story.

According to the WGA, the fee a feature length screenplay is approx. $150,000 (if the budget is $5 million or more). For budgets under $5 million, the fee is about half of that. But, again, those are just minimums and guarantees if it's a union project. 

The 8 Sequence is a structure that some writers use. The eight steps are based on a lot of other structures that follow the same basic path and they are as follows:

1. Status Quo & Inciting Incident
2. Predicament & Lock-In
3. First Obstacle & Raising the Stakes
4. First Culmination & Midpoint
5. Subplot & Rising Action
6. Main Culmination & End of Act Two
7. New Tension & Twist
8. Resolution