Strategies for Crafting a Screenplay (Seven Guidelines for the Year 2025 and Beyond)
In the world of storytelling, screenplays and short stories may seem similar, but they are distinct in structure, formatting, and writing techniques.
Structure
Screenplays are organised into scenes, each marked by standardised scene headings such as INT. (Interior) or EXT. (Exterior), which indicate location and time, as well as transitions like CUT TO:. These elements form a practical blueprint for production crews, providing a clear roadmap for the story's visual and auditory narrative [1][4][5]. On the other hand, short stories are typically compact narratives focusing on a single moment or theme, often without scene headers, and experimenting freely with voice, timeline, and perspective [1].
Writing Techniques
Screenplays emphasise visual and auditory storytelling, using concise action lines and dialogue that show rather than tell. Interior thoughts or feelings must be conveyed through behaviour or dialogue as screenplays avoid internal monologues or exposition [2][3][5]. In contrast, short stories can explore characters’ internal thoughts and emotions directly through narration, allowing more descriptive language and varied narrative styles [1][3].
Formatting
Screenplays follow strict industry-standard formatting (margins, capitalization, spacing) to aid production workflow, focusing on clarity for directors, actors, and crew [2][3][5]. Short stories use standard prose formatting and afford greater stylistic freedom.
Pacing
Screenplays move quickly to keep the story advancing visually and aurally, without lengthy exposition or backstory [1][3]. Short stories also have pacing that can be brisk but may allow more exploration of setting and character reflection compared to scripts [1].
Key Points
- A shooting script includes filmmaking language like camera angles, editing notes, and other technical aspects.
- Dialogue that's too on the nose or that includes too much exposition can seem amateurish.
- A good screenplay focuses on story, character, and conflict.
- Action lines are short descriptions of any action taking place on screen (not dialogue).
- In screenwriting, the focus is on getting the characters' feelings across through dialogue, expression, body language, and actions.
- Publisher Rocket is an indie author tool that can help with market research.
- Character names are always completely capitalized over their dialogue.
- Transitions like "Cut to," "Fade in," or "Smash cut" should be avoided in a spec script unless necessary.
- Screenwriting is a rewarding creative exercise and may launch a career in the entertainment industry.
- A spec script is a script written on speculation, not hired by a studio.
- StudioBinder, Arc Studio Pro, and Final Draft are examples of screenwriting software.
- Ample white space in a screenplay is important to indicate a lack of too much scene description, too much stage direction, or too much showing.
- In a spec script, leave out camera angles and editing notes to avoid being marked as an amateur.
- Large blocks of text can indicate an amateur writer.
- Every scene heading in a screenplay should be in all caps and should go in order from general to specific.
- Stilted dialogue can ruin a good story and is a red flag for some agents.
- It's worth it for an author to test a proof of concept by writing and self-publishing their story as a novel.
- Including white space on the page is a way to keep in mind that a screenplay is the first step in a collaborative project.
- The dialogue should flow naturally without uhs and ums people use in real life.
- Using screenwriting software can help format a screenplay correctly.
- A screenplay is written in the present tense and only features a finite number of pages (usually not over 120 pages).
- Each character should have their own voice in the dialogue.
- A screenplay is the first important step in a collaborative creative project.
- Market research should be done before indie publishing to ensure the novel's best chance of success.
- An extension will come after a character's name to indicate if they're talking off-screen (O.S) or in voiceover (V.O.).
Indie authors seeking to break into the publishing world may find Publisher Rocket a valuable tool for conducting market research. In the realm of home-and-garden publications, an indie author's unique lifestyle perspective can set their work apart, providing a fresh take on classic themes.
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